This article is a summary of the following episode: How Satan Attacks Christians Today
Scripture speaks often of the world, the flesh, and the devil. These are not abstract categories. They describe active enemies that wage war against the people of God. One of Satan’s chief aims is to obscure the clarity of the gospel and to destroy love and unity within the church.
James 4 addresses this directly. The believers James wrote to were tearing each other down with their words, acting out of selfish ambition and pride. They wanted the acceptance of the world, and their relationships in the church were marked by conflict. James confronts them strongly, calling this “friendship with the world” and warning that it makes them act as enemies of God. But he does not leave them crushed under condemnation. He reminds them that God “gives more grace” and calls them to humility.
Then James gives an important instruction: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” This is not superstition or empty rhetoric. It is a sober reminder that behind the world’s influence and the passions of the flesh, there is also an enemy who delights in division and pride. When believers submit to the Lord and walk in humility, they are resisting the schemes of Satan.
Satan’s Goals in the Church
The devil cannot take a believer out of Christ’s hand. But he can cause believers to turn on one another. He can divide a congregation and cloud the message of the gospel. This is why the apostles spend so much time in their letters on two main themes: the clarity of the good news in Christ and the call to love and unity in the body.
Where the gospel is obscured, hope fades. Where unity is broken, the witness of the church is damaged. Satan aims to achieve both outcomes.
The Devil’s Playground
Ephesians 4 sheds more light on how Satan works. Paul warns believers not to give the devil an opportunity. In context, he is talking about anger, corrupting talk, bitterness, wrath, clamor, slander, and malice. These are not small matters. They grieve the Holy Spirit and destroy fellowship.
Paul calls the church instead to kindness, tender hearts, and forgiveness. These attitudes reflect the gospel itself, as God in Christ has forgiven us. When these virtues are absent, the devil gains influence and the Spirit’s work is resisted.
A Call to Vigilance
Jesus prayed for his people to be protected from the evil one. He taught his disciples to pray, “Deliver us from the evil one.” Peter warned that the devil prowls like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. The New Testament writers were concerned about Satan’s influence because they knew his strategies.
Often, his work is not dramatic or sensational. In many churches, his most effective tactic is to stir up pride, anger, and suspicion among believers. If he can enslave Christians to sin or turn them against each other, the power of the gospel is muted in that place.
Guarding the Gospel and Our Unity
Every believer has a role to play in resisting these attacks. We are to hold fast to the sufficiency of Christ, keeping the message of grace clear and free from additions. We are to pray for the Lord’s protection, asking him to keep us from the cravings of the flesh and the lies of the enemy.
We are to practice humility, kindness, and forgiveness in our relationships within the church. The local congregation should be a place of safety, mercy, and rest. When we sin against each other, we are to be quick to confess and quick to extend grace.
The Role of the Church
The ministry of the church is meant to nourish and protect pilgrims on the way to our heavenly homeland. We are not there yet, and the road is filled with dangers. We need the regular preaching of Christ, the sacraments, the prayers of the saints, and the fellowship of believers. These are the means God has given to strengthen and safeguard his people.
A faithful church guards sound doctrine and works to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. It is vigilant against the schemes of the devil, not out of fear, but out of confidence in Christ’s promise to preserve his people.
Our Hope
Satan’s goal is to draw believers away from the gospel, because the gospel is the greatest treasure we have. We resist him by submitting to God, resting in his grace, and loving one another well.
Christ has already won the victory. He will keep his people to the end. As we fix our eyes on him, we can walk together in truth and unity, confident that the God of peace will soon crush Satan under our feet.
