Foes Of Our Faith (1)

by T.M. Hyland, Birkenhead | Category: Foes Of Our Faith | Jan 1970

When sin invaded the universe to challenge divine authority and to threaten God's gracious design that creation should reveal His glory, the battle was joined between good and evil, between the Creator and His adversaries. The origin of evil remains a mystery among the secret things which belong unto the LORD our God (Deuteronomy 29.29), but it is clear that the challenge of sin antedated man's creation. The intrusion into the garden of Eden of an arch-enemy of God demonstrates this, and it is implied in various passages 6f Scripture (Isaiah 14.12-15; Ezekiel 28.12-17; compare, Luke 10.18).

In his rebellion against the Most High, Satan gained the allegiance of a mighty host of celestial beings who became his vassals. In both the Old and the New Testament writings there is abundant evidence of the activities of spiritual hosts of wickedness who wage constant warfare against the God of heaven. These spirit legions are highly organized under the leadership of the Devil, who was designated by our Lord, "the prince of this world" (John 12.31). Their impact on human affairs is profound.

The skill of God's adversary is seen in the strategy he employed to bring about the downfall of our first parents, Adam and Eve. Lifted up by his pride Satan nursed the delusion that he could outwit his Creator. What madness! His victory in Eden but sowed the seeds of his own doom. A "second Man" would arise to be his conqueror. The Son of God, the Heir of all things, would enter His own world as Man to meet His adversary in face-to-face combat. Not only would He defeat Satan completely and finally; He would also rescue from Adam's fallen race men of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, create them anew, and conform them to His image (Romans 8.29). He would create a new earth, and people it with redeemed mankind. Satan and his hosts of evil would be banished, and sin would never again lift its ugly head to disturb the harmony of God's creation. Thus, in infinite wisdom, God met the challenge of His great adversary. He is using the ages of time to expose the enormity and the futility of sin, and the ruin that comes in its wake:

"0 the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgements, and His ways past tracing out!" (Romans 11.33).

During the days of His flesh our Lord was in constant combat with the Devil and all his works. The Gospel narratives abound with references to demoniac activity. This was the crucial phase of the great conflict of the ages; the powers of darkness were marshalled against the Son of Man:

Earth trembles in the scale,

Yet knows not of the fight,

And if her fearful foe prevail,

It will be always night.

Blinded by satanic treachery the rulers of Israel hounded our Lord to Golgotha, where the battle reached its climax. They were completely unaware that this was the place chosen by God to settle once and for all the challenge of sin and Satan. There the lonely Sufferer on the middle cross, bruised and scarred in the battle, vanquished His great adversary; the Seed of the woman trampled on the Serpent's head. The second Man prevailed.

The defeat at Golgotha sealed the doom of Satan. But Scripture indicates that until the time of his final banishment (Revelation 20.10) his opposition to God and to His Christ will continue unabated. Our concern here is to discover from Scripture his tactics in the present age so that we may not be ignorant of his devices.

During the present age the central purpose of God is the formation of the Church which is 'Christ's Body (Ephesians 1.22, 23). This is an area secure from satanic interference; "the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16.18). Each member of that glorious Church is safe because of his union with Christ, the Head of the Body. So far as mankind in general is concerned the New Testament writings make clear that one of the prime objectives of Satan is to retain men in their state of alienation from God. The freedom secured by the Redeemer's death must be embraced by faith. The gospel is a universal proclamation offering liberty to sin's captives. The Devil's purpose is to veil the message, and to blind "the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel ... should not dawn upon them" (2 Corinthians 4.4). This solemn consideration should be borne in mind by all preachers of the gospel. They are heralds of the message of liberation by which Satan's captives may be wrested from his power. Their mission is, "To open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God" (Acts 26.18). Only by the power of the Spirit of God can this be accomplished.

When sin gained a foothold in mankind it brought not merely a bias towards evil but a dislocation of man's relationship to God. Sin became rooted in the depths of his being. This is emphasized frequently in the New Testament; in particular, in the first three chapters of the epistle to the Romans. In summing up his indictment of sin as a dominating force in human nature, Paul affirms, "they are all under sin". Then he recites what sin has done to man (Romans 3.9-18). This is what gives Satan so much power over men-he has an ally in man's constitution; an evil principle designated "the flesh". The motive force of unrenewed man lies here. He lives in the lusts of his flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind (Ephesians 2.3).

