The Lord Jesus is pictured in Scripture as a Mighty Warrior leading the armies of heaven to put a final end to evil: "Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war" (see Revelation 19:11-16).
But the victory is not primarily, or even first of all, a future event. Christ in his first coming was the Divine Warrior who conquered sin and the dark powers of evil by his perfect life and redeeming death and resurrecton. "He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him" (Colossians 2:15).
To stand firm as soldiers of Christ, we must concentrate all our thought on the Captain of our salvation, leaning on him and not relying on ourselves. Christ is in our midst, "a warrior who gives victory" (Zephaniah 3:17), and that is what we must set before our minds. Christ Jesus has won the war, won the decisive victory over the world, the flesh, the devil, and death itself. And now he is pressing the victory against the dark powers.
This is the real picture of spiritual warfare. This is the reality we must insist on when the father of lies calls us "losers" and "failures" and brags that he has the upper hand.
Christ has already conquered and now he sits enthroned at the Father's right hand, far above every rule and authority--far above Satan and all his foul spirits. And this is also is the truth about the followers of Christ:
But the victory is not primarily, or even first of all, a future event. Christ in his first coming was the Divine Warrior who conquered sin and the dark powers of evil by his perfect life and redeeming death and resurrecton. "He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him" (Colossians 2:15).
To stand firm as soldiers of Christ, we must concentrate all our thought on the Captain of our salvation, leaning on him and not relying on ourselves. Christ is in our midst, "a warrior who gives victory" (Zephaniah 3:17), and that is what we must set before our minds. Christ Jesus has won the war, won the decisive victory over the world, the flesh, the devil, and death itself. And now he is pressing the victory against the dark powers.
This is the real picture of spiritual warfare. This is the reality we must insist on when the father of lies calls us "losers" and "failures" and brags that he has the upper hand.
Christ has already conquered and now he sits enthroned at the Father's right hand, far above every rule and authority--far above Satan and all his foul spirits. And this is also is the truth about the followers of Christ:
- Our sin and guilt are forgiven and taken away by his blood shed on the cross.
- We are new people in Christ, children of God, saints (holy ones) of God.
- We are seated with Christ in the heavenly places (Ephesians 1:20-22; 2:6).
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