Chapter 88 - Delivered

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Deliverance from “demonization” does not involve being delivered from Satan. Concordant with the blood of the cross, the blood of the Eternal Covenant, the believer was delivered from him at the moment of salvation.

After salvation, it is not necessary for the believer to fight the defeated Satan. He must only “struggle” or “wrestle” against his deceptive schemes. (Ephesians 6:11)

Concordant with his defeat, the deceptive schemes of the devil were significantly limited. During the Church Age, his only remaining strategy for his schemes is to propagate falsehood.

How specifically do the schemes of the devil propagate falsehood? By actively influencing passive human beings with repeated lies until they become deeply rooted and as a result, are accepted as truth. Consequently, Satan is able to manipulate human behavior in a manner favorable with his plan to destroy the New Testament church, the single entity on earth that is legally representative and organically representational of God.

Jesus Christ

Congruent with satanic lies, the passive church often overemphasizes the person and work of Satan. As a result, it underemphasizes the person and work of the Savior.

The emphasis of the Bible, however, is not Satan but the Savior. It can be argued that every one of its nearly 2000 pages either directly or indirectly point to the Savior! They give a clear picture of both His person and work.

For example, nearly 2800 years ago Isaiah prophesied the incarnate Christ would be, “… despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away; and as for His generation, who considered that He was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due? His grave was assigned with wicked men, yet He was with a rich man in His death, because He had done no violence, nor was there any deceit in His mouth. But the Lord was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief; if He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand. As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; by His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, as He will bear their iniquities. Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the booty with the strong; because He poured out Himself to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet He Himself bore the sin of many, and interceded for the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:3-12)

About two thousand years ago the Christ was incarnated on earth. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men… and the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1-4, 14)

During His earthly ministry, the incarnate Christ was briefly transfigured into His heavenly form. Consequently, “His face shone like the sun” and “His garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them.” (Matthew 17:2; Mark 9:2)

After His death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven in AD 33, John described Jesus as “His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.” (Revelation 1:14-16)

At the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, He is described as, “His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “King of kings, and Lord of lords.” (Revelation 19:12-16)

In addition to the revelation above, Jesus the Christ is revealed in the Bible as the “firstborn over all creation” (Colossians 1:15), “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6), head of the church (Ephesians 1:22; 4:15; 5:23), “Holy and righteous One” (Acts 3:14), “Judge of the living and the dead” (Acts 10:42; 2 Timothy 4:8), “the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords” (1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 19:16), “Light of the world” (John 8:12), “Son of God” (Luke 1:35; John 1:49), “Word of God” (Revelation 19:13), “Word of life” (zoe) (1 John 1:1), “Alpha and Omega… who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8; 22:13), “Lord of all” (Acts 10:36), “true God” (1 John 5:20), “originator and perfecter of the faith” (Hebrews 12:2), “bread of life (zoe)” (John 6:35; 6:48), “Deliverer” (Romans 11:26), “good shepherd” (John 10:11; 14), “high priest” (Hebrews 2:17), “Lamb of God” (John 1:29), “mediator” (1 Timothy 2:5), “rock” (1 Corinthians 10:4), “resurrection and the life” (John 11:25), “Savior” (Matthew 1:21; Luke 2:11), and the “way, and the truth, and the life (zoe)” (John 14:6).

Jesus the Christ is the “…blessed and only sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light…” (1 Timothy 6:16) Fully God, He is the sovereign Creator of all things. (Colossians 1:16-17; 1 Corinthians 8:6) Omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, Jesus is “able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think…” (Genesis 1:1; Psalm 147:5; Jeremiah 23:23-24; Lamentations 3:37-38; etc.; Ephesians 3:20)

It is Finished

The last words of Jesus from the cross were, “It is finished.” (John 19:30) Thus, His role in the Eternal Covenant was perfectly satisfied. His shed blood, the blood of the covenant, provided for the redemption of the human race from sin.

The redemptive work of the Christ finished on the cross accomplished everything necessary for the deliverance of the human race. It was perfectly efficacious for the New Testament church to be delivered from sin, the “law of sin,” death, the fallen world, and consequently, Satan.

Although the New Testament church often behaves as though it has not been delivered, the “word of truth” clarifies the New Testament church was made entirely suitable for fellowship with God. As a result, it was eternally justified from all sin, released from the jurisdiction of the “law of sin,” risen from the dead, granted citizenship in the heavenly kingdom of God, and as a result, delivered from Satan. It was finished nearly 2000 years ago.

Nevertheless, for the purpose of its growth in eternity, the New Testament church must address its old, fallen nature and the schemes of the devil in time. However, both were “rendered powerless” by the redemptive work of Christ. (Romans 6:6; Hebrews 2:14) Therefore, they were significantly limited and thus, are able to be addressed by grace through faith alone.

Everything necessary for the deliverance of the New Testament church was accomplished by the divine fulfillment of the Eternal Covenant. Thus, deliverance from sin, the “law of sin,” death, the fallen world, and Satan already provided for in the past, before the advent of the church.

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Battle Belongs to the Lord

The Bible is a story of deliverance. Jesus is the Deliverer. (Psalms 7:10; 18:1-3; 97:10)

Through His finished redemptive work, Jesus utterly defeated Satan and as a result, provided for the deliverance of the future New Testament church. The church, yet to exist, did not contribute.

Because of the finished, redemptive work of Christ, the schemes of the devil in present day have been “rendered powerless.” (Hebrews 2:14) Therefore, the responsibility of the New Testament church is not to fight for Him but merely to “struggle” against the schemes of the devil with Him by grace through faith alone. Thus, deliverance from devilish schemes is not fulfilled for Jesus by personally fighting the devil on earth. Instead, seated with Christ in His heavenly position of victory at the right hand of the Father, it need only “struggle” against them with Jesus by grace through faith alone. The second scenario is vastly different from the first.

Scripturally, the New Testament church was not created to engage in futile battles with an already defeated foe and his campaign of strategic lies. It is called to trust in the victorious, ascended, seated, exalted Christ.

While the Old Testament is not prescriptive for New Testament church practice, it contains information that is beneficial for the church. For example, it provides general revelation about God and His eternal plan that transcends audience and time.

The fundamental manner in which the Old Testament nation of Israel was called to address physical warfare served to illustrate the way the New Testament church is to approach its spiritual warfare. The warfare of the Old Testament era reveals an important practice that is beneficial for the New Testament church. The nation of Israel was not instructed to fight their battles for God but to trust Him to fight their battles. For example:

“Moses said to the people, ‘Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent.” (Exodus 14:13)

“… thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God's… You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the Lord is with you.” (2 Chronicles 20:15, 17)

"I love You, O Lord, my strength."
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
And I am saved from my enemies.” (Psalm 18:1-3)

Much like the Old Testament people of God, the New Testament church was not appointed to fight spiritual battles for Jesus. The church could not save itself from sin, the “law of sin,” death, or the fallen world. Yet it somehow thinks it is capable of working for Christ to win the fight against the schemes of the devil. Who would give the church such an idea?

Even Jesus did not choose to fight Satan. He defeated him by dependence on the heavenly Father and His sacrificial, redemptive work. The New Testament church can only experience true victory in spiritual battle by grace through faith alone through trust in Jesus, His redemptive work, and His overwhelming victory. The battle belongs to the Lord!

Truth versus Lies

Contrary to what Satan would have the New Testament church believe, he was utterly defeated by the finished, redemptive work of the victorious Christ. He was bound; disarmored; disarmed and his works destroyed. (Matthew 12:29; Mark 3:27; Luke 11:22; Colossians 1:13; 1 John 3:8) As a result, Satan was “rendered powerless,” his “house” (realm of authority; the “domain of darkness”) was “plundered” and his “property” (the human race) was “carried off.” (Matthew 12:29; Mark 3:27; Luke 11:22; Hebrews 2:14) By his defeat he was made a public spectacle (exposed as shattered, empty, and defeated). (Colossians 2:15)

After his utter defeat, Satan was no longer the angel he used to be. His authority and power removed, he was left with only one strategy against the object of his jealousy and hatred, the New Testament church. It is to spread falsehood through a campaign of strategic lies. Consequently, spiritual warfare is merely a battle between divine truth and satanic lies.

As indicated, the schemes of the devil are designed to cause passivity, propagate falsehood, and thereby, control human behavior. What is the biblical response? Not to fight the already defeated devil through a so-called “power encounter.” Doing so simply makes Satan appear undefeated, authoritative, and powerful. As a result, the church is distracted from Jesus Christ and His overwhelming victory over sin, the “law of sin,” death, Satan, and the fallen world.

Instead, as illustrated by the wilderness temptation of the Lord Jesus, the New Testament church “struggles” or “wrestles” with the schemes of the devil by resisting “demon-caused passivity” through satanic lies. It is fulfilled by the consistent practice of yielding to Christ, actively pursuing the truth of Jesus through the “word of truth” and “standing firm” according to the “word of God.” (Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13)

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Law or Life

Law-based deliverance is simply another lie in the vast panoply of satanic lies. Simply stated, it is the human attempt to deliver from the schemes of the devil according to law and therefore, by following a set of rules.

In contrast, life-based (zoe) deliverance is in agreement with the “word of God,” the “word of truth.” Congruent with the practice of biblical Christianity, it constitutes divine deliverance from devilish schemes by the living (zoe) Savior.

Law-based deliverance is an example of practicing lifeless (zoe) religion for God. As a result, it is not pleasing to Him. (Romans 8:8)

In contrast, life-based (zoe) deliverance is a shared life (zoe) ministry of God for mankind. Thus, it is pleasing to God. (cf. Romans 8:8)

Law-based deliverance is a work of the flesh. It does not require grace or faith. It is in effect an attempt to earn deliverance.

In contrast, life-based (zoe) deliverance is a work of the Spirit. It is spiritual and thus, occurs by grace through faith alone.

Law-based deliverance is a call to spiritual battle and involves fighting for Christ. It is an independent action that causes the church to run to the battle.
In contrast, life-based (zoe) deliverance calls the church to run to Christ and address the schemes of the devil with Him. It is the “good fight of faith” that involves dependent trust in Him to deliver from the “evil day.” (1 Timothy 6:12; cf. 1 Timothy 1:18; 2 Timothy 4:7) The church is responsible only to rest in His perfect victory and trust Him to fight the battle.

Law-based deliverance is by definition the practice of occultism; defined as the “study of the supernatural; the belief in occult powers and the possibility of bringing them under human control.”[1] In other words, it is a self-dependent attempt to bypass the will of God in order to understand and/or manipulate the mysteries of the fallen spiritual realm, the “domain of darkness,” and gain its “hidden” knowledge and power. (Colossians 1:13)

Law-based deliverance does not seek God first but demons for the purpose of their removal. Seeking demons first elevates them above God. However, Jesus communicated the fundamental principle, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness...” (Matthew 6:33)

The Bible warns against the practice of occultism. (Leviticus 19:26; 20:6; Deuteronomy 18:10-11; 2 Kings 21:6; 23:24; Isaiah 8:19; 47:13; Jeremiah 27:9; Micah 3:7; Acts 16:16-18; etc.) It is strongly discouraged because it is an attempt to learn “spiritual truth” from the devil, his angels, and their fallen abode, rather than from God. Consequently, the practice of occultism presents a fallen distortion of God, His kingdom, and His righteousness.

In contrast, life-based (zoe) deliverance is an important aspect of biblical Christianity. It is dependent on God and subordinate to His will.

