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How Christ’s Death Defeated Satan
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Satan saw that his disguise was torn away. He had revealed him-
self as a murderer. By shedding the blood of the Son of God, he had
uprooted himself from the sympathies of the heavenly beings. From
then on he could no longer wait for the angels as they came from
the heavenly courts and in their hearing accuse Christ’s followers of
being clothed with the defilement of sin. The last link of sympathy
between Satan and the heavenly world was broken.
Yet the angels did not even then understand all that was involved
in the great controversy. The principles at stake were to be revealed
more fully. Human beings as well as angels must see the contrast
between the Prince of light and the prince of darkness. Each one
must choose whom to serve.
In the opening of the great controversy, Satan had declared that
no one could obey the law of God, that justice was inconsistent with
mercy, and that, if the law were once broken, it would be impossible
for the sinner to be pardoned. If God were to cancel the punishment
for sin, Satan claimed, He would not be a God of justice. When our
first parents broke the law of God, Satan declared that this proved
that the law could not be obeyed; mankind could not be forgiven.
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Because he had been banished from heaven after his rebellion, Satan
claimed that the human race must be shut out forever from God’s
favor. God could not be just, he argued, and yet show mercy to the
sinner.
But mankind was in a different situation from that of Satan.
Lucifer had sinned in the full light of God’s glory. Understanding
the character of God, Satan still chose to follow his own selfish will.
There was no more that God could do to save him. But human beings
were deceived, their minds darkened by Satan’s subtle reasoning.
They did not know the height and depth of the love of God. By
beholding His character, they could be drawn back to God.
How Justice Is Blended With Mercy
Through Jesus, God’s mercy was exhibited to humanity, but
mercy does not set aside justice. The law could not be changed, but
God sacrificed Himself in Christ for our redemption. “God was in
Christ reconciling the world to Himself.”
2 Corinthians 5:19
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