Monthly Archives: October 2026

46d BY THE WAY…HOW DO WE OVERCOME OR FLESH?

Bible Study, ,

Understanding the nature of this warfare and debunking the false teachings that have led us astray, will give us a far better handle on living the Christian life. 

Paul recognised that this warfare we are engaged in is real and brutal…if we try to do it on our own…and if we fail to understand that the battle has already been won.  

1.Jesus won the war on the cross.  

“When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”

Colossians‬ ‭2‬:‭13‬-‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What’s the point of fighting the battle when the enemy has already been defeated?

2. Jesus took away obedience to the law as a way to gain acceptance with God. 

He replaced it with His own righteousness, gained by perfect obedience to the law, and given freely to those who receive it by faith. 

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV

“For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

3.Jesus took captive the powers and principalities that take us captive and made them walk behind Him in His victory parade. 

“Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2‬:‭15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“That is why the Scriptures say, “When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives (all the principalities and powers that are under His authority) and gave gifts to his people.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

4. Jