The enemy has already been defeated. Christ has thoroughly routed him by His sacrificial death, bodily resurrection, and ascension to power and glory. Satan's condition, since the cross, is described as follows:
He is 'bound': Mark 3:27; Luke 11:20; Revelation 20.
His power is restricted and restrained: 2 Thessalonians 2:6.
He has been rendered 'powerless over believers': Hebrews 2:14.
He is defeated, disarmed, and spoiled: Colossians 2:15; Rev. 12:7; Mark 3:27.
He has fallen and thrown down: Luke 10:18; Rev 12:9.
His kingdom has been replaced by God's: Daniel 7; Luke 11:20.
He was crushed under the foot of early Christians: Romans 16:20.
He has lost authority over Christians: Colossians 1:13
He has been judged: John 16:11.
He cannot touch a Christian: 1 John 5:18.
His works have been destroyed: 1 John 3:8.
He has nothing: John 14:30.
He must flee when resisted: James 4:7
Surely, Satan is alive, but not well on the planet Earth!
His minions, likewise, have been cast out, subject to the authority of Christians, overcome by them, bound in chains, etc (Matthew 10-12; Mark 1:27; Luke 9:1; 10:19; 1 John 4:4; Jude 6; Rev. 12:9). Satan truly is a defeated foe! His power over unbelievers is still great: the whole world lies in the evil one 1 John 5:19; he can take them captive at his will 2 Timothy 2:26. Yet this no longer is true of the believer. Thus the Christian by God's grace (help) can overcome evil and is exhorted to do so Romans 12:21.
Recommended Reading:
Satan: A Defeated Foe by Charles Spurgeon
http://www.allbookstores.com/book/compare/0883682672
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment