The Devil Has Been "Body Slammed" by W. Frank
Walton
(Reprinted from Biblical Insights http://www.biblical-insights.org)
Professional (?) wrestling has risen in crass popularity, coining
the term "body slam" when one combatant throws his opponent
down hard to defeat him. Interestingly, the Bible teaches that
in the great cosmic spiritual battle between good and evil, the
devil has been "body slammed" in defeat by Jesus!
"The devil...was thrown down to the earth, and his angels
were thrown down with him. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven,
saying, 'Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of
our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser
of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before
our God day and night.' And they overcame him because of the blood
of the Lamb"(Rev 12:9-11).
Hell is prepared not for man but for the devil and his angels
(Matt 25:41). Satan, under God's justice, seethes with bitter
resentment. As "a murderer from the beginning" (John
8:44), he is man's archenemy.
1. Sin's Problem. In heaven's court, the "Devil" (Greek,
diabolos - accuser) has hurled his contemptuous accusations against
sinners: "Look at these awful, sinful people! Your justice
condemned me. If You're just, then you must condemn them all too!"
(See Zech 3:1-2.) Without forgiveness, our lives of repeated sin
appear to God as "filthy" (Hebrew, tsow'- soiled by
excrement) garments" (Zech 3:3). We look awful and stink
before a holy God, because "all are under sin" (Rom
3:9). Misery loves company, so the devil hatefully screams, "Justice
demands all the guilty be punished!"
2. Salvation's Solution. Who will rescue wretched, rebellious
sinners? Jesus, in the greatest act of unselfish, redeeming love,
came to our defense (Luke 19:10). He interposed his precious lifeblood
at the awful cross of justice, in exchange for us the guilty (2
Cor 5:21). God's mercy found delight (Mic 7:18). Jesus threw back
Satan's attack against man by his crushing victory at the cross
(Gen 3:15). Now, the devil is silenced. The Satanic bully is beaten.
The hordes of hell are routed. We have everlasting victory in
Jesus! By faith, we wash our robes of character and make them
clean in the blood of the Lamb (Rev 1:5; 22:14). From paradise
lost, we can have paradise regained.
In Florida's past presidential recount mud wrestling, some on
the other political side of the Secretary of State, who certified
the election result, had threatened to dig up dirt against her
to shame her. By Jesus' defeat of the devil at the cross, we can
freely find forgiveness and freedom from shame and an accusing
conscience. Divine forgiveness removes all our skeletons in all
our closets! When we trust and obey the Lord's terms of grace,
the devil has nothing on us! God sees us as if we've never sinned
(2 Cor 5:17)! We find daily freedom from guilt and peace of mind--something
the philosophy or psychology of men cannot really provide.
Justice's strict penalty has been mitigated by the gospel of
grace. "God justifies (continually) the ungodly" as
we continue to walk "in the steps of faith~ (Rom 4:5, 12).
Salvation is not by sinless rule keeping, because God's gospel
of grace and mercy toward struggling man is instituted to mitigate
the penalty of strict justice and justification by bare "legalism"
(right standing by sinless rule keeping) (see Acts 15:10-11; Gal
3:6-14, 21). The "obedience of faith" (Rom 1:5; 16:26)
rests not in our perfect rule keeping but in his perfect sacrifice.
The very definition of saving faith is looking away from the failed
self to the savior (John 8:24). Faith is only as good as its object.
Salvation is in divine atonement by Jesus' blood, not human achievement
by sinless perfection. We can confidently sing, "Blessed
assurance, Jesus is mine!" Thank you Lord for body slamming
the devil!
3. Saved Responsibility. Note Revelation 12:11b: "they overcame...because
of the word of their testimony and they did not love their lives
unto death." The victorious basis of divine grace doesn't
make "obedience in all things" obsolete. In the gospel
system, "the righteous live by faith" (Rom 1:17). God's
grace teaches us to change and accomplish something through us
in the triumph of the gospel on earth (Titus 2:11-14). After baptism,
we gladly accept the 2nd law of pardon, to repent and pray for
forgiveness from our sins (Acts 8:22; 1 John 1:7-9). The contrite
sinner must freely, with complete commitment, cooperate with God's
gracious purpose to follow Jesus to victory (Rev 12:17; 17:14).
Fight The Good Fight by Jim Jonas
Reprinted from: Biblical e-sights (http://www.biblical-insights.org)
"Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called..." (1 Timothy 6:12).
School bullies with an inferiority complex like to fight. Politicians with a craving for pork like to fight. People with a pure mean streak like to fight. Even some religious folks who desire the limelight like to fight. But only perverse people enjoy fighting and the turmoil and suffering it spawns.
But, like it or not, every breathing, thinking person is at war with spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12). Thus, Paul urges Timothy to "wage the good warfare" (1 Timothy 1:18) and "fight the good fight of faith" (1 Timothy 6:12). Make no mistake: A war is being fought, our soul is the prize and the outcome is for eternity.
The modern religious world recoils from militaristic terminology. They would rather emphasize love, peace and harmony to the exclusion of the darker side of faith. But it was the Holy Spirit, not Bible translators or right-wing religious zealots, who chose this wording to describe the conflict between good and evil. The New Testament speaks of armor (Ephesians 6:10-18), weaponry (2 Corinthians 10:3-5), enemies (Philippians 3:18) and fighting (2 Timothy 4:7). Not a pretty picture but accurate nonetheless.
In this battle, truth is constantly attacked. We must fight to preserve and advance it (Galatians 2:5). Our character as godly people will be assailed. We must give no occasion for justified criticism (2 Corinthians 8:21). But amidst the fiercest battles, let us remember one thing: The war is not ultimately against us but Christ. Satan hates Him so passionately that he also hates all those loyal to Him. Jesus repeatedly alludes to this (e.g. John 15:20-21; 16:1-4).
Even in warfare, men recognize certain rules of engagement. The Geneva Convention establishes humane treatment in the midst of inhuman behavior. We must not only fight but fight as children of God, as ones who possess His spirit. If we begin enjoying the battle and use it as a pretext for satisfying our own carnal urges, then we bring guilt upon ourselves even as did the Assyrians and Babylonians of old (cf. Isaiah 47:5-7; Zechariah 1:15).
We have no choice as to whether we shall participate in this battle; we're already in it. The only choice to make is which side we will be on. Victory belongs only to Christ and those on His side (1 Corinthians 15:57; Romans 8:33-39).
Yes, it was ridiculous. No, there isn't a rational explanation. Again, yes, I knew the already historically determined outcome. And again, no, I didn't think it would change; nor did I think my inward screaming could alter history.While reading to my girls, I read about Judas' betrayal of Jesus - of a friend by a friend (Jn 13:18; Ps 41:9). No one, including Jesus, has escaped that same penetrating loneliness, piercing our soul by a friend's betrayal. I mentally shouted as Judas left the upper room, "Don't do it." Futile, I know, but that's how I felt.
While history records massacres, catastrophes, starvations, and other horrifying events, no event matches the love and hate found on the cross. Mere words cannot reach down into the fathomless depths of either that love or hate. No ocean, nor no human mind, is deep enough to contain the explanation. Revulsion consumes my soul. This entire scene, from betrayal to the lingering suffering, agonizes my mind. His pierced hands and side pierce my heart. Shuddering and trembling overtake me when reading, yes, simply reading the words "there they crucified Him" (Lk 23:33).
How can mere words, without the evocative benefit of speech, cause such inward shrinking from pain? Dear friends, those are not mere words. The crucifixion's reality is as assuredly real as you and I. Both self-righteous and godless men crucified Jesus. And yet, shame and delight grip me simultaneously; almost as paradoxically as the love and hate on that darkened day. As loudly as the rebellious, ignorant, and jealous rogues clamor "crucify Him, crucify Him" (Mk 15:13,14), I, the eternally grateful sinner, cry out, "my Lord and my God" (Jn 20:28).
It sounds somewhat selfish, but I am glad, in a way, Judas did it. (Not that I'm glad for his sin, but how God can use bad for good.) I am a lost sinner in need of salvation from sin. God in His sovereign grace and power used Judas' evil betrayal and Jesus' selfless sacrifice for my redemption. My flesh, imagining the torture of nails piercing through and securing the body of the innocent Jesus to splintered wood, shouts out to Judas, "Don't do it!" My eternal spirit, fearing the torture of hell awaiting the unforgiven, whispers, "Thank you, Jesus!" "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).
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34748.
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MONTHLY BIBLE READINGS: Genesis chapters 4 - 15.
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BIBLE INSIGHT is published
for the members of, and visitors to, the Church of Christ at Beverly
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Carey Dillinger is the editor. He can be reached at the church
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