It is rarely remembered that one of the reasons why Jesus Christ came into this world was to overcome Satan. In part, this forgetfulness is due to the fact that some of our contemporaries are not very comfortable with references to the devil. To mention it even immediately places those who do it in an outdated and outdated position. It is not exactly fashionable to believe in the existence of Satan and, if it appears, it is by way of caricature or ridicule. Even so, many others still believe in the devil and his powers. We see it in the various forms adopted by the occult in our day.
In his "Letters of the devil to his nephew" the writer C.S. Lewis admirably summarized our modern attitudes towards Satan: "As far as the devils are concerned, the human race can fall into two equal and opposite errors. One consists in not believing in its existence. The other, in believing in the devils and feeling for them an excessive and unhealthy interest. The devils are equally flattered by both errors, and welcome a materialist with the same enthusiasm as a sorcerer. " In the Bible, Satan appears as the great enemy of God. If God is the author of life, the devil is the author of death. Without completely nullifying the full human responsibility behind events like Auschwitz, or those of the murderous shooter in the mosques of Christchurch in New Zealand, Jesus points to the fact that violent and homicidal attitudes have an intimate and obscure relationship with satanic activity : John 8:44.
Therefore, the New Testament connects the work of Christ on the cross with the defeat of Satan and all his hosts. Christ has come to bring life and life in abundance, John 10.10. To bring life and immortality to light, Jesus had to disarm Satan. In the Gospel of Luke, for example, we read that: "When the strong armed man keeps his palace, in peace is what he has.
But when another stronger than he comes and overcomes him, he takes away all his weapons in which he trusted, and distributes the spoils, "Luke 11: 21,22. The context of these words, which appear in the three synoptic gospels, shows that Jesus has in mind Satan, also known as Beelzebub, the prince of demons. Christ, through this illustration, shows us that he has come to the rescue of the captives of the devil, that evil usurper of God's creation. The Apostle John presents it thus: "For this the Son of God appeared, to undo the works of the devil," 1 John 3: 8. John affirms that all the evil that the evil one has done will be thwarted by Jesus Christ. The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews also echoes the work of Christ regarding Satan, when he states that: "So, because the children partook of flesh and blood, he also participated in the same, to destroy by the death to which he had the rule of death, that is, to the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were throughout their lives subject to servitude, "Hebrews 4: 14,15. Here we see the tremendous compassion of Christ for a humanity deceived by Satan, and subject to death and fear.
But the big question we have to ask ourselves is how did Christ defeat Satan? The answer that the same Scriptures give us is that he did it on the cross. The clearest passage in this regard is the one we find in the Epistle of Paul to the Colossians: "And to you, being dead in sins ... he gave you life together with him, forgiving all your sins, canceling the decree of the decrees that there was against us, which was contrary to us, taking it out of the way and nailing it to the cross, and stripping the principalities and powers, he exhibited them publicly, triumphing over them on the cross ", Colossians 2: 13-15. Principalities and powers is the way in which the Apostle Paul refers to Satan and his fallen angels. These terms describe the dominion and authority of the evil one and his hosts. Only the Son of God can defeat them. And he did, the passage holds, on the cross. Human beings have sinned. We are guilty We deserve to receive the punishment of our transgression of the Law of God which is death in all its dimensions, spiritual, physical and eternal. But the text says that Christ has forgiven us. He did it on the cross, by paying He there, as our Substitute, the debts incurred for our sins. By forgiving our sins, He has freed us from Satan and his powers.
Christ has nullified the base of our Adversary to accuse us and ask for death for our sins: that record of the decrees that were against us and that was against us. But, because of the work of Christ on the cross, the debt has been canceled, all our sins wiped out, exclusively because of Christ's sacrifice on Calvary. That is why Paul, after the events of Calvary, can confidently affirm: "Who will accuse the chosen ones of God? God is the one who justifies ", Romans 8:33. Therefore, in the book of Revelation we read that the church that Christ has redeemed has overcome Satan: "through the blood of the Lamb", Revelation 12:11. Our diabolical adversaries have been defeated, disarmed and publicly degraded by the victory of Christ on the cross. In the symbolic language of Revelation again, Satan has been "cast out," Revelation 12: 9,10.
The confirmation of this victory of Christ on the cross is precisely his resurrection from the dead. If Christ had not canceled our sins on the cross, then he would not have risen from the dead. The Apostle Peter declares that, to the risen Christ and ascended to the right hand of God, "angels, authorities and powers are subject to him", 1 Peter 3:22. The announcement of the resurrection is also that of the defeat of Satan and his hosts that took place already on the cross. The resurrection is the most palpable demonstration of the victory of the Son of God over sin and Satan, is the vindication of Jesus as The Son of God, Romans 1: 4. Paul adds that only the abolition of death itself remains in the Second Coming of Christ.
Christianity is, fundamentally, the announcement of a victory and of an overcomer, Jesus Christ. That triumph is, equally, that of his church since the victory of the Lord Jesus extends over all who believe in Him and come to Himself to be His. It is true that the consummation of triumph is yet to come, with the Second Coming of Christ. Then, even death itself will be destroyed, 1 Corinthians 15:26. Meanwhile, we have to resist the devil. We are still asking in prayer: "lead us not into temptation and deliver us from the evil one", Matthew 6:13. But, we pray with hope, knowing that it is a defeated enemy.
This is the great and glorious message of the Christian faith: We celebrate a Victor, Jesus Christ. To Him who offers that triumph to all who receive Him by faith as Lord and Savior. Is He your Lord and Savior?