Chapter 70 - Freedom

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Satan was utterly defeated by the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. As a result, the New Testament church was justified from all transgression of divine law, released from the jurisdiction of divine law, and rescued from the domain of satanic authority. Therefore, Satan has been deprived of any actual means to cause eternal harm to the church. Regardless, he continues to seek the destruction of the New Testament church.

“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)

Despite his utter defeat, the devil is allowed the freedom to prowl “around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” It is important to clarify that he is not free to prowl around in whatever manner he chooses. Instead, the devil’s prowling is moderated by God.

The Apostle Peter informs that the devil does not merely prowl around quietly. He prowls around “like a roaring lion.” It should be understood, however, that his fierce roaring is nothing more than a distraction designed to mislead his prey from the truth that he is utterly defeated.

During this present age, the New Testament church is the primary prey of the devil. However, he was disarmed, unarmored and bound and as a result, rendered powerless. Therefore, the devil was left with only one means to oppose the New Testament church. His sole weapon against the object of his intense hatred and jealousy is falsehood.

“… the devil … does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44)

The only strategy the devil has remaining against the church is to promote lies through the intimidation of a fierce, roaring voice. When the New Testament church chooses to submit to his intimidation, it becomes susceptible to his schemes of false accusation.

False Accusation

Satan presently and temporarily holds the legal titles “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31) and “the god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4). According to the Apostle John, “….the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” (1 John 5:19)

Nevertheless, Satan’s authority over the degenerated earth is limited. From his position of utter defeat and limited authority, Satan accuses mankind of the transgression of law. As illustrated in the Bible, he is an accuser. (cf. Job 1:9-11; 2:4-5; Zechariah 3:1-2; Revelation 12:10)

Satan has the legal right to accuse the fallen of sin. They are indeed transgressors of divine law. However, set free by the redemptive work of Christ, Satan has no authority over the New Testament church.

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Unbeliever	Believer
The unbeliever is guilty of sin.	The believer has been justified from sin. As a consequence: He has been forgiven of all transgression of the rule of law; past, present, and future. The righteousness of Jesus Christ was imputed to his account, thus fulfilling the righteous requirement of the rule of law from within. He was declared righteous according to the standard of law. He was once and for all released from the jurisdiction of the rule of law.
The unbeliever is separated from God.	The believer is intimately united to God by sharing life with Jesus Christ. He is obligated to God by the gracious rule of indwelling life (zoe).
The unbeliever is subject to the impersonal rule of law (the law of sin and of death).	The believer has been released from the jurisdiction of the rule of law.
The unbeliever exists in the domain of darkness, the realm of satanic authority.	The believer has been rescued from the domain of satanic authority and transferred to the kingdom of God, the realm of divine authority.
The unbeliever’s existence is characterized by degeneration, death, and darkness.	The believer’s existence is characterized by regeneration, life (zoe), and light.
The unbeliever is in bondage to the rule of law characterized by guilt, condemnation, and misery.	The believer has been delivered from condemnation. He is free.
For the unbeliever, Satan’s accusations of the transgression of the rule of law are truthful.	For the believer, Satan’s accusations of the transgression of the rule of law are false.

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As indicated, Satan has the authority to accuse the fallen of transgression. However, he does not have the authority to accuse the New Testament church.

Despite his lack of authority to accuse, Satan schemes to entrap, debilitate and paralyze the New Testament church by falsely accusing it of the transgression of divine law. He recognizes that the resultant false guilt can be as debilitating and damaging as actual guilt.

“… but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57) In Him, the New Testament church has been justified, released and rescued. It has been justified from all transgression of divine law, released from the jurisdiction of divine law, and rescued from the domain of satanic authority.

Justified

Justified by grace through faith, the New Testament church has not only received forgiveness of all sin; past, present and future, but an imputation of the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Concordant with the imputation, the righteous requirement of the rule of law (“law of sin and of death”) was legally fulfilled in the New Testament church. (Romans 8:4a) Therefore, it was provided with a divine, eternally binding, legal declaration of righteousness.

Fully justified, the New Testament church has been acquitted (found not guilty) of all sin. Therefore, it is forever without the legal guilt of the transgression of the rule of law. In regard to the law it is, “… holy and blameless and above reproach.” Consequently, Satan is without any legal basis to accuse. (Ephesians 1:4; 5:27; Colossians 1:22, NKJV)

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Released

As indicated, the New Testament church has been forgiven of all transgression of divine law. Therefore, the rule of law for the ecclesia of God is superfluous.

