Distinct Warfare of the New Testament Church

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Eternal Warfare

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“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).

The Apostle Paul plainly identified the opposition of the New Testament church as the “rulers...the powers...the world forces of this darkness...the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places”. According to his description, the spiritual enemy of the ecclesia is Satan and the multitude of angels who chose to rebel against God before the foundation of the world (cf. Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:12-19; 2 Corinthians 2:11; Ephesians 2:2; 1 Thessalonians 2:18; Revelation 12:9; etc.).

According to Paul, the devil and his angels are arrayed in a spiritual
hierarchy of evil for the purpose of destroying the distinct church of the New Testament. Therefore, it is compelled to engage in “wrestling, struggle or hand-to-hand combat” with its spiritual enemy.[1]

In the history of the church many different responses to the opposition of the devil and his angels have been presented, proposed, penned and promoted. Without biblical precedent, however, they are ineffective and even deceptive in origin.

In contrast, the Bible reveals only one approach that is effective against spiritual opposition. It begins and ends with Jesus Christ. His ministry provides the New Testament church with the necessary position, power and protection for standing firm and resisting every scheme of the devil.

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Origins

The eternal kingdom of God was originally populated with angelic beings (Job 38:7; Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 148:1-6). They were created holy, immortal and spiritual in nature (Matthew 25:31; Mark 8:38; Luke 9:26; 20:36; Hebrews 1:14).

Satan was one of the most remarkable of the angelic beings. He “had the seal of perfection” and was “full of wisdom and perfect in beauty” (Ezekiel
28:12). He is further described as having been beautiful and splendorous (Ezekiel 28:17). Possibly the most extraordinary of angelic beings, he served God in the role of high priest on the original, eternal earth.

In spite of his lofty position in the kingdom, Satan coveted the glory of the King. Therefore, he devised a scheme by which he would challenge God for His throne.

The satanic scheme was founded on his presumption that the attributes of the nature of God could not be expressed concurrently in an unbiased manner. Specifically, Satan questioned whether or not God could demonstrate love and mercy together with justice. Believing the aforementioned attributes to be contradictory to one another, he resolved to test the sovereignty of God. Satan was convinced that his scheme would reveal God as vulnerable and weak and, thus, susceptible to deposition.

Understanding the potential advantage of co-conspirators, Satan persuaded many of the angels to join him in his rebellion against God (Revelation 12:3-4). By the “abundance” of his unrighteous “trade”(trafficking or conspiring) he convinced about one-third of the angels that his plan would succeed (Ezekiel 28:16, 18; Matthew 25:41; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6; Revelation 12:3-4). As a result, they willingly abandoned their privileged citizenship in the kingdom of God and followed his lead (Matthew 25:41; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6; Revelation 12:3-4).

God answered the rebellious challenge of the devil and his angels in the only manner possible; in perfect accord with the attributes of His nature. Therefore, they experienced His judgment and were sentenced to separation in “eternal fire” (Matthew 25:41).

The judgment and sentencing of the devil and his angels was immediate (cf. John 16:11). However, the serving of their sentence was postponed by God (Isaiah 24:21-22; Matthew 8:29; Romans 16:20; Revelation 20:10). Separation in “eternal fire” for the devil and his angels was temporarily suspended to allow God the opportunity to vindicate His nature and silence any lasting presumption of vulnerability.

While waiting to serve their eternal sentence, the devil and his angels were banished to a darkened existence outside of the kingdom of God. Estranged from the King, the fallen angels were separated from the immediate presence of divine life.

Exiled to the “domain of darkness” the devil and his angels were no longer obligated to God under rule of life (zoe). Instead, they were necessarily subjected to the rule of law. It purposefully restricted their freedom.

The angelic challenge of the divine nature not only caused death and degeneration, but significant destruction. It resulted in the irreparable deformation of their habitat; the original, eternal earth.

In the beginning the earth had not been characterized by ruin, emptiness (“formless and void”) and darkness (Genesis 1:1-2). Isaiah informs, “He is the God who formed the earth and made it, He established it and did not create it a waste place, but formed it to be inhabited” (Isaiah 45:18).

The earthly characteristics of ruin, emptiness and darkness were the result of the angelic rebellion. Darkness is frequently symbolic of divine judgment in the Bible.

Relative to their rebellion and the consequent judgment of God, the devil and his angels presently exist in an unenviable position of separation from God and banishment from His kingdom. Their position apart from God is characterized by spiritual death, degeneration of life, darkness, relative destruction and, by necessity, rule of law.

