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Chapter 30—Satan and Man at War
“I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between
thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise
his heel.”
Genesis 3:15
. This enmity is not natural. When man
transgressed the divine law, his nature became evil, in harmony with
Satan. Fallen angels and wicked men united in desperate compan-
ionship. Had not God interposed, Satan and man would have entered
into an alliance against Heaven, and the whole human family would
have been united in opposition to God.
When Satan heard that enmity should exist between himself and
the woman, and between his seed and her seed, he knew that by
some means man was to be enabled to resist his power.
Christ implants in man enmity against Satan. Without this con-
verting grace and renewing power, man would continue a servant
ever ready to do Satan’s bidding. But the new principle in the soul
creates conflict; the power which Christ imparts enables man to
resist the tyrant. To abhor sin instead of loving it displays a principle
wholly from above.
The antagonism between Christ and Satan was strikingly dis-
played in the world’s reception of Jesus. The purity and holiness
of Christ called forth against Him the hatred of the ungodly. His
self-denial was a perpetual reproof to a proud, sensual people. Satan
and evil angels joined with evil men against the Champion of truth.
The same enmity is manifested toward Christ’s followers. Whoever
resists temptation will arouse the wrath of Satan. Christ and Satan
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cannot harmonize. “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall
suffer persecution.”
2 Timothy 3:12
.
Satan’s agents seek to deceive Christ’s followers and allure them
from their allegiance. They pervert Scripture to accomplish their
object. The spirit which put Christ to death moves the wicked to
destroy His followers. All this is foreshadowed in that first prophecy:
“I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy
seed and her seed.”
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