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Practice of Law-Based Deliverance:	Practice of Life-Based (zoe) Deliverance:
… is a process.	… is a person.
… is satanic.	… is Jesus Christ.
… is derived from ignorance regarding the word of God.	… is derived from knowledge of the word of God.
… is according to the will of Satan and mankind.	… is according to the will of God.
… is without the support of small group community.	… is supported by small group community.
… is fulfilled by human effort.	… is fulfilled by divine grace.
… is self-dependent.	… is God-dependent.
… is of the flesh.	… is spiritual.
… is characterized by passivity and thus, faithlessness.	… is characterized by active faith.
… is faithless regarding the authority and power of shared life with God.	… is faithful regarding the authority and power of shared life with God.
… is faithless and therefore, views the battlefield from an earthly perspective of defeat.	… is faithful and therefore, views the battlefield from a heavenly perspective of victory ascended, seated, and glorified with Christ at the right hand of the Father.
… is faithless and therefore, chooses to continue fighting for deliverance by self-effort.	… is faithful and therefore, chooses to trust in the living (zoe), indwelling Christ for the deliverance He has already won.
… is without the protective armor of God.	… is equipped on earth with the heavenly, protective armor of God, which is the Lord Jesus Christ.
… is characterized by nurturing the old mindset and consequently, guarding old earthly patterns of thought in agreement with the old nature.	… is characterized by the renewal of the mind through establishing new heavenly patterns of thought in agreement with God, His word, and the new nature of His indwelling life (zoe).
… is accepting of satanic lies, ignorantly indulgent of satanic opposition, and wavers in faith.	… is yielded to divine truth, resists opposition, and stands firm against satanic lies.
… is characterized by the assumption God will act, ignoring the word of God, faithless prayer, indifference, and apathy.	… is characterized by praise and worship, reading the word of God out loud, fervent prayer in the Spirit, thankfulness, and rejoicing.
… is characterized by passivity.	… is characterized by perseverance.
… is ineffective.	… is effective.
… is never finished on earth.	… is finished in heaven and on earth.
… satanic lie.	… divine truth.
… is by definition the practice of occultism.	… is by definition the practice of biblical Christianity.

Addressing the schemes of the devil with God rather than for Him requires the New Testament church to recognize its own shortcomings. It does not have the ability to satisfy the rule of law, defeat Satan, or earn its own deliverance. They were already accomplished by God in the past for the New Testament church. Therefore, it must only surrender to Him and trust Him to deliver from the schemes of the devil. Thus, the church is provided with an unparalleled advantage in spiritual warfare.

The Lord Jesus Christ is life (zoe) and consequently, life-based (zoe) deliverance. He clarified, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life (zoe) …” (John 14:6; etc.)

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Put On the Armor

As indicated, the battle belongs to the Lord. The New Testament church is to faithfully depend on Him for deliverance from the schemes of the devil.

In Ephesians 6 the Apostle Paul explains how the New Testament church is to depend on God for deliverance from the “evil day.” He explains it is by putting on the full armor of God.

The full armor of God is life-based (zoe). It is both descriptive and cooperative.

The first three pieces of armor are descriptive of three of an infinite number of attributes of the Lord Jesus Christ (truth, righteousness, and peace). Consequently, the Lord was “put on” every believer once and for all in the past at the moment they received Christ.

The last three pieces of armor are indicative of the means by which the New Testament church is to “put on” Jesus Christ in an “evil day.” In the context of supportive small group community, the church is to collectively “take up” the full armor of God through instrumentation of faith, hope (of deliverance from the “evil day”), and the word of God.

It should be obvious at this point; the full armor of God is not comprised of inanimate pieces of armor like those worn by a Roman soldier. It is the fully animate, protective armor of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. (cf. Romans 13:14) Consequently, the descriptive armor of God is synonymous with Jesus Christ. He is “put on” according to the cooperative armor; faith, hope, and the word of God.

