It seems to me that many (mostly?) Of the theologically conservative biblical believers (myself included) do not think much of spiritual warfare, perhaps it is because there are mad Christians who seem to speak only of spiritual warfare, like some crazy young Calvinists. we’re just talking about predestination and choice. Or maybe it’s because everything sounds a little ghostly or scary. Or, perhaps, we don’t talk much about that because we are infected with the skepticism of modernists and “scientists” of thought, which lead us to despise “all these matters of spiritual combat” I don’t know. But I think if we don’t have categories for spiritual battle, then we’ll probably lose the battle in some area of our Christian life.
But what Reader of the New Testament can doubt the reality of our struggle in the spiritual world?Just a classic example:
- Put on all the armor of God.
- So that you may oppose the tricks of the devil because our struggle is not against blood and flesh.
- But against principalities and powers.
- Against the rulers of this dark world.
- Against the spiritual forces of evil.
- In the heavenly regions (Ephesians 6:11-12).
We have three enemies in this war: the world, the flesh and the devil. Or, because I feel strangely poetic: are there three of my enemies?Satan, the world and me. These enemies were and are mortal to us:
He gave you life, being dead in your crimes and sins, in which you walked once, according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that now works in the sons of disobedience; among whom we all walk once, according to the inclinations of our flesh, doing the will of the flesh and thoughts; and we were, by nature, children of wrath, like the others (Ephesians 2:1-3).
These three enemies have a special relationship between them in their war against us. Is it the devil, the ancient snake, the prince of this world?(John 12:31; 14:30, 16:11). As such, he leads the global system in an effort to hide the truth about God:
We know that we are of God and that the whole world is in the Evil One (1 John 5:19).
In which the god of this century blinded the understanding of the unbelievers, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, which is the image of God, may not shine upon them (2 Corinthians 4:4).
The world, under the rule of the evil one, is a system of thoughts, values, ideas and actions that express real hostility and rejection towards God and his people. Is the world irreconcilable with God?
I don’t like the world or the things of the world. If someone loves the world, the Father’s love is not in him; because everything in the world, the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes and the vainglory of life, come not from the Father, but from the world. Now the world passes, as well as its desires; but he who does God’s will remains forever (1 John 2:15-17).
Thus Satan has distorted and sabotaged the world that God has created, inventing a system that remains hopelessly hostile to the Creator. How does the world come to attack the Christian?Well, the world attacks by seducing the flesh of the Christian, the sinful desires and thoughts that remain in the Christian Let me use four biblical comments about the law as an illustration:
Thus, we too, when we were minors, were subserviently subjected to the rudiments of the world. But now that you know God or, rather, that you are known to God, how do you return, once again, to the weak and poor?rudiments, who, once again, do you still want to enslave?(Gal 4: 3, 8-9)
In the context, surprisingly, Paul’s references to the “basic principles of the world” include the same law of God, who was our teacher, observing us until the coming of Christ (3:23-25). Rule of law to touch, savour and celebrate as part of the basic principles of the world:
Make sure that no one mixes you with your philosophy and your vain subtleties, according to the tradition of men, according to the rudiments of the world and not according to Christ [?] If you died with Christ in the rudiments of the world, why, as if you lived in the world, you submit to ordinances (Colossians 2: 8, 20)
Satan rules the world to attack the Christian through his flesh in many ways. By the grace of God, we do not ignore the artifices of the enemy. I’m going to name three. First, use the world to conspire with our flesh, blinding the Christian with ineffective religious asceticism:
If you died with Christ in the rudiments of the world, why, as if you lived in the world, do you submit to ordinances?Don’t manipulate this, don’t try this, don’t touch this, according to the precepts and doctrines. men’ men? Because all these things, with use, are destroyed. Such things, in fact, have the appearance of wisdom, as a cult of oneself, and false humility and ascical rigor; however, they have no value against sensuality (Colossus 2: 20-23).
Second, Satan uses the world to strengthen our flesh in order to neglect to live in/by the Spirit of God:
For what was impossible for the law, in which he was sick of the flesh, this God did so by sending his own Son in the likeness of the flesh of sin and the flesh of sin; And in truth, God condemned sin in the flesh, that the precept of the law may be fulfilled in us, that we may not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit; for those who bow to the flesh consider the things of the flesh; But those who bow before the Spirit for the things of the Spirit; for the inclination of the flesh leads to death, but that of the Spirit to life and peace; therefore, the inclination of the flesh is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, nor can it be; Therefore, those in the flesh cannot please God (Romans 8:3-8).
Third, Satan uses the world to blind us to the fact that our sinful nature is the root of our sin and temptation:
No one, when tempted, says: I am tempted by God; because God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself does not try. On the contrary, everyone is tempted by their own greed, when it attracts and seduces them. Then greed, after conceived, gives birth to sin; and sin, consumed, begets death. (James 1: 13-15)
Three things
First, since our own desires and thoughts are the battlefield of this war, we must mortify our flesh.
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not of the flesh, which is obliged to live according to the flesh; For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; But if by the Spirit you kill the actions of the body, you will surely live; because all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God (Romans 8:12-14).
Dead meat can’t be tempting meat
Second, since the world is conspiring with our flesh against God, we must cultivate holy hatred against the world system.
And do not conform to this century, transform yourself by renewing your mind, that you may experience what is the good, pleasant and perfect will of God (Rom 12:2).
I don’t like the world or the things of the world. If someone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him; (1 John 2:15).
Third, by constantly mortifying the flesh and renewing our spirit and affection for God, we must take a stand against the devil:
As for others, strive for the Lord and the strength of His power. Put on all of God’s armor, so you can oppose the devil’s tricks. So, are you firm? (Ephesians 6: 10-11, 13-14)
Of course, all this is possible only if Christ Jesus, the Son of God is our Victory and our hope is in the One who crushed the head of the serpent (Genesis 3:15), who brought judgment against the world and defeated his prince (John 12:31), and by his Spirit that crucifies our flesh (Romans 8:13; 2 Peter 1:4).
The basic strategy of our war: Mortifying the flesh. He hates the global system. Resist the devil.
Fight happily because all of us in Christ defeat the world by faith in the Son of God (1 John 5:1-5).