{"id":1849,"date":"2022-06-26T13:07:49","date_gmt":"2022-06-26T18:07:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/biblicalpath.com\/?p=1849"},"modified":"2022-06-27T06:21:51","modified_gmt":"2022-06-27T11:21:51","slug":"the-strong-one-verses-the-stronger-one","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/biblicalpath.com\/index.php\/2022\/06\/26\/the-strong-one-verses-the-stronger-one\/","title":{"rendered":"The Strong One versus the Stronger One"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\u201cBut the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.<\/strong>\u201d
Galatians 3:22 <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Jesus was teaching the people. He wanted them to understand\nthe power He held. The people were having a hard time understanding, so he\nexplained. \u201cWhen a strong man\narmed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace<\/strong>\u201d (Luke 11:21). This \u201cstrong man\u201d he is referring to\nis the prince of this world, the devil. (See Ephesians 2:2: \u201cWherein in time past ye walked according to\nthe course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the\nspirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.<\/strong>\u201d) We are to\nunderstand something very important. However, in order to understand this, one\nmust know the difference between one who belongs to Jesus and one who does not.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One, who believes in Jesus by faith, belongs to Him. \u201cJesus\nsaith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the\nlife: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me<\/strong>\u201d (John 14:6). Also,\nunderstand it by the following verse. \u201cBut the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by\nfaith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe<\/strong>\u201d\n(Galatians 3:22). We then declare\nthat a Believer (Christian) has Jesus in their heart. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A person who does not have Jesus in the heart (an unconverted\nsinner) does not have Him in His rightful place. Instead, by default, Satan has\ntaken up residence (\u201ca strong man keeps his palace\u201d). In this condition, the\nperson sins willfully, which is a picture of Satan\u2019s \u201cgoods.\u201d This is the place\nwhere Satan dwells, where he works. This becomes his stronghold, the place of\nwhich he wants to keep away from Jesus. Satan then can continue to do his\nwickedness. That is the condition of all<\/em><\/strong> without Jesus in their\nheart. Moreover, all seems well in that life, until there is a challenge to\nthis status quo. When Jesus is presented, the battle begins. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Jesus continued teaching them, He told them of a Stronger.\n\u201cBut when a stronger than he shall\ncome upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he\ntrusted, and divideth his spoils<\/strong>\u201d (Luke 11:22). Jesus is the Stronger One. Notice what He did. Jesus\nhas invaded what Satan thought was his territory. Jesus has been (and still is)\ndestroying Satan\u2019s armor and claiming his spoils. [\u201cHe that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the\nbeginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might\ndestroy the works of the devil<\/strong>\u201d (1 John 3:8) and \u201cAnd<\/em><\/strong> having spoiled principalities and powers,\nhe made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it<\/strong>\u201d\n(Colossians 2:15.)] Understanding this, we can learn that one who has repented\nof their sin, asking forgiveness from God, has been freed from the strong one\n(Satan) and belongs to the Stronger One (Jesus). A decision has to be made by\neach individual, for there is no neutral ground in this conflict. If one thinks\nthey can remain neutral and stay out of the conflict, this is what Jesus said,\n\u201cHe that is not with me is against\nme: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth<\/strong>\u201d (Luke 11:23). A side must be chosen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When one believes in Jesus by faith, that heart is now clean.\nThe difference (of the decision) is whether the individual has accepted Jesus\ninto that heart, making His residence permanent. Remember the following must\nhappen: \u201cTherefore if any man be<\/em>\nin Christ, he is<\/em> a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all\nthings are become new<\/strong>\u201d (2 Corinthians 5:17).\nThis decision has to be made. The danger of trying not to make a decision is\npictured in what Jesus told them immediately after explaining all of this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See what happens when one does not become a \u201cnew creature<\/strong>\u201d in Christ (believe in Jesus by faith). When one cleans up, lives good for a while without actually having a nature change that is required to live as a true Christian, read what happens. \u201c24. When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. 25. And when he cometh, he findeth it<\/em> swept and garnished. 26. Then goeth he, and taketh to him<\/em> seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state<\/em> of that man is worse than the first<\/strong>\u201d (Luke 11:24-26). When one cleans up, lives religiously, or just in their own righteousness without the true righteousness that comes from Jesus\u2019 finished work on the cross, the last state of the person is worse than the first. That person is left with no hope and will suffer the wrath of God that is yet to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn whom ye also trusted,<\/em> after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise<\/strong>\u201d (Ephesians 1:13). Once sealed, always belonging to Jesus (the Stronger One). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are you one who\nhas cleaned up your life on your own (still bound by the strong one),<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

or<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have you become a new creature in Christ (belong to the Stronger One)?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
How to be Saved<\/a><\/blockquote>