Terrence Harris reminds us why Satan and Jesus are not equally-matched enemies.
My heart goes out to people who believe Satan is the equal opposite of Jesus Christ.
He is not.
The Lord God created Lucifer along with all the angels in heaven.{1} Lucifer became
Satan through his own pride, when he opposed God with the very gifts God gave him. Satan was so impressed with his own beauty and wisdom, I guess in his mind that made him a qualifying contender for God’s throne.{2} But obviously (well, not as obvious to demons, apparently), Satan was no match for the Almighty. A third of the angels followed him in his rebellion, while two-thirds remained loyal to the Lord.{3}
So the Lord stripped Lucifer of his glory, along with the other rebel angels, and threw them out of heaven down to the earth.{4} Since then, Satan and his demons have wreaked havoc. Now, the media often portrays them as having more authority than they truly possess. You see these movies showing a priest fidgeting with a cross and holy water facing a demon-possessed person that boldly declares, “You have no authority over me.” To that point, scripture actually gives a similar example. In Acts 19:13–16, the sons of Sceva tried to cast out demons “in the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches.” The Bible says the demon replied, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?” Then the possessed man overpowered them, beating them and sending them away naked and wounded.
This is a reminder: It’s not enough to just know about Jesus; Satan and his demons know about Jesus. Satan and demons can read the Bible too. Satan tempted Jesus with a Bible verse in the wilderness, one that many Christians may not even know where to find. However, the true authority is in knowing Jesus and Jesus knowing you. Knowing Christ—instead of just knowing about Him or just knowing scripture—the intimacy with the Word of God–gives birth to godliness that pleases the heart of the Father. Apart from Christ, humanity is “dead in trespasses and sins” and follows “the prince of the power of the air.”{5} But for the blood-bought believer, the story is entirely different. Those who are filled with God’s Spirit, who confess Jesus Christ as Lord, who believe He died for their sins, rose by the power of the Holy Spirit, and now sits at the right hand of the Father{6}—these are the ones who stand in the Lord’s authority and victory.
So the believer doesn’t face the demonic realm alone. We stand in and by the authority of Christ Jesus. Scripture assures us that “Greater is He Who is in you than he who is in the world.”{7} Through Christ, we are more than conquerors.{8} Satan is the opposition, but never the equal opponent. The living God dwells within His people, and by His Spirit, they walk in victory and authority over the powers of darkness.
Notes
1. Ezekiel 28:13-15
2. Isaiah 14:12-15
3. Revelation 12:4
4. Luke 10:18
5. Ephesians 2:1-2
6. Romans 8:11; Hebrews 1:3
7. 1 John 4:4
8. Romans 8:37
©2025 Probe Ministries
Terrence Harris
Terrence A. Harris is a Christian writer and Bible teacher who serves as Communications Manager at Probe Ministries. He is passionate about helping believers understand God’s Word, stand firm in biblical truth, and live out their faith with confidence.
What is Probe?Probe Ministries is a non-profit ministry whose mission is to assist the church in renewing the minds of believers with a Christian worldview and to equip the church to engage the world for Christ. Probe fulfills this mission through our Mind Games conferences for youth and adults, our 3-minute daily radio program, and our extensive Web site at www.probe.org.
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