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Chapter 38 - Power for the Warfare of the Eternal Church |
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The indwelling life (zoe) of Jesus Christ provides the New Testament church with an immovable foundation to “stand firm” against every scheme of the devil. His living presence is the source of incomparable power.
Accusation Satan has limited authority over the degenerated earth. He 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). From his position of limited authority, Satan accuses mankind of the transgression of the 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 the law. Thus, satanic accusation has merit in the unbelieving world. False Accusation In distinct contrast to his limited authority over the degenerated earth and its fallen inhabitants, Satan has no authority over the New Testament church. Nevertheless, it is of utmost importance to him that the church believes he retains authority. It provides his accusations of transgression with an appearance of truthfulness. To stand firm against such deceptive accusations by the indwelling life (zoe) of Christ, the New Testament church must be ever cognizant that accusation by the devil and his angels is without validity. The redemptive work of Jesus Christ removed it. By Christ’s work, the ecclesia of God was justified from all transgression of law; past, present, and future; released from the jurisdiction or dominion of the rule of law (law of sin and of death); and rescued from the domain of satanic authority. Justified from sin, it has no guilt by which Satan can rightfully accuse it of transgression. Released from the jurisdiction or dominion of the rule of law, Satan has no means to accuse the church of transgression have been eliminated. Rescued from the domain of satanic authority, Satan has no authority to accuse the church of transgression. As a result, every satanic accusation of the transgression of the law is false. Even so, the devil understands the destructive power of false accusation. He recognizes that false guilt can be as debilitating and damaging as actual guilt. Therefore, Satan schemes to entrap, debilitate and paralyze the New Testament church by false guilt. The accusations of Satan appear to have merit only when the New Testament church chooses to believe that he remains in a position of authority. The resultant presumption of guilt by the church has the potential to significantly weaken its effectiveness on earth. Although it is false guilt, it can hinder its ministry and, in appearance at least, moderate its ability to vindicate the nature of God. The satanic accusation of the unbeliever is legitimate. However, his accusation of the believer is not: |
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Satan has assaulted the New Testament church with false accusations since its inception on earth. Understanding that “the best defense is a good offense,” his accusations are often unrelenting. The outcome can be debilitating for those who are ignorant about the falsehood of satanic accusations. Concordant with the satanic scheme, they can become so consumed with the darkness that they cannot see the Light.
Abused by false accusation and guilt, the ignorant typically overlook the divine foundation for eternal warfare. Therefore, they fail to recognize that the living presence of Jesus Christ within is the source of perfect victory and incomparable power and the means by which they can stand firm against every accusation and scheme of the devil. By the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, the satanic accusation of the New Testament church was rendered powerless. He provided His ecclesia with justification from all transgression of the law, release from the jurisdiction of the rule of law (law of sin and of death), and rescue from the domain of satanic authority. Without power, the false accusations of Satan are meaningless. |
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Justification
Relative to the essential biblical doctrine of justification by grace through faith alone, the New Testament church was graciously forgiven of all transgression of divine law; past, present, and future, and declared righteous by the standard of divine law. Its justification from sin was absolute, an unconditional benefit of the redemptive Eternal Covenant. Divinely justified from sin, the New Testament church forever shares the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is “holy and blameless and above reproach” regarding every demand of the rule of law (Ephesians 1:4; 5:27; Colossians 1:22, NKJV). As a consequence, it is beyond accusation. Relative to its justification from sin, there is no debt of transgression remaining for which the New Testament church can be accused. “When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross” (Colossians 2:13-14). According to the Apostle Paul, every transgression of the rule of law has been documented for the entire human race. Paul referred to the documentation as a “certificate of debt” (Colossians 2:14). Providing an indisputable record of fallen status and a lifetime of corresponding