Who Are the Enemies in Your Life?

"If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8: 31)

Right on! Because we are clothed in Christ, who is our armor, that we may stand in the day of adversity against the Adversary (Ephesians 6), we know that we have nothing to fear.

Now, many teachers and preachers will outline specifically that we believers have three distinct sources of opposition in our lives: the world, the flesh, and the Enemy, Satan.

Let us break down how these  three opposing forces attempt to menace us, and how in Christ we are more than conquerors:

Jesus has more than taken care of the world for us:

"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. " "(John 16: 33)

We will face troubles, but we have already overcome them in Christ (Romans 8: 37).

John elaborates on our victory in Christ in his First epistle:

"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." (1 John 4: 4)

and

"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

"Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" (1 John 5: 4-5)

As for our flesh, Christ has also taken care of that:

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2: 20)

and

"And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." (Galatians 5: 24)

and

"But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." (Galatians 6: 14)

And as for Satan? He is judged -- not us!:


"And when he is come, he [The Holy Spirit] will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

"Of sin, because they believe not on me;

"Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;

"Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged." (John 16: 8-11)

Later, Paul explains how Jesus' death disarmed Satan:

"And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." (Colossians 2: 15)

Jesus sits above all powers and principalities, including the lead enemy, Satan:

"Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:" (Ephesians 1: 21)

Of course, we are seated with Christ above all demonic opposition (Ephesians 2: 6)

and

"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)

Jesus  has overcome sin, death, hell, the grave, the world, our flesh , and Satan. We are as Christ, therefore these enemies are all wasted. Who, then are the enemies in our life, for what can they do?:

"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8: 31-32)