Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ( James 4:7 7 Be subject therefore unto God; but resist the devil, and he will flee from you. )

The more real Satan appears in our day, the more precious the victory of Christ will become to those who believe him.

The New Testament teaches that when Christ died and rose again, Satan was defeated. A time of limited freedom is granted to him, but his power against God’s people is broken and his destruction is sure.

• “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.” ( 1 John 3:8 8 he that doeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. To this end was the Son of God manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. )
• “[Christ] himself likewise partook of the same things [flesh and blood], that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil.” ( Hebrews 2:14 14 Since then the children are sharers in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same; that through death he might bring to nought him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; )
• “[God] disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.” ( Colossians 2:15 15 having despoiled the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. )

In other words, the decisive blow was struck at Calvary. And one day, when Satan’s time of limited freedom is over, Revelation 20:10 10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where are also the beast and the false prophet; and they shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. says, “The devil . . . [will be] thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur . . . and will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”

What does this mean for those of us who follow Jesus Christ?

• “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” ( Romans 8:1 Chapter 8 1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. )
• “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies!” ( Romans 8:33 33 Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth; )
• “[Neither] angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ( Romans 8:38 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, –39)
• “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” ( 1 John 4:4 4 Ye are of God, `my' little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. )
• “They [the saints] have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” ( Revelation 12:11 11 And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony; and they loved not their life even unto death. )

Therefore, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you!” He has been defeated, and we have been given victory. Our task now is to live in that victory and make Satan know his defeat.