The Bible teaches us that all human beings are under the authority or rule of Satan.
This bondage under Satan is the default human position ever since we were duped by him into disbelieving and rebelling against the one true God [Genesis 3:1-6].
Our subjection to Satan is described in a number of ways in the New Testament:
In consists in our inability to understand God’s truth, and our readiness to believe Satan’s deceptions [John 8:42-47].
It consists, similarly, in the impossibility of our ever seeing and knowing the glory of God in Jesus Christ because Satan has blinded our minds [2Corinthians 4:4].
It consists in the disobedience to God that characterised us when we were still ‘dead’ in our sins and that held us under the wrath of God [Ephesians 2:2-3].
But then Jesus came.
Jesus, the ‘Stronger One’ has over-powered Satan, the ‘strong one’, and robbed him of his possessions [Luke 11:21,22]. ‘… having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross’ [Colossians 2:15]. Like a conquering general he disempowered Satan and his minions, and publicly demonstrated and displayed that disempowerment. Anticipating this victory as he approached Jerusalem to die on the cross Jesus stated: ‘Now the prince of this world will be driven out’ [John 12:32]. By this victory of Christ, Satan, the prince of this world stands condemned [John 16:11].
The New Testament assures those who believe in Jesus Christ:
Through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ God the Father ‘has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves’ [Colossians 1:13].
He has removed us for ever from that default position in which Satan held us bound and blinded.
As a result we are no longer under the authority of Satan … he has no further rights and no further jurisdiction over those who belong to Jesus Christ, and whom the Father has placed in the Kingdom of the Son.
Try though he does …
Satan has no right or authority to bring any charge against us,
Satan has no right or authority to condemn us,
Satan has no right or authority or ability to separate us from God and his love [Romans 8:31-39].
Paul teaches us in Ephesians 1:15 – 2:7 that the power of God that rescued us from Satan’s bondage is the same power of God that raised Jesus from death, to resurrection and then seated him at the right hand of God ‘far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come’ [Ephesians 1:20,21]. This same mighty power rescued us from Satan, and seated us also, with Christ, in the heavenly realms [Ephesians 2:6].
Satan will try his hardest, as he did with Job, as he did with Jesus Christ, to discredit us and our faith. But here at the Father’s side we are, even now, forever safe. Here in the Kingdom of Christ we are, even now, forever free.
© Rosemary Bardsley 2012, 2019