The New Testament book of Ephesians 6:12 tells us the origins of our struggles: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
Principalities are particular demonic spirits from which respective powers emanate that drive people to committing acts that the Bible defines as sin. The words, “against spiritual hosts of wickedness”, denotes that our “enemies” are spirits: intangible beings. The words, “in the heavenly places” are comparable to people saying, “it’s something in the air” when they feel uneasiness in environments without apparent causes. Ephesians 2:2 it true, which tells us that prior to accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior we walked according to the influences of the prince of the power of the air.
Let’s focus on the word, “wrestle”. Note the Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary’s definition: to contend by grappling with and striving to trip or throw an opponent down or off balance.
Visualize a wrestling match wherein the requirement for a victory is for the fallen opponent to concede to losing. Imagine the following:
- One opponent is held down by the other’s seemingly unbreakable hold.
- The fallen opponent becomes completely exhausted and apparently has no hope for gaining leverage to win the bout.
The rule for the match in which a Christian deals with or happens to succumbs to sinful temptations is that if he/she does not concede to defeat, then the dEVIL is not the victor. Not conceding to defeat demonstrates to God ones desire and willingness to serve Him.
The emotional state of the defeated Christian
A true Christian overtaken by a sin would be plagued by guilt. In addition to guilt, what he/she experiences would be godly sorrow, which proves one’s desire to serve the Lord in spite of succumbing to temptation 2 Corinthians 7:11: For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
Note what happens in the psyche as described in vs. 11, “ . . . you sorrowed in a godly manner.
- what diligence it produced in you . . . to be vigilant and prayerful (1 Peter 5:8: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.)
- what clearing of yourselves . . . to separate from all appearance of evil
- what indignation . . . resentment for being overtaken by the sin
- what fear . . . greater reverence for God and His Word in exercising prudence to avoid repeating the scenario
- what vehement desire . . . to please the Lord in all manner of conversation
- what zeal . . . to work diligently for the Lord
- what vindication . . . having the realization of being exonerated of all disobedience and by totally submitting to Jesus Christ
The last sentence in verse 11 is the conclusion: “In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.” It simply says that the seven specifics are evidence that the heart’s desire is to serve God, which is what precipitates His forgiveness.
Jude 24-25 is often quoted when praying the benediction:
- Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
- To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.
Although used in benedictions, I submit that this reference speaks one of the highest praises to God in the entire Bible. It starts by assuring us that He is able to keep us from falling. And, that is dependent on our “free-will”, i. e., if we want Him to keep us from falling He can. But, just in case a Christian does fall, he/she must be given hope.
Note what Galatians 6:1 says, “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.” Endeavoring to strengthen and encourage a fallen brother/sister is the prime opportunity to demonstrate love for him/her and ultimately for God. We must use the Sword of the Spirit [the inspired Bible] by the enabling power of the Holy Ghost to fight for that fallen one: using the Sword to encourage and build his/her faith in God’s willingness to forgive sin.
A fallen Christian’s hope
Note what Psalms 51:17 says, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart — these, O God, You will not despise.” This verse tells that it is not in the character of our God to despise our contrition. The fact is that if a fallen Christian did not actually love the Lord with the whole heart, there would be no contrition; no brokenness. This fact cannot be underestimated. I would refer to it as the magnetism that draws God to the individual.
If a Christian falls for any conceivable or inconceivable reason(s) there is hope because of the following references in the book of 1 John:
1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
2:1-2: “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.”
Imagine this, our Judicial system prohibits a court wherein the judge is the defense attorney’s parent. The legal issue would be that the judge’s ruling would be biased in favor of the defense attorney by virtue of the kinship.
However, in scenarios pertaining to fallen Christians, we could visualize the heavenly Supreme court with the following two aspects to consider:
- Revelation 12:10: “Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.” (Furthermore, the defendants here are guilty as accused.)
- 1 John 2:1, “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”
Thus, in the heavenly Supreme court the accuser is Lucifer and the Advocate is Jesus. The difference in this court is that the Advocate is the Judge’s Son and both of them have disdain for the accuser: Lucifer, (the prosecutor).
This setting is the ultimate Supreme Court and the Judge always favors what the Advocate’s appeal to the court. When the appeal is granted the prosecutor’s [Lucifer’s] disadvantage is that there is no higher court to which he could appeal to bring charges against the Supreme Court’s Judge for judicial misconduct.
The only requirement for having the defendant being exonerated and the case dismissed is 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Therefore, there is NO guilt: justification instead of condemnation.
Conclusion
The Advocate, Jesus Christ, NEVER had a client that was NOT guilty. But, because the Advocate’s Father is the Chief Judge, the Advocate can get the case dismissed by virtue of the defendant believing that He is the propitiation for her/his sins as stated in 1 John 2:2. Thus, forgiveness is in effect. Case dismissed! All is well! And, to God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen!