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Vindication: Renovation

According to eternal plan, God renovated the original, devastated, uninhabitable heavens and earth to be inhabited once again. Concordant with great wisdom, God renovated the earth within the guidelines of covenantal law.

The Renovation Covenant provided a protective, legal framework by which God unveiled and secured His eternal purpose and plan for the renovated earth and its inhabitants (Genesis 1:2-31). Congruent with predetermined stipulation, its legal framework served to clarify His intention beforehand. God’s subsequent fulfillment of covenantal stipulation demonstrated His veracity and served to further protect Him from accusation of wrongdoing. Consequently, His sovereignty was not subject to challenge and would not be viewed as vulnerable and weak or susceptible to deposition.

The renovated earth was perfect. It lacked nothing. As a result, God pronounced every aspect of His renovation “good” and His holy angels rejoiced (Genesis 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31; Job 38:4-7).

In harmony with His eternal plan, God allowed the devil and his angels access to the renovated heavens and earth. Separated from Him, however, their access to the renovated earth was necessarily moderated by law. Accountable to God by measure of law, the devil and his angels access to the renovated earth and its inhabitants would contribute to the fulfillment of eternal purpose (Job 1:6-12; 2:1-6; Romans 8:38; James 4:7; 1 John 5:18).

The earth was not renovated to serve as a habitat for spiritual, angelic beings, but a new type of creature; mankind (Genesis 1:26-30). In contrast to the angelic beings, humanity was created with a physical or material body.

By stipulation of the Renovation Covenant, the human race was originally designed as one collective entity. When God said, “Let us make man in our image” He was not referring to an individual human being, but the entire human race (Genesis 1:26). The Hebrew noun for “man” ('adam) was used in a collective sense.

The first man, Adam, was appointed by God as the representative, covenantal head of humanity. All of his descendants, the entire human race; past, present and future, comprise his covenantal body (cf. Genesis 1:26-27).

Congruent with the legal stipulations of the Renovation Covenant, mankind, represented by Adam, was given legal authority over the earth and its creatures. “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth’. God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth’” (Genesis 1:26-28).

God planned to vindicate His nature in accordance with the newly renovated earth and its human population. He would demonstrate to the angelic host that humanity would willingly choose obedience of life (zoe) and therefore, intimacy of eternal fellowship. Thus, the rebellious accusation and challenge of the fallen angels would be proven wrong and the nature of God would be vindicated.

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Fallen Angelic Response

While Satan wasn’t cognizant of the entire plan of God, he was clear about Adam’s purpose on earth. It did not go unnoticed by him that God had replaced him in the kingdom with an inferior being. Further, it was clear to Satan that Adam had been awarded representative authority over the renovated earth.

Within the legal guidelines of the Renovation Covenant, Satan schemed to deceive Adam into relinquishing his legal, God appointed authority over the earth. The success of his scheme would not only allow him to regain
authority on earth, but demonstrate to God that all of His creatures were incapable of obedience. Thus, the judgment of the devil would appear unjust and he would be exonerated.


                                       Fall of Mankind

God had warned Adam and Eve not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It was the one condition of the Renovation Covenant and, therefore, the solitary means by which they could remain in covenant relationship with God.

Aware of the conditional stipulation of the Renovation Covenant not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, Satan manipulated Eve into questioning its veracity. In the guise of a serpent he deceived her. Tragically, she chose to believe Satan’s lie and ate from the forbidden tree. As forewarned, Eve suffered separation from God, immediate spiritual death and, consequently, began the long slow decline to physical death.

Relative to Eve’s transformation, Adam was forced to make an extremely difficult choice. He could reject his beloved bride and allow her to experience her appointed destiny without him. It would be both lonely and heart wrenching. Conversely, Adam could choose to remain in union with Eve by eating of the prohibited tree and join her in rebellious separation from God. Ultimately, Adam was forced to choose between God and His beloved Eve.

Rather than Adam, Satan had originally deceived Eve into eating from the forbidden tree (1 Timothy 2:14). However, by his deception of Eve he was able to manipulate Adam into disobeying God.

While Eve chose to rebel against covenantal stipulation because of deception, Adam did so willfully. As a result, he abdicated his God-given authority to rule the earth. Relative to the fall of Adam, the divinely appointed high priest of the earth and representative/representational head of humanity, the entire human race and its earthly habitat were subjected to a fallen state of degeneration and darkness.

By the success of his scheme, Satan regained some of his previous status and authority. Therefore, he presently and temporarily holds the legal titles of “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31) and “the god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4). According to the Apostle John, “….the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19).

Nevertheless, the present status and authority of Satan related to the renovated, fallen earth is but a distant shadow of the former glory he once enjoyed. Rather than ruling the pristine, original earth, however, his moderated authority extends only over the heavens and earth in their degenerated form, collectively described as the “domain of darkness” (Colossians 1:13).

Under the fallen headship of Adam, the entire human race became legally unsuitable and organically incompatible with God:

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Category	Position in Adam	Reference
Legally Unsuitable:	Guilty of the transgression of the rule of law (sin); Burdened by the unpayable legal debt of transgression; Unrighteous according to measure of the rule of law.	cf. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Colossians 2:14; 2 Peter 2:9
Organically Incompatible:	Unfavorable for habitation by divine life (zoe): Degenerated at physical birth, Separated from God by spiritual death; Independent life; Earthly; Controlled by a degenerated nature.	cf. Acts 10:42; Romans 4:17; 11:15; 14:9; Ephesians 2:1, 5; Colossians 2:13; 2 Timothy 4:1

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Relative to its legal unsuitability and organic incompatibility, mankind was relegated to a fallen realm of existence apart from God:

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Category	Position in Adam
Realm of Existence:	The realm of sin and death.	Romans 5:12; 21; 8:2

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The fallen realm of existence is characterized by a distinct familial standing, citizenship, security, and style of governance:

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Category	Position in Adam	Reference
Familial Standing:	Children of men (“according to the flesh”).	cf. John 1:13; Romans 8:4-5; 9:3
Citizenship:	Earthly.	Genesis 12:3; Psalm 10:18; Jeremiah 25:30; Zephaniah 1:17-18; John 3:31
Security:	Temporally and eternally insecure.	Romans 2:8-9; 2 Thessalonians 2:12
Style of Governance:	Consequent to a state of disobedience from the heart, governed externally by rule of law.	Mark 7:20-23; Romans 1:29-31

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Under the fallen headship of Adam the human race was rendered both legally unsuitable and organically incompatible with God. Therefore, it was necessarily separated from King and kingdom.

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Vindication: Redemption

Separation from God resulted in an unenviable state of existence for humanity. According to covenantal stipulation, the entire human race, inclusive of covenantal head and body, was subjected to death, degeneration and darkness.

The devil and his angels were excited that their plan of deception was successful and, as a result, mankind was reduced to a state of existence not unlike their own. Nevertheless, their exultation was short-lived.

Satan was unaware that God had planned before the foundation of the world to remedy the fall of the human race. The Messiah or Christ (the Anointed) was foundational to His plan to vindicate His nature from angelic challenge and accusation. By His sacrificial death and subsequent resurrection Christ Jesus would fulfill the stipulations of the unconditional Eternal Covenant (Isaiah 53:10; Acts 2:23-24; Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 1:20-21; etc.). Congruent with divine justice, it would allow fallen mankind to be restored to a state of legal suitability and organic compatibility with God. As a result, the restored would be made acceptable to accommodate and share the indwelling life of the Christ, the mediator of the Eternal Covenant.

To the bewilderment of the devil, the eternal plan of God to vindicate His nature included His own sacrificial death and resurrection. Thus, the redemptive work of Christ Jesus was essential. It constituted an unbiased, concurrent demonstration of His selfless love, unfailing mercy and absolute justice.

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Utter Defeat

Satan was utterly defeated by the redemptive work of Jesus Christ:

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Defeat of Satan

1. The defeat of Satan was initiated on earth by the arrival of God manifested in human flesh, Jesus the Christ.

Through the Christ the redemptive presence of God entered into the realm of satanic authority, the “domain of darkness”.
He established the precedent for divine life (zoe) indwelling mankind on the darkened earth.

2. The defeat of Satan was advanced by the demonstrative ministry of Jesus Christ.

The earthly ministry of the Christ was inclusive of His defeat of the devil in His wilderness temptation.
More generally, the earthly ministry of the Christ included the proclamation of the Gospel, the release of captives, the healing of the sick, the oppressed set free and the dead raised (Matthew 11:5; Luke 4:18).
The entire earthly ministry of the Christ provided a clear demonstration of the attributes of the divine nature, including but not limited to the attributes of selfless love, unfailing mercy and absolute justice.

3. The defeat of Satan was advanced by the fulfillment of the rule of law on earth.

Concordant with eternal plan, fallen mankind on earth is subject to the rule of law.

