May 10, 2025 - 1 Peter 5:9 - "Resisting the Devil"

1 Peter 5:9

"Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world."

The Apostle Peter calls believers to resist the devil—not by strength of will or moral resolve, but “steadfast in the Faith (Christ).” This is not faith in ourselves, nor in our spiritual performance, but faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ, Who has conquered sin, Satan, and death for His people. To resist the enemy is to rest in the victory Christ has already won, trusting that the same LORD Who preserves all His elect will preserve us also. Our afflictions, trials, and spiritual warfare are not unique, but are part of the common experience of the elect of God—yet through it all, the grace of God reigns, and Christ is our Shield and Sure Defense.

Why do the Scriptures call upon the children of God to resist the devil when we are told in the Word of God that the LORD Jesus defeated Satan by His life, death, burial, resurrection and ascension into glory? [Genesis 3:15, John 12:31, Hebrews 2:14-15] Yes, Satan has been defeated by Christ’s death for God’s elect, yet, according to God’s purpose, he goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom He may destroy, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:" (1 Peter 5:8). Knowing this to be so, we are then exhorted in 1 Peter 5:9 to resist him. How? In two ways. 

    1). Being steadfast in the FAITH.  Wherever you see those two words, THE FAITH, you can substitute the name of the LORD Jesus Who is the Object of True Faith and is revealed in the hearts of those for whom Christ died by the Spirit of God. This is not a call for us to pump up some personal belief with which to defend ourselves against the wiles of the devil but rather to remain steadfast in THE FAITH (Christ) and His complete work accomplished for God’s children, for whom He has been made Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification and Redemption, "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:" (1 Corinthians 1:30). The devil can certainly trouble and afflict God’s children in any way that the LORD may ordain but He cannot possess or draw away into condemnation anyone for whom Christ paid the debt.   

    2). Taking consolation in “knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren, that are in the world.” Our Consolation is Christ and His finished work (2 Corinthians 1:5) but there is also comfort in knowing that: “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Whatever the trial or affliction, we can rest assured in knowing that such has been the same that others have endured by the Grace of God and that THE WAY of escape is always CHRIST THE WAY. He ever lives to intercede on behalf of those for whom He paid their sin debt, "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7:25). By the Spirit of Grace, our eyes are fixed on HIM, "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2). 

    Satan desired to sift Peter as wheat (toss him to and fro as wheat is in a sieve). However, he was wheat and not a tare and therefore safe by the intercession of the LORD Jesus for him, Luke 22:31. His betrayal of the LORD was just as evil as that of Judas but Christ was his Redeemer and Judas was a son of perdition, "While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled." (John 17:12).  Satan might accuse, ""And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night" (Revelation 12:10), and yes, we rightly deserve nothing but hell and damnation. Yet, in THE FAITH (faithfulness) of Jesus, not our own, we are saved, justified and sanctified sinners by Christ’s shed blood unto death. There is therefore now no condemnation against an adopted son of God, "Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us" (Romans 8:34). In HIM we stand fast, or rather HE Who is our FAITH holds us fast!