The fundamental purpose of the rule of law is to reveal transgression (sin). However, the New Testament church is without sin. It has been completely forgiven. As a result, the New Testament church has no sin in need of revelation and thus, it was released from bondage to the rule of law.

The New Testament church was released from the jurisdiction (sphere of authority) of the rule of law through death. It died to the rule of law by baptism into (identification with) the death of Jesus Christ. Thus, the New Testament church died to the “law of sin and of death” by co-crucifixion with Christ. (Romans 6:3-7, 7:1-6; Galatians 2:20)

The New Testament church was made to die to the rule of law so that it could be “…joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead.” (Romans 7:4) Thus, it was co-resurrected with Christ to new life.

By death with Christ, the New Testament church was released from the jurisdiction, dominion, or realm of authority of the rule of law, “law of sin and of death.” By resurrection with Him, it was raised to the divine realm of authority of the “Spirit of life (zoe) in Christ Jesus.”

In Christ, the New Testament church is not subject to God according to the “law of sin and of death.” Instead, resurrected to new life with Christ it is obligated to Him through the gracious rule of His indwelling life (zoe). (Romans 8:2)

In the realm of the Spirit, there is no legal means remaining for Satan to accuse the New Testament church of transgression. Released from the jurisdiction or realm of authority of the “law of sin and of death,” it has no obligation to obey the law it is accused of transgressing.

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Rescued

Fully justified and released from the “law of sin and of death,” the New Testament church was rescued from the realm of satanic authority. Consequently, Satan is without the authority to accuse the church of transgression.

Devoid of authority, Satan is not the angel he used to be. Utterly defeated by the redemptive work of Christ, his present status is but a distant shadow of the former glory he once enjoyed. (John 16:11) Rather than ruling the pristine, original heavens and earth, he now presides over the fallen heavens and earth. Characterized by death and degeneration, the New Testament refers to the fallen heavens and earth, the realm of satanic authority, as the “domain of darkness.”

Congruent with the redemptive work of Christ, however, the Apostle Paul explained that the elect of the New Testament church were “rescued…from the domain of darkness, and transferred…to the kingdom of His beloved Son.” (Colossians 1:13) Thus, the elect of the church were removed from the realm of satanic authority and transferred to the realm of divine authority.

In the kingdom of God (realm of divine authority), the elect of the New Testament church are no longer subject to satanic authority. Although they temporarily exist on the degenerated earth in the domain of darkness, their “citizenship is in heaven” and consequently, they are “strangers and pilgrims” on earth. (Philippians 3:20; Hebrews 11:13)

Nevertheless, under the darkened domain of the fallen heavens and earth, Satan works with all fervency to influence the ecclesia of God to believe that it remains subject to his authority. As indicated, however, it is nothing more than a lie.

The absence of satanic authority is made clear in the New Testament. The New Testament church was “rescued” from the realm of satanic authority, the “domain of darkness,” and “transferred” to the kingdom of God, the realm of divine authority. Consequently, Satan has no authority in regard to the New Testament church. Therefore, he has no legal right to accuse it of transgression.

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                                          Conclusion

Concordant with the redemptive work of Christ, the New Testament church was justified from all transgression of divine law, released from the jurisdiction of divine law, and rescued from the domain of satanic authority. Therefore, Satan is without the capacity to justly harm the New Testament church.

Justified, it was unconditionally forgiven of all transgression of the rule of law; past, present, and future, and declared righteous regarding every demand of the rule of law. Therefore, no legal guilt remains by which Satan can rightfully accuse the New Testament church of transgression.

Released, it was removed from the jurisdiction (sphere of authority) of the rule of law (law of sin and of death). Therefore, there is no legal means remaining by which Satan can rightfully accuse the New Testament church of transgression.

Rescued, it was delivered from the domain of satanic authority, the “domain of darkness.” Therefore, there is no legal authority remaining for Satan to accuse the New Testament church of transgression.

As previously indicated, Peter warned the New Testament church about its fallen enemy and his schemes. He said, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) According to the greater context of the Bible, it is clear that Satan prowls around seeking someone to devour by predominant means of false accusation.

Relative to the strategy of Satan, the Apostle Peter did not recommend an offensive counterattack. He knew it was incongruent with the eternal plan of God. Instead, Peter encouraged the church to respond defensively by resting faithfully in the victory of Jesus Christ. He said, “… resist [Satan], firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.” (1 Peter 5:8-10)

“… if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36)

© 2023 James Hiatt

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