fallen practice, the “certificate of debt” consists of “decrees against” every person that is “hostile” to them. The decrees are hostile because they establish an indefensible, legal basis for divine judgment and condemnation. The Apostle, however, indicated that the “certificate of debt” was “canceled out.” It was utterly erased or obliterated when it was “nailed to the cross” (Colossians 2:13-14). Therefore, there is no further record of transgression by the New Testament church, individually or collectively. It was paid in full by the blood of the Eternal Covenant. By the grace of God alone, the distinct church of the New Testament was absolutely and unconditionally justified from all sin. Its “certificate of debt” canceled (erased or obliterated), there is no record of transgression remaining by which Satan can legitimately accuse it of the transgression of the law. Thus, his accusations of the church are unlawful. They are invalid or “without foundation or force in fact, truth, or law.”[1]Fully justified, the New Testament church is free from condemnation related to the guilt of sin (Romans 8:1). Scripturally speaking, it has no guilt remaining of which it can be accused. Release Justified from all transgression of the law and delivered from its penalty and debt, the distinct church of the New Testament was necessarily “released” from the jurisdiction (sphere of authority) of the rule of law (law of sin and of death). “Or do you not know, brethren (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law has jurisdiction (kurieuo; ko-ree-yoo'-o; “dominion”) over a person as long as he lives? For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is living; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband. So then, if while her husband is living she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress though she is joined to another man (Romans 7:1-3; cf. 7:4-6). According to the Apostle Paul, release from the jurisdiction of the rule of law necessitates death. Thus, like the married woman in his illustration, the New Testament church had to die to the sphere of authority of the rule of law. The release of the New Testament church from the jurisdiction of the rule of law was fulfilled by the sacrificial death of Christ. The church shared the benefit of His death by co-crucifixion (Romans 6:3-7, 7:1-6; Galatians 2:20). As a result, it died to the “law through the body of Christ” (Romans 7:4). The New Testament church was not left for dead. If so, the eternal plan of God to vindicate His nature would have remained unfulfilled. Therefore, the death of the New Testament church necessitated its resurrection to new life. It died with Christ so that it could be “…joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead” (Romans 7:4). Resurrected to new life with Christ, the New Testament church could be released from the rule of law, the ministry of death and condemnation (2 Corinthians 3:7, 9). The ecclesia of God was not provided with new life capable of satisfying the righteous requirement of the rule of law, but life (zoe) in which the righteous requirement of the rule of law had already been satisfied (Romans 8:4). Co-resurrected to new life with Christ, the righteous requirement of the rule of law was fulfilled in the New Testament church. Consequently, it could be released from subjection to the rule of law and, instead, obligated to God according to the gracious rule of indwelling life (zoe). Rather than burdened with the impossible task of fulfilling the rule of law for God, the New Testament church was intimately united to Christ by means of shared life. Consequently, it exists under the gracious rule of His indwelling life (zoe) and as a result, can “serve in newness of the Spirit” and “bear fruit for God” (7:4, 6). “Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. But now we have been released from the law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter” (Romans 7:4-6). By death and resurrection with Christ, the distinct church of the New Testament was released from the jurisdiction, dominion, or sphere of authority of the rule of law (law of sin and of death) and raised to the sphere of His authority under the rule of His indwelling life (zoe). As a result, the believer's sin nature was dethroned. It was rendered powerless to control or condemn. Therefore, Satan does not have the means to accuse the New Testament church of the transgression of the rule of law. Rescue In accord with the judgment of God at the First Coming of Jesus Christ, Satan’s 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 degenerated heavens and earth or the “domain of darkness.” It is characterized not only by darkness but death and degeneration. By eternal design, the New Testament church co-exists on the degenerated earth amid fallen mankind. In contrast to the fallen residents of the earth, however, its members are not subject to satanic authority. Not only has the New Testament church been justified from all sin and released from the rule of law (law of sin and of death), but rescued from the “domain of darkness” or realm of satanic authority. The Lord Jesus provided