The Tempter and Those Who Overcomer Him

The Tempter and Those Who Overcome Him

1. The Overcomer. Besides our Lord Jesus Christ, there is no other: "To this end was the Son of God manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil" (1 John 3.8); "he [the seed of the woman] shall bruise thy [the serpent’s] head" (Gen. 3.15). Christ is the Overcomer who destroys the works of the Devil and breaks his head. Christ has overcome. By constantly confessing this fact and joining oneself to Christ, one may always triumph. What Satan fears most is "the word of their testimony" in the mouth of the saints to the effect that Christ is the Victor (Rev. 12.11). Such a word of testimony will cause him to flee. Christ is Victor! Hallelujah, praise the Lord! (see Mark 1.24,27; 3.11).

2. The place of victory. Apart from Calvary, where else could the place of victory over Satan be? The cross of Calvary is where Satan and his powers are defeated. The victory of Calvary is still powerful today: ". . . nailing it to the cross; having despoiled the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it" (Col. 2.14-15); "that through death he might bring to nought him that had the power of death, that is, the devil" (Heb. 2.14). Many think that Christ crucified was the Lord’s defeat, not realizing that this is where the victory was won. At the end of this age two armies will confront each other. But the battle is won without fighting. For when Christ was crucified and raised from the dead, He had entered into death, fought with it, and conquered it. The victory was then and there secured. His victory over Satan was not accomplished without His death and resurrection. In death Christ fought with Satan—who had the power of death—and conquered him. His resurrection is the evidence of His victory. As He moved forward, with His face towards Calvary, He declared: "Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out" (John 12.31). Satan was defeated at the cross. Waging war against Satan in any other place would have ended in defeat. Satan is victorious in all places except Calvary. He was defeated only at the cross, and he was forever defeated there. So that all who are joined to the Lamb of Calvary stand on the ground of the victory of Calvary. They are not opening a new frontier; rather, they are applying that former victory to this present conflict. And in so doing, they shall overcome. Defeat is due to our depending upon self, but victory is because of standing on Calvary. The cross is the victory ground! Calvary is our home! What, then, do we have to fear?

3. The battle announced by messengers. We are the Lord’s messengers. We proclaim the victory of Calvary and Christ the Victor: "I send thee to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God" (Acts 26.17-18). The victory of Calvary is still in effect today. Jesus the Savior is still the Conqueror. And Satan is still the vanquished. Satan has no power over us, for we have been delivered from the power of Satan unto God.

4. The captives freed. ". . . who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love" (Col. 1.13). Christ has overcome, and He is now overcoming. We are at this present moment in His kingdom, for we have been translated out of the power of darkness. Let us keep this fact well in mind, and trust in Him; and thus the power of darkness shall never come upon us. Always declare this position with faith and will. This is the best way to keep ourselves in that position.

5. The victory of the Christians. Christ is the Overcomer. We are in Christ; and being united with Him, we too are overcomers. We may overcome every day, for our Lord says to us: "Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: . . . the spirits are subject unto you" (Luke 10.19,20); "in my name shall they cast out demons" (Mark 16.17; see also Acts 16.18; 19.15). Outside of Christ we can do nothing. We need to abide in Him and do all things in His name. Satan then will always be defeated.