Should Christians fear Satan?

Last updated on April 28, 2021

Should Christians fear Satan?

The short answer: no. But it is important that we understand why! It is not enough just to tell someone “Oh, don’t be afraid of the Devil.” We need to know what God’s Word actually says.

Satan is a defeated foe

When Jesus died on the cross and rose again, He defeated the one who has power of death, that is, Satan (Hebrews 2:14). Jesus fulfilled what God said the serpent in the garden of Eden in Genesis 3:15 — “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” Satan thought that Jesus’ crucifixion meant that he had thwarted God’s promise. But it wasn’t so. Jesus rose victoriously on the third day! The seed of the woman truly crushed the head of the serpent. Is Satan still alive in the world today? Yes, he is. The apostle Paul says that Satan is the “god of this age” in 2 Corinthians 4:4. However, the devil has a fatal wound; he will not survive in the end. There is a wonderful promise in Romans 16:20 that says, “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” This is ultimately referring to the day when the devil will be thrown in the lake of fire following the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (Revelation 20:10).

What about right now?

We shouldn’t live in fear of the devil, but we shouldn’t be ignorant to his schemes either (2 Corinthians 2:11). Like any good soldiers, we need to know what we are up against. 1 Peter 5:8 says we are to “be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” The Bible also says that Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). He won’t always come with fear and intimidation. Often, he comes with half-truths and things that seem good at first glance. But in reality, they are wrong and harmful to us. Brothers and sisters, we don’t have to be afraid, but we do need to be wise (Romans 16:19).

Put on the full armor of God

If you are a Christian, then you need to become well acquainted with Ephesians 6:10-17:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

There is a battle between good and evil going on all the time in the spiritual realm. We won’t stand a chance if we aren’t using the armor that God has given us. In addition, James 4:7 says that if we resist the devil, he will flee from us. We resist him by submitting to God.

Are you on a losing team?

Friend, if you are not a Christian please understand that you are fighting for a losing team. In the end, your fate will be the same as Satan’s if you do not repent of your sins and trust in Jesus (Revelation 20:15). If you’re constantly living in fear of death, turn to the One who overcame it! He will deliver your life out of the domain of darkness and transfer it into His kingdom of light (Colossians 1:12-14).

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