Daniel R. Hyde |

Reformed Catholic Theology

The Devil: The Most Important Thing You Need to Know

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The Devil. It’s a title that conjures many images in our minds. Following up on my previous armor of God series (see links at the end of this article) I’d like to talk about him. As Christians we must fight against him. From that previous series, do you remember how? It’s our duty to deal with the Devil. Our consciences are freed from servitude to the Devil to servitude to God. You’re called to fight him who wants you back! “Resist” him (James 4:7). “Watch” our for him (1 Peter 5:8). “Stand” against his schemes (Eph. 6:11).

“But I put all that Pentecostal, spiritual warfare hysteria behind me when I became a Reformed Christian.” Really? Do you realize not only how frequently Scripture mentions the Devil but also how often our Reformed confessions speak about him? In relation to the Christian life the Canons of Dort speak of his hatred toward the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints (5.15). The Canons mention “the temptations…of Satan” that contribute to our inability to persevere in our own strength (5.3). We learn that we’re liable to be “drawn into great and heinous sin by…Satan” if we neglect watchfulness and prayer (5.4). Therefore our Heidelberg Catechism calls him one of our three “deadly enemies” (Q&A 127). And as we saw in the previous series, we partake of the name Christian to “fight against sin and the devil in this life” (Q&A 32).

You and I must fight against the Devil in this life. To prepare your head and heart for the fight I must tell you the most important thing you need to know about him. All our striving against Satan apart from this fact will be like shadow boxing. Without this truth we’ll be unable to rest and revel in our salvation. So what’s this most important thing? In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I declare to you that the Devil is a defeated foe!

Let those who have ears to hear, hear the Holy Spirit’s message! He wants to inspire us despite all our suffering during this age called “the tribulation” (Rev. 1:9). Despite all our enemies who come against us—the Harlot Babylon, the Beast, the False Prophet, and Satan—Jesus defeated him. We may even lose our first love like Ephesus, listen to false teachers like Pergamos and Thyatira, become dead like Sardis, and be lukewarm like Laodicea leading Jesus to threaten to vomit us out of his mouth. But Jesus defeated the Devil. He won’t allow the Devil/Satan to snatch us out of his hand (John 10). The very gates of Hell can’t overcome the church! (Matt. 16)

The Restraining of Satan

The Devil is defeated. Revelation proclaims the restraining of Satan (20:1–3). John records his seventh and final cycle of revelations that offer hope to a persecuted people. He sees our Lord coming out of heaven under the name of an “angel.” He’s that “mighty angel” (Rev. 10), clothed in a cloud. But here we see him holding a key and a chain to demonstrate what he said to his apostles: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matt. 28:18).

He “seized” the dragon, “bound” him with the chain, “threw” him into the pit, “shut” the entrance, and “sealed” it by using his key to lock him up. These violent, dramatic words themselves should give us confidence that our Lord has done this. He’s bound for 1,000 years—a figurative number so long John can’t describe it.

“This sounds so great, but I don’t feel so secure against the assaults of the Devil. After all, I thought he “prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8)? Yes he is. But he’s like a dog on a chain. He’s imposing and can do serious damage; but only within his limits. The devil is God’s devil. He’s limited, but within his limits he wreaks havoc.

Let me assure you of his defeat. Genesis 3:15 prophesied the work of our Lord in crushing the serpent: “He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” What was prophesied is fulfilled (Matt. 12:22–30; Luke 10:18; John 12:31–32; Col. 2:15; Heb. 2:14; 1 John 3:8; Rev. 12). Beloved people of God: the Devil isn’t the god of the Church. He’s not god or our individual lives. We have to stop living as if he has authority over us. Amen?

The Reigning of Christ

The Devil is defeated. Revelation proclaims the reigning of Christ (Rev. 20:4, 6). Besides his authority (vv. 1–3), the saints in heaven reign with Christ for a thousand years (vv. 4, 6). He grants them a share in his kingly reign and rule over his and their great enemy: the dragon of old.

But this poses a problem for us, doesn’t it? No doubt when you started to learn of Reformed theology you came to the doctrine of Christ’s present reign over the heavens and earth. No doubt detractors have said to you, “Well, if Jesus is reigning now, he sure isn’t doing a good job of it.” The blasphemy of such a statement! Yet, our experience seems to testify it’s true. The Devil’s called the “god of this world” and roaring lion. The church is in a sad condition in our time. There’s rampant unbelief and ungodliness in our world. There are sufferings of this age. The list could go on. Everything seems to say to our experience: Jesus isn’t in control.

But we live by faith, not sight. In unequivocal terms the Word of God proclaims to us Jesus’ reign. “For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet” (1 Cor. 15:25). “He raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come” (Eph. 1:20–21). As bad as the world may seem to us or as bad as our temptations and weaknesses seem, our Lord only permits in his authority and rule what we can handle.

The Co–Reigning of the Saints

The Devil is defeat. Revelation proclaims the co-reigning of the saints (Rev. 20:4–6). There are thrones in heaven, souls sitting on them (the position of rule), and with authority to judge. Who are they? The martyrs for Jesus’ sake. The great irony is that they’re described by the “first resurrection” (v. 5). The earthly, physical death of the saints is the beginning of their heavenly and eternal rule. Over them the second death has no power (v. 6).

But what good is this for me now? What our text describes as consummated has already been inaugurated. “Even when we were dead in trespasses [God] made us alive together with Christ…and raised us up with him and seated us in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:5, 6).

You, sinner; failure; constantly falling into sin; struggling with temptation; feeling defeated against Satan; youare triumphant! But again, your triumph is not of sight, but of faith. Because of what Christ has already done to Satan, is doing now in heaven, and because of what our forefathers are doing now with him, let’s take up arms against the dragon. His defeat is sure! Let’s fight him with the sword of the Word. Fight him by receiving his Communion. Elders: restrain sin in the church. Deacons: give hope to the despairing. Fight him in the name of our warrior-king, Jesus Christ, who with the Father and Holy Spirit reigns forever!


For the previous series see:

  1. The Armor of God: Being Strong Against Satan
  2. The Armor of God: The Call to Arms Against Satan
  3. The Armor of God: Your Defense Against Satan
  4. The Armor of God: Your Offense Against Satan

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