If it is doubted that Jesus Christ is the armor of God, carefully consider the obvious. First, the Bible is Christ-centric. It is rightfully all about Jesus, both Old and New Testaments. Second, the church is not protected by its own attributes, theoretically consisting of self-ascertained truth, self-righteousness, and its own peacefulness. All three are found lacking in the practice of the New Testament church. In fact, they are the very standard by which Satan falsely accuses it of sin. Third, deliverance from the schemes of the devil is only possible by the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Fourth, Satan does not want the New Testament church to be actively armored by Jesus Christ but rather “armored” by a mere semblance of Him. Therefore, it is quite reasonable to believe Satan encourages a false, law-based interpretation.

There is no such thing as law-based armor. Nevertheless, the modern church ignorantly tries to put on the armor of God without Christ and therefore, according to law. In reality, putting on law-based armor is the equivalent of remaining unarmored. Rather than a law-based work, putting on the full armor of God is a life-based (zoe) act fulfilled with Jesus Christ through instrumentation of faith, hope, and the word of God (“word of truth”; Ephesians 1:13; Colossians 1:5; 2 Timothy 2:15).

Resist and Stand Firm

The New Testament church is not to fight back in response to the schemes of the devil. It is called to “resist” the schemes of the devil by “putting on the Lord Jesus Christ,” who is the full armor of God, and “standing firm” according to the truth of its eternal position. (cf. Romans 13:14; Ephesians 6:11, 13, 14; 1 Corinthians 15:58; 16:13; 2 Corinthians 1:24; Galatians 5:1; Philippians 1:27; 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 3:8; 2 Thessalonians 2:15; 1 Peter 5:12)

The devil would rather the New Testament church fight with him rather than armor up and stand firm. The church that chooses to fight against the schemes of the devil does so according to its own strength. Conversely, the church that chooses to address the schemes of the devil by standing firm according to eternal position is “strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.”

The New Testament church that fights against the schemes of the devil has not recognized he was already defeated. Its actions indicate it believes he is not yet defeated and continues to have some degree of authority and power. Therefore, the motive of the church to fight against Satan is fear. (cf. Philippians 1:28)

Satan encourages the New Testament church to fight against him. It produces a vicious cycle of fear and fighting that serves to distract the church from Jesus Christ.

In the past, Jesus never asked the New Testament church to help Him defeat Satan or his schemes. He did it on the cross by Himself before the church existed. In the present, the church, spiritually identified with His victory, has the privileged opportunity to cooperate against devilish schemes with the indwelling Christ. It is by grace through faith alone.

Congruent with the utter defeat of the devil, the New Testament church need only to “resist” and “stand firm” against his schemes in the “evil day.” The Apostle Paul said, “… take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.” (Ephesians 6:13)

To “resist” means to actively push back against the lies of the devil. (Ephesians 6:13; cf. James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:9) It is the opposite of passively receiving them and allowing them to influence your thinking. According to the Apostle Paul, the church “resists” by putting on the full armor of God and “standing firm.”

What does it mean to “stand firm”? Translated from the Greek word histemi (his'-tay-mee), it means to “hold your ground.” How is the New Testament church to “stand firm” against the schemes of the devil? By counting on the truth of the word of God and more specifically, its eternal position “in Christ.”

How does the New Testament church “stand firm” in Christ? It puts on the positional armor of the Lord Jesus Christ by means of the cooperative armor of faith, hope, and the word of God.

How long is the New Testament church to “stand firm”? Minutes, hours, days, months, years? God alone knows. However, the devil will ultimately relent when he recognizes he is not fighting against mankind but against Jesus Christ Himself. It is possible only when the New Testament church is armored by the attributes of the indwelling Christ (truth, righteousness, and peace; etc.) and as a result, refuses to waver from its firm stance “in Christ.”

While it is easier said than done, the New Testament church must not allow prolonged difficulty and suffering related to spiritual battle to keep it from standing firm. To “stand firm” means to not give up regardless of the intensity of the battle.

The New Testament church is to faithfully “resist” the schemes of the devil by putting on the full armor of God and standing firm according to the truth of God’s word. It is to continue regardless of the length and difficulty of adversity related to the schemes of the devil. As a result, Satan will eventually flee. The Apostle James said, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)

More to Come

Deliverance

Conclusion

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