The Struggle

Scriptural Text:

covers the life of the Christian before and after conversion. The following is the outline: A. The Believer's Life Before Conversion: Life Without Christ (2:1-3). B. The Believer's Conversion (Part 1): The Work of God's Mercy (2:4-7). C. The Believer's Conversion (Part 2): The Work of God's Grace—Salvation (2:8-10). D. Remember What Life Is Like Since Christ Came: Reconciliation and Peace (2:11-18). E. Remember Who You Are: Six Pictures of the Church (2:19-22).

Who is Enemy?

When World War I broke out, the War Ministry in London dispatched a coded message to one of the British outposts in the inaccessible areas of Africa. The message read: “War declared. Arrest all enemy aliens in your district.”

The War Ministry received his prompt reply: “Have arrested ten Germans, six Belgians, four Frenchman, two Italians, three Austrians, and an American. Please Advice immediately who we’re at war with.”

Warfare

Warfare is military action against enemies. Literal warfare includes any battle among peoples, tribes, or nations; the concept of warfare is often used metaphorically and theologically to refer to the conflict and enmity between God and Satan, between good and evil, between Christians and the authorities and dominions of darkness, or between Christians and evil desires. The cosmic scale of warfare between God and Satan involves angels, who are called “heavenly hosts.” Reconciliation is achieved only in Jesus, who gives up his life instead of taking another’s.

Christ defeats Satan at Calvary (). Christ disarms Satan and regains rule (). Therefore,

What Is Spiritual Warfare? Spiritual warfare is the ongoing conflict against the human race with its enemies—the world, the flesh, and Satan—for the purposes of …

Spiritual warfare is the ongoing conflict against the human race with its enemies—the world, the flesh, and Satan—for the purposes of …

Spiritual warfare is the ongoing conflict against the human race with its enemies—the world, the flesh, and Satan—for the purposes of …

• keeping non-Christians from coming into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ

• rendering Christians ineffective

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air [Satan], the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature [the flesh] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.”

()

June Hunt, Biblical Counseling Keys on Spiritual Warfare: Strategy for the Battle (Dallas, TX: Hope For The Heart, 2008), 2.

The Christian life is a struggle. ;

(ESV)

; ;

29For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

(NKJV)

10For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.

The Christian life is a struggle against evil forces.

(NKJV)

12For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

The Christian life is a struggle against sin.

(ESV)

4In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

What Are the Three Enemies?

In Summary, what are the 3 enemies:

In Summary, what are the 3 enemies:

Biblical Counseling Keys on Spiritual Warfare B. What are the Three Enemies?

The World

— The word world is from the Greek word kosmos. In other contexts kosmos refers to the physical earth or the people of the earth.3

— The world is that invisible system of ideas, activities, and purposes that Satan rules in opposition to God and His rule.4

“You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” (James 4:4)

• The Flesh

— The word flesh is from the Greek word sarx. In other contexts sarx refers to the physical body.5

— The term living in the flesh refers to living out of one’s own resources instead of out of Christ’s resources.6

— The “power of sin” (Romans chapter 7) is at work through the flesh of a person, whether saved or unsaved, and is demonstrated by going one’s own way instead of God’s way.

— In Romans 7:18–25, sarx is better translated “flesh” not “sinful nature.”

“I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature [flesh]. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.” (Romans 7:18)

• The Devil (Satan)

— The word devil is from the Hebrew word Satan, which means “adversary or enemy.”7

— The devil is the supreme adversary of God and is leader of the spiritual forces of evil.

— The devil is a created angelic being who rebelled against God, was thrown out of heaven, and was given earth as his temporary domain.

— A demon is an evil spirit, a fallen angel who chose to follow Satan, his commander-in-chief, and who continues to obey his commands. In Greek, daimonion means “spirit.”8

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’ ” (Matthew 25:41)

C. What Are the Strongholds?

• A military stronghold is a secure or fortified place dominated by enemy or friendly forces.9

• A spiritual stronghold is a deeply rooted thought pattern dominated by our three opponents—10

— worldly thinking

— fleshly habits

— satanic influences

“Though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” (2 Corinthians 10:3–4)

Q “When will this spiritual battle be over?”

For now, the kingdom of God and this present age coexist. A time will come when God eradicates all evil and judges Satan and his army—throwing them into the lake of fire. (Read Revelation 20:7–21:8.) This will be the end of ways as they are now and the beginning of a new order.

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)

The World— The world is that invisible system of ideas, activities, and purposes that Satan rules in opposition to God and His rule. (James 4:4)

— The word world is from the Greek word kosmos. In other contexts kosmos refers to the physical earth or the people of the earth.3

— The world is that invisible system of ideas, activities, and purposes that Satan rules in opposition to God and His rule.4

“You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” ()

The Flesh— The term living in the flesh refers to living out of one’s own resources instead of out of Christ’s resources.

— The term living in the flesh refers to living out of one’s own resources instead of out of Christ’s resources.6

— The “power of sin” (Romans chapter 7) is at work through the flesh of a person, whether saved or unsaved, and is demonstrated by going one’s own way instead of God’s way.

— In , sarx is better translated “flesh” not “sinful nature.”

“I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature [flesh]. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.” ()

The Devil (Satan)

— The word devil is from the Hebrew word Satan, which means “adversary or enemy.”

— The devil is the supreme adversary of God and is leader of the spiritual forces of evil.

— The devil is a created angelic being who rebelled against God, was thrown out of heaven, and was given earth as his temporary domain.

— A demon is an evil spirit, a fallen angel who chose to follow Satan, his commander-in-chief, and who continues to obey his commands. In Greek, daimonion means “spirit.”

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’ ” ()

What Are the Strongholds?

• A military stronghold is a secure or fortified place dominated by enemy or friendly forces.

A spiritual stronghold is a deeply rooted thought pattern dominated by our three opponents— worldly thinking— fleshly habits— satanic influences (2 Cor 10:3-4)

— worldly thinking

— fleshly habits

— satanic influences

“Though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” ()

Q “When will this spiritual battle be over?”

For now, the kingdom of God and this present age coexist. A time will come when God eradicates all evil and judges Satan and his army—throwing them into the lake of fire. (Read .) This will be the end of ways as they are now and the beginning of a new order.

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” ()