revelation in the gospels. He said,“…how can anyone enter the strong man's house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house” (Matthew 12:29). The “strong man” of reference is Satan. His “house” or “abode” oikia (oy-kee'-ah) is the realm of his authority, the fallen heavens, and earth, the “domain of darkness.” The redemptive work of Jesus Christ served as the means by which the “strong man” was bound, and his “household” (those subject to his authority) "plundered" or rescued. The Apostle Paul presented additional detail in his epistle to the Colossians. Congruent with the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, he elaborated that the elect of the New Testament church were “rescued…from the domain of darkness (the realm of satanic authority), and transferred…to the kingdom of His beloved Son” (the realm of divine authority) (Colossians 1:13-14). Thus, they were removed from the realm of satanic authority by the redemptive work of Jesus Christ and transferred to the realm of divine authority. Transferred into the kingdom of God (the realm of divine authority), the elect of the New Testament church are no longer citizens of the “domain of darkness” and, therefore, not subject to satanic authority. Although they temporarily exist on the degenerated earth, their “citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20). Consequently, the members of the New Testament church are “strangers and pilgrims” on earth (Hebrews 11:13). Nevertheless, under the darkness of his earthly domain, Satan works with all fervency to influence the ecclesia of God to believe that it remains subject to his authority. Persuaded as such, the church remains “in the dark” about its divine rescue. By the grace of God, the New Testament church was once and for all “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 to influence or harass the New Testament church and, therefore, does not have the legal right to accuse it of transgression. |
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Summary
According to God's redemptive work in Christ, the New Testament church was justified, released, and rescued. 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 actual guilt remains by which Satan can rightfully accuse the New Testament church of transgression. Released, it was removed from the jurisdiction or sphere of authority of the rule of law (law of sin and of death). Therefore, there is no means remaining for Satan to accuse the New Testament church of transgression. Rescued, it was delivered from the domain of satanic authority, the “domain of darkness.” Therefore, Satan has no authority to accuse the New Testament church of transgression. By the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, the New Testament church has no remaining guilt of transgression. Further, Satan has no means to accuse the church of transgression and no authority to accuse it. They were eliminated by the gracious, redemptive work of the Savior. As a result, Satan’s accusations of the New Testament church of sin or the transgression of law are unwarranted. They are utterly false. |
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Rule of Life
Although released from the rule of law, the New Testament church is not without obligation to God. However, it is not fulfilled by obedience to the rule of law, but faithfulness to the rule of indwelling life (zoe) (cf. John 14:6; Acts 3:15; 5:20; Romans 5:10, 17, 21; 6:4-5, 8-11; 13-14; 7:4-6; 10; 8:1-14; 2 Corinthians 3:6; 4:10-11; 5:4; Galatians 2:19-20; 3:1-5; 27; 5:18; Ephesians 2:5-6; Philippians 1:21; Colossians 2:13; 3:1-4; 1 John 5:20; etc.). In the New Testament, the rule of life (zoe) is described as the “law of faith” (Romans 3:27), the “law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:2), the “law of Christ” (1 Corinthians 9:21; Galatians 6:2) and the “law of liberty” (James 1:25; 2:12). The New Testament makes a clear distinction between governance by law and life (zoe). In Romans 8:2 the Apostle Paul states, “…the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus (governance by the principle of indwelling life (zoe)) has set you free from the law of sin and of death (governance by the principle of law; cf. Romans 3:20; 4:15; 7:7; 2 Corinthians 3:7-9). Governance by divine life (zoe) is fulfilled by the indwelling Spirit of life (zoe). Scripturally speaking, the citizens of the kingdom “live by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25). Thus, they are by nature said to be “according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:4, 5, NIV) and “in the Spirit” (Romans 8:9). Consequently, the citizens of the kingdom of God are privileged to exist in the realm or sphere of the Spirit where they are graciously subject to governance by the Spirit of life (zoe). His governance is characterized by grace, love and fruitfulness beyond human measure (cf. Matthew 11:28-30; Romans 6:14; Galatians 5:22-23; 1 John 5:3). Governed by the Spirit of life (zoe) through the rule of life (zoe), the New Testament church does not relate to God by obedience to the commands and ordinances encompassed in the rule of law. Instead, having been made “obedient from the heart” it makes a consistent choice to walk according to the “obedience of faith” (cf. Romans 1:5; 6:17; 16:26). The intimate presence of God and the gracious, personal rule of His indwelling life (zoe) provide both the motive and power for the New Testament church to persevere in its daily walk. “…it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). Under rule of life (zoe), the conduct of the New Testament church is no longer measured in accordance with the righteous requirement of the rule of law. There is no law capable of measuring the fullness and fruitfulness of divine life (zoe) (cf. Galatians 5:22-23). Law-Based Warfare The church that is unaware of its justification from the transgression of the Adamic law, its release from the jurisdiction of the Adamic law, and its rescue from satanic authority is susceptible to law-based practice. Indeed, apart from the redemptive work of Christ, the only alternative is the practice of law. However, church practice founded on the rule of law (law of sin and of death) is spiritually powerless. The rule of law was not made for the righteous but the unrighteous (1 Timothy 1:8-11). Rather than serving as a guide for righteous living, it was designed to lead the unrighteous to the Savior, the source of the righteousness and life (zoe) necessary for righteous living (Galatians 3:24). Nevertheless, a law-based approach to church practice and, thus, spiritual warfare is strongly encouraged by Satan. The reason he encourages the practice of law should be apparent. The church that chooses to continue practicing law after receiving the Savior is not focused on His indwelling presence and gracious provision but on the transgression of the law and, consequently, debt, duty, death, and darkness. The law-based church has chosen to accept the deceptive scheme of Satan rather than the truth of God revealed in the Bible. As a result, it has fallen into his trap. The law-based church is typically ignorant about spiritual warfare and therefore, unlikely to engage in it. Consumed by works for God and consequently, transgression, guilt, confession, and condemnation, it does not have the time or energy. Although it is rare, the law-based church occasionally recognizes satanic deception. Congruent with its law-based practice, however, it is not likely to counter with anything other than a powerless, law-based response. In reality, the redemptive work of Christ provided for the New Testament church to be justified from all sin, released from the rule of law (law of sin and of death), and rescued from satanic authority. However, the law-based church has been deceived. It continues to act like employees of God rather than His children, laboring and toiling to pay off the debt of transgression. Concordant with satanic scheme, the church that practices law is demonstrating ignorance of biblical truth. The Bible clearly states that works of law are utterly incapable of reducing the debt of transgression (Galatians 2:16-21; etc.). The rule of law cannot accomplish more than the purpose for which it was designed; to reveal transgression. Therefore, the Apostle Paul clarified that works of the law are a dead end that can only lead to misery. “Wretched (miserable) man that I am!” (Romans 7:24). Satan’s law-based strategy for warfare against the New Testament church is constructed on nothing more than deception and lies. For it to bear fruit, the living (zoe) church must be ignorantly complicit. |
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Life-Based Warfare
The Bible clarifies that life (zoe) alone can overcome death and darkness. Consequently, the living (zoe) church of the New Testament must be cautious to approach spiritual battle only by the infinite power of the indwelling God. The incomparable power of divine life (zoe) within the ecclesia of God is a consistent theme in the New Testament. For example, the Apostle Paul prayed that the believers at Ephesus would know, among other things, “what is the surpassing greatness of His power” (Ephesians 19a). He explained that the power of God toward the believer is “in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come” (Ephesians 19b-21). In his prayer for the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul used four different Greek words to describe the power of God within the New Testament church: |
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It is of interest to note Paul’s usage of the four words in the rest of his letter to the Ephesians:
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The four Greek words can be defined as follows:
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As indicated by Paul’s prayer, the incomparable power of the Father, demonstrated through His resurrection of the Son, was made accessible to the New Testament church by means of shared life (cf. Ephesians 1:3-14, which delineates some of the blessings of shared life). He indicates that life shared between God and His ecclesia became available when it was “made…alive together with Christ…and raised…up with Him, and seated…with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:5-6).
In Ephesians chapter 3, Paul again prayed for the believers in ancient Ephesus. He specifically prayed that the Father would grant believers “to be strengthened (kratous) with power (dunamis) through His Spirit in the inner man.” The inner strengthening would allow Christ to dwell comfortably within the believer. Strengthened from within by divine life (zoe), the believer is “rooted and grounded in love”. Secured in the love of God, he is privileged to “comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth” of His living (zoe), indwelling presence and thereby, “know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge”. The ultimate purpose of the inner strengthening is so that the believer “may be filled up to all the fullness of the living (zoe) God” (Ephesians 3:16-19). While the love of God for His children indeed “surpasses knowledge”, the object of the phrase “breadth and length and height and depth” is not, as often presumed, the love of God in Christ. Rather, the apostle prayed that the Ephesians would comprehend the incomparable power of the indwelling life (zoe) of God in Christ. His indwelling life (zoe) is not only evidential of His love that “surpasses knowledge”; it is the source of incomparable power that is readily available to the New Testament church. The apostle’s blessing that immediately followed emphasized the incomparable power of indwelling life (zoe). “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21). The power of the living (zoe) God “that works within” the New Testament church is the same power by which Christ was resurrected and seated at the right hand of the Father far above all opposition. It is “able to do far… beyond all that we ask or think”. The life (zoe) of Christ is manifested in the New Testament church by His indwelling Spirit. He is the source of incomparable power for the church. Jesus clarified to His disciples that they would be “clothed with power from on high” by the presence of His indwelling Spirit (Luke 24:50). Jesus further stated to them, “…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you” (Acts 1:8). The Spirit of Christ indwelling His ecclesia is the source of incomparable power. The living (zoe), indwelling Spirit of Christ serves as the agency through which the incomparable power of God is manifested to the New Testament church. Thus, He provides the power for the proclamation of the Gospel, the release of captives, the giving of sight to the blind, the healing of the lame, the cleansing of lepers, the provision of hearing for the deaf, the setting free of the oppressed and the raising of the dead (Matthew 11:5; Luke 4:18). Rather than human effort, life-based warfare is waged by the living (zoe) God alone. His indwelling presence and power are characterized by an abundance of spiritual blessing, including but certainly not limited to lavish grace, life in the highest (zoe), the light of life (zoe), the security and authority of God, and His immediate presence in Jesus Christ. Although utterly defeated, Satan does his best to distract the New Testament church from the fullness of life (zoe) and power available through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. As a result, he strongly encourages the church to respond to his schemes according to the rule of law. Not only does it shift the practical focus of the church to debt, duty, death, and darkness, but it provides the motive for the church to respond to his schemes apart from its distinct advantage of infinite life (zoe) and incomparable power. Conversely, Satan fears life-based warfare. It emphasizes the victory Jesus Christ already accomplished for the benefit of His church. Consequently, life-based warfare is characterized by the fullness of grace, complete forgiveness, life in the highest, and power beyond measure. |
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Knowledge: Positional Truth
Without question, a law-based response to the schemes of the devil is ineffective. There is only one thing that causes the devil and his angels to “shudder” or tremble with fear. It is the indwelling presence of the living (zoe) Christ. Joined to Christ in an intimate union of shared life, the New Testament church is privileged to share His unconditional position of victory. According to the principle of position, the ecclesia of God is able to “stand firm” and “resist” every scheme of the devil and his angels by faith alone. Thus, it cannot be moved by satanic deception. Principle of Position The principle of position is foundational to the distinct, spiritual warfare of the New Testament church. It is a covenantal concept that serves to identify the eternal position or status of human beings in relationship to God. By disobedience to the stipulation of the Renovation Covenant, mankind was eternally positioned apart from God under the headship of Adam in a state of unholiness. In contrast, the New Testament church, redeemed by the blood of the Eternal Covenant, was eternally positioned with God under the headship of Jesus Christ in a state of holiness. Separated from God by position, mankind exists in a fallen state that is susceptible to devilish schemes. He is left to his own finite, fleshly contrivances to cope with spiritual hostility. In contrast, the redeemed of the New Testament church are eternally joined to the living (zoe) Christ in position and, therefore, equipped with the infinite life (zoe) and incomparable power necessary to “stand firm” and “resist” the devil and his schemes. New Testament Church Position More than 150 times, the New Testament describes the lofty position of the ecclesia as “in Christ,” “in Christ Jesus,” “in the Lord,” etc. They are terms reflective of its position under the federal and natural headship of Jesus Christ. The unparalleled position of the distinct church of the New Testament was graciously established by the divine fulfillment of the Eternal Covenant and the unconditional application of its benefit by the Spirit, life shared with the mediator of the covenant, Jesus Christ. In contrast, the New Testament describes the unbeliever as “in Adam” (1 Corinthians 15:22; cf. Romans 5:12-19). By the stipulations of the Renovation Covenant, the unbeliever remains positioned under the federal and natural headship of Adam. The following table provides a distinct contrast between man naturally positioned “in Adam” and supernaturally positioned “in Christ”: |
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