In this state of alienation from God men walk "according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience" (Ephesians 2.2). The term "world" in this context describes a system of human affairs arranged to gratify "the flesh". "The course of this world" is directed by "the prince of the power of the air", who is the god of this age "the whole world lieth in the evil one" (1 John 5.19). This is the picture the New Testament gives of the extent of satanic influence in human affairs. It is a terrifying exposure, but it is the truth. The gifts bestowed on man by God are exploited by the Devil; human culture is permeated by his influence. And the strategy of Satan is not always manifestly malignant. In his scheme there is spurious religion with high-sounding ideals, "for even Satan fashioneth himself into an angel of light" (2 Corinthians 11.14). Present trends in the world give obvious confirmation of the working of Satan in human society.

We have sketched from Scripture an outline of the great conflict between God and His adversaries and of the spiritual forces engaged in it. In taking the measure of the foes of our faith we must assess the strength of this formidable alliance the world, the flesh and the Devil-and learn how to withstand

it. We referred earlier to the great struggle of Satan to retain mankind in spiritual bondage. What of those who have accepted the terms of liberation and have been set free by the Redeemer? While we may take comfort and encouragement from the knowledge that all the powers of evil will eventually be broken, and that the creation itself will be delivered from the bondage of corruption, nevertheless, as Christians, we cannot stand aside from the present phase of spiritual conflict. By our union with Christ our cause is safe in His keeping, we have the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15.57). But the conflict between God and the Devil has not yet terminated, and the Christian is called to play his part in it as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. He is encouraged to "fight the good fight of the faith" (1 Timothy 6.12). The Captain of our salvation, the Victor of Golgotha, requires our service in the present conflict with the powers of darkness.

In our consideration of Christian conflict it is well to enquire where the believer stands in relation to "the flesh". We have already pointed out that this evil principle in man's constitution is an ally of the Devil. What happens to "the flesh" when the believer is born anew? As to his standing, he is not now in the flesh, but in the Spirit" (Romans 8.9). As to his experience,

"the flesh" is not eradicated but coexists with the new nature imparted by the Holy Spirit at the new birth. So that it is correct to say that the believer is not "in the flesh" although "the flesh" is still in the believer. This brings tension and conflict, "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary the one to the other; that ye may not do the things that ye would" (Galatians 5.17). The way of victory is to "walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh" (Galatians 5.16).

Thus we see that the world, the flesh and the Devil are at war with the Christian-these are the foes of our faith. So close is the liaison between these forces that it is not always possible to decide the source of the attack. We live in a world dominated by the Devil. A list of "the works of the flesh" is given in Galatians 5.19-21. If this list is examined it will be observed that here are predominant characteristics in human relations in this late-twentieth century These sinful passions are gilded and glamorized. All the ingenuity of modern persuasion techniques is employed to make sin attractive. A very serious threat to ourselves as Christians is that we allow this climate to impair our spiritual sensitivity, and cause us to drop our guard and become casualties in the conflict.

Discerning Christians recognize that today Satan's attack is directed principally to the region of the mind. Here the battle is won or lost. Hence the great need to guard the citadel of our minds. Paul's words have a pointed application here: "We do not war according to the flesh (for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh ...; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10.3-5).

Editors consider that this important subject warrants careful attention by God's people. They have arranged for a series of articles to appear monthly during the present year, if the Lord will, under the general heading, "Foes of our Faith". These articles will cover in greater detail the area outlined in this introductory article. They will emphasize the spiritual dangers to which we are exposed in the modern world, and point the way to victory in the strength of the Lord. It is hoped that the articles will be helpful and will encourage fellow-soldiers to fight the good fight of the Faith and to lay hold on the life eternal.

Oh, the banner of love!

It will cost you a pang to hold,

But 'twill float in triumph o'er the field above,

Though your heart's blood stain its fold.

T.M. Hyland, Birkenhead | Jan 1970
Foes Of Our Faith