The rule of law is “holy and righteous and good”.
The righteous requirement of the rule of law for fallen mankind is perfect obedience.
The justice of God demands the fulfillment of the righteous requirement of the rule of law.
In spite of its demand, fallen mankind does not possess the capacity to fulfill the righteous requirement of the rule of law. He is unrighteous by nature.
Moreover, the rule of law does not include any provision to help the fallen fulfill its righteous requirement of perfect obedience.
For benefit of the fallen, the sole purpose of the rule of law was to reveal transgression or sin and, thereby, clarify the need of fallen mankind for a Savior.
Relative to the incapacity of fallen mankind to fulfill the righteous requirement of the rule of law, the redemption of the fallen necessitated its fulfillment by the mediatorial work of the Savior.

As evidenced in the New Testament, the requirement of the rule of law on earth was fulfilled by His lifetime of righteous obedience.

Perfectly fulfilling the requirement of the rule of law in the New Testament church, God imputed the righteousness of Christ to the New Testament church.
While Satan can justly accuse the fallen of transgression of the rule of law, he cannot justly accuse the redeemed of the New Testament church of transgression.
Satan was disarmed against the New Testament church by Christ’s fulfillment of the rule of law.

Nevertheless, the transgression of the rule of law remains the Satan’s primary point of contention with mankind. He is the “father of lies”.

4. The defeat of Satan was advanced when the unconditional benefit of the Eternal Covenant was applied to the elect of the New Testament church.

The willing death of Jesus the Christ paid in full the penalty and debt of all human transgression of the rule of law.
Demonstrating His acceptance of the efficacy of the sacrificial death, the heavenly Father fulfilled the resurrection and ascension of the Son on earth.

5. The defeat of Satan was advanced by the divine fulfillment of the stipulations of the Eternal Covenant:

The elect of the New Testament church were justified from all transgression of the rule of law.
The penalty and debt of all transgression of the rule of law was imputed to the account of Jesus the Christ.
Concordant with the application of His sacrificial death, the penalty and debt of all transgression of the rule of law by the elect of the New Testament church was paid in full and, as a consequence, they were forgiven of all transgression of the rule of law; past, present and future.

The righteousness of God in human flesh was imputed to the account of the elect of the New Testament church.

As a result, the elect of the New Testament church were declared righteous.

Forgiven of all transgression of the rule of law and declared righteous, the elect of the New Testament church became legally suitable to share life with God in Jesus Christ, the mediator of the Eternal Covenant.
Joined to God by a union of shared life, the elect of the New Testament church are positioned in perfect victory and incomparable power with the ascended Christ at the right hand of the heavenly Father.

6. The defeat of Satan was advanced by the rescue of the redeemed of the New Testament church from the “domain of darkness”.

Justified from all transgression of the rule of law and joined to God in an intimate union of shared life, the redeemed of the New Testament church have been rescued from the realm of satanic authority.
Satan’s abode, his darkened realm of authority gained by the abdication of Adam, was plundered.
The redeemed of the New Testament church were transferred from subjection to his authority.
As a result, Satan has no authority over the redeemed of the New Testament church.

7. The defeat of Satan was advanced by the release of the redeemed of the New Testament church from the bondage of the rule of law.

Concordant with eternal plan, the redeemed of the New Testament church on earth are not subject to the rule of law.

The requirement of the rule of law was fulfilled by the righteous life of Christ on earth. He was without sin.

The penalty and debt of all transgression of the rule of law by the elect was paid in full by the death of Christ.
Intimacy with God required that the redeemed of the New Testament church were released from bondage to the rule of law.
As a result, the sin nature of the redeemed was “rendered powerless” to condemn and, therefore, Satan was “rendered powerless” to accuse.

8. The defeat of Satan was advanced by the transference of the redeemed of the New Testament church to the kingdom of God.

Made legally suitable and organically compatible with God, the redeemed of the New Testament church were transferred to the realm of divine authority.
Concordant with heavenly citizenship, the redeemed of the New Testament church exist in the eternally secure realm of divine authority.

9. The defeat of Satan was advanced by the liberation of the redeemed of the New Testament church from the rule of law to the glory of rule by indwelling life (zoe).

Justified from all transgression of the rule of law, the redeemed of the New Testament church were made legally suitable to enjoy an intimate union of life with God.
The redeemed of the New Testament church were made accommodative of divine life (zoe) by means of regeneration.
The redeemed of the New Testament church were indwelt by divine life (zoe) through means of spiritual birth.
Joined to God by an intimate union of shared life, the redeemed of the New Testament church were released from the demands of the rule of law.
The redeemed of the New Testament church are obligated to God by the intimacy of the gracious rule of indwelling life (zoe).

