Power Struggle

December 16, 2019

What does it take to be saved? The Philippian jailer asked that question of Paul and Silas, receiving from Paul an answer that has rung down through the centuries: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved; you and your household.” (Acts 16:31).The problem with this answer is that it can be easily watered down to where “believe” signifies nothing more than mental assent. Many there are who believe, but who are not saved. 

Later in the book of Acts, Paul is on trial for his life, testifying before king Agrippa, when he says, he was commissioned by Jesus Christ “to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’”  —Acts 26:18 NKJV

This is a much more complete description of what it means to believe in Christ and be saved. He asserts that the people to whom he was to preach the Gospel had their eyes closed, were living in darkness under the power of Satan, and in need of forgiveness. All this is changed when someone is sanctified (literally, “made holy”) by faith in Christ. What this means is, faith in Christ involves opening the eyes to see what one was unable or unwilling to see before, turning from a path of darkness to living in the light that streams in through open eyes, being set free from demonic control in order to be forgiven. 

In all my years as a Christian, I was taught that I needed to pray a prayer, receive Jesus into my heart in order to be saved. I was not taught that I was under the power of Satan and needed deliverance, even though deliverance was clearly a Biblical theme. I needed deliverance from my sins, but knew nothing of being delivered from the power of Satan. Perhaps it wasn’t quite as necessary back then, as our Christianized culture ameliorated the more brazen manifestations of Satan’s power. But today, these words ring ever more true and important. We cannot receive forgiveness while still under Satan’s power. And although his power was broken on the Cross, that power in us is only broken when we open our eyes to see it for what it is and deliberately turn from it. Too many Christians live as paupers when the full, rich forgiveness of Christ is available to us. 

What we often fail to understand is that the devil doesn’t often appear as manifest evil. Instead of a red suit, pitchfork, and horns, Satan appears in a three-piece suit, manicured, and impeccably well-spoken. We can easily see him in a Hitler or Stalin or Mao, but not in our own political party or even ourselves. If there is one thing I am in continual need of, it’s eyes open to the darkness in my own soul, and the way Satan seeks power over me. This only happens as I repent, or turn form my own ways to those of Christ, that he may in his mercy and grace, begin and continue the process of making me holy as I trust in him.