Resisting the Devil

“Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions

are accomplished in your brethren,

that are in the world.”

(1 Peter 5:9)

Why do the Scriptures call upon the children of God to resist the devil when we are told in the Word of God that the LORD Jesus defeated Satan by His life, death, burial, resurrection and ascension into glory? [Genesis 3:15, John 12:31, Hebrews 2:14-15] Yes, Satan has been defeated by Christ’s death for God’s elect, yet, according to God’s purpose, he goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom He may destroy, 1 Peter 5:8. Knowing this to be so, we are then exhorted in 1 Peter 5:9 to resist him. How? In two ways.

1). Being steadfast in the FAITH. Wherever you see those two words, THE FAITH, you can substitute the name of the LORD Jesus Who is the Object of True Faith and is revealed in the hearts of those for whom Christ died by the Spirit of God. This is not a call for us to pump up some personal belief with which to defend ourselves against the wiles of the devil but rather to remain steadfast in THE FAITH (Christ) and His complete work accomplished for God’s children, for whom He has been made wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption, 1 Corinthians 1:30. The devil can certainly trouble and afflict God’s children in any way that the LORD may ordain but He cannot possess or draw away into condemnation anyone for whom Christ paid the debt.

2). Taking consolation in “knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren, that are in the world.” Our Consolation is Christ and His finished work [2 Corinthians 1:5] but there is also comfort in knowing that: “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13) Whatever the trial or affliction, we can rest assured in knowing that such has been the same that others have endured by the Grace of God and that THE WAY of escape is always CHRIST THE WAY. He ever lives to intercede on behalf of those for whom He paid their sin debt, Hebrews 7:25. By the Spirit of Grace, our eyes are fixed on HIM, Hebrews 12:2.

Satan desired to sift Peter as wheat (toss him to and fro as wheat is in a sieve). However, he was wheat and not a tare and therefore safe by the intercession of the LORD Jesus for him, Luke 22:31. His betrayal of the LORD was just as evil as that of Judas but Christ was his Redeemer and Judas was a son of perdition, John 17:12. Satan might accuse [Revelation 12:10] and yes, we rightly deserve nothing but hell and damnation. Yet, in THE FAITH (faithfulness) of Jesus, not our own, we are saved, justified and sanctified sinners by Christ’s shed blood unto death. There is therefore now no condemnation against an adopted son of God, Romans 8:34. In HIM we stand fast, or rather HE Who is our FAITH holds us fast!