10. The defeat of Satan will be secured at the Second Coming.

The confinement of Satan and the redemptive work of Christ on earth for 1000 years will serve to vindicate the nature of God from angelic challenge, accusation or scheme related to the nation of Israel.

11. Shortly thereafter, the defeat of Satan will be completed, the justice of God satisfied and the vindication of the divine nature fulfilled.

Satan will be temporarily released from confinement and his defeat decisively demonstrated.
Afterwards the devil and his angels will be “thrown into the lake of fire” for eternity.

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Satan was utterly defeated by the redemptive work of Christ. As a result, his authority over the redeemed who comprise the New Testament church was abolished. However, Satan continues to have limited authority over the fallen world, the present abode of the ecclesia of God.

Nevertheless, Satan’s ability to influence the redeemed was significantly diminished. Concordant with the redemptive work of Christ, he was bound; his abode plundered (his abode is his realm of authority; the “domain of darkness”); and his works destroyed (Matthew 12:29; Mark 3:27; Colossians 1:13; 1 John 3:8). In addition, he is without armor; disarmed; and powerless (Luke 11:22; Colossians 2:15a; Hebrews 2:14). Moreover, the devil and his angels were made a public spectacle (they were exposed as shattered, empty and defeated to the heavenly host) (Colossians 2:15b).

In spite of his defeat, Satan deceptively “prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). He strives to keep the New Testament church from knowing his deepest, darkest fear; he was utterly defeated by the redemptive work of Christ.

Powerless, bound, unarmored and disarmed, Satan was left with only one means to oppose the object of his intense hatred and jealousy, the distinct church of the New Testament; falsehood. Jesus said, “[Satan]…does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).

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Spiritual

The lies and deceptive schemes of the devil and his angels are spiritual in nature. They are derived from a fallen spiritual being that exists in a fallen spiritual abode. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against…the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). While spiritual lies derived from a spiritual source can influence life in the physical realm, they cannot be defended by physical armament.

Deception that is spiritual in source and nature can only effectively be combated by means of spiritual weaponry. “…the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely (and spiritually) powerful” (2 Corinthians 10:4).

Satan very much enjoys spending time with the believer that attempts to employ physical weapons in spiritual battle. He is not moved or intimidated by “weapons” derived from the flesh, inclusive of unbiblical strategies, formulas, religious prayers, etc.

All temptation to fight a spiritual battle in the physical realm with fleshly weapons must be resisted. Instead, the New Testament church is to “…be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might”, “put on the full armor of God” and “…resist [the devil], firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of
suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you” (Ephesians 6:10-11; 1 Peter 5:9-10).

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New Testament Church

The New Testament church has a distinct purpose in the eternal plan of God (Romans 8:28; Ephesians 1:4; 2 Timothy 1:9; Hebrews 4:3; Revelation 13:8). It was designed not only to vindicate His nature from angelic challenge and accusation, but repopulate His kingdom. The purpose of the New Testament church provides the fallen angels with motive for warfare.

God defends the New Testament church from devilish challenge and accusation in the only manner possible, in perfect accord with the attributes of the nature of His life (zoe). As a result, the heavenly host witnesses His true nature, in concurrent and unbiased fashion.

The nature of God is vindicated during the Church Age when the redeemed of the New Testament church respond to Him through the practice of shared life fellowship. The willingness of the redeemed to enjoy fellowship with God allows for a consistent demonstration of the attributes of the nature of His life (zoe) throughout the age.

Fellowship between God and His beloved New Testament church provides a constant, painful reminder to the devil and his angels of the sovereignty of God, the foolishness of their choice to rebel against Him and their consequent loss. It is a source of public humiliation that ultimately reveals them as foolish, weak and defeated. Thus, they view the New Testament church with intense hatred.

Further, the purpose of the New Testament church is to repopulate the kingdom of God. Banished from the kingdom, the fallen angels recognize that they are being replaced in the kingdom by undeserving, inferior, human beings. Consequently, they view the New Testament church not only with intense hatred, but with great jealousy.

In accordance with His eternal purpose God allows the enemy of the New Testament church to continue to prowl “around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Although without authority, Satan remains steadfast in his attempt to put an end to the ecclesia.

© 2018 James Hiatt