Overcoming Satan ... is not the same thing as getting rid of sin. Satan may prod us and, through his world-centered system, place many temptations in our paths, but he is not directly making us commit wicked deeds. Instead, the devil is much more involved in the development of deceptive, ungodly, anti-biblical ideologies. He was a liar from the beginning (Jn 8.44; cf. Ge 3.4) and is busy developing all kinds of lies - various ideologies, philosophies, religions, and all sorts of deceptive schemes (cf. 2 Cor 10.3-5; 11.14) to blind unregenerate people and render spiritual infants ineffective. Satan can't take away young believer's salvation, but he can certainly keep them in spiritual infancy and prevent them from having any positive impact for the kingdom of God.
The only way to overcome Satan is to be strong in the knowledge of Scripture: "I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one." (1 Jn 2.14). If you reach this level of maturity, you will still have sin and temptation in your life, but you will also know sound doctrine well enough to recognize error, resist its enticements, and fight it vigorously when it confronts you or others.
As Christians mature, they are able to understand and correctly interpret the Word of God. As a result, their theology starts to take shape as they acquire discernment by asking the right questions. With their increased doctrinal knowledge comes a desire to discuss Scripture and theology with more learned believers so they can be more active in refuting the cults and all forms of doctrinal error.
Growing into effective spiritual young men and women is simply a matter of knowing the truth.
Now I like that and it is accurate for the point MacArthur was making. For my purpose, I'd like to build on it a little.
The first part is a great reminder that we wrestle not with flesh and blood. I have recently wrestled with several individuals, in that I have experience all manner of anger, frustration, etc.. I lost sight of the real battle. I suspect these people are not bad people. I think they have fallen into a trap set by the enemy. I think he has built up ideologies and deceptive schemes. As I fight with them, I make the trap all the more successful. As a mature believer, one must step back and realize the true source of the problem and battle against that. In doing this and demonstrating true love toward others do we demolish the work of the enemy and demonstrate the power of the Kingdom.
The next thing I'd like to add to MacArthur's statement is that this blinding by Satan is not only for the young or infant believer. Many mature men of God have experienced moral failure or have gotten caught up in the success of their ministry or any number of other traps set by the enemy. I was speaking with a friend recently about the Pharisees. I don't imagine that this group of guys woke up one day and thought, "let's leave our love and develop a bunch of laws and trappings that take us away from God." I suppose that at one time these were zealous believers and as they tried to figure things out and live out their faith, they got caught up in the trap of Satan. This occurred over time until eventually one could not see anything other than blind guides bringing others into bondage.
I see this same thing happening around me. In an effort to guard truth, we have missed lifting up the Truth and instead lifted up conformity and our tradition.
The next point is around the comment, "If you reach this level of maturity ... you will also know sound doctrine well enough to recognize error, resist its enticements, and fight it vigorously when it confronts you or others." I don't disagree but I think there is much more to it. Listening and knowing the word can still leave one in a place of deception. We must do what it says. We want to look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, in that we will be blessed in our doing (Ja 1.22-25).
MacArthur rightly states that with "increased doctrinal knowledge comes a desire to discuss Scripture and theology with more learned believers so they can be more active in refuting the cults and all forms of doctrinal error." I agree but that's only a small part. And more important, although refuting cults and doctrinal error is a small part of what should come from a life of increased doctrinal knowledge, it too often becomes the major part of the life of many. There is a more complete picture according to James.
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Finally, growing effective spiritually according to MacArthur is simply knowing the truth. I agree if knowing means more than obtaining information and truth is the Truth, Jesus Christ. If so, I completely agree. But too many hear and understand phrases such as MacArthur's as much less and therefore they fall far short of the spiritual effectiveness God desires in their lives.
We need to find relationship in the Truth and live live's filled with all that He has revealed to us. Only as we do that will our lives will bear the spiritual fruit He desires.
No comments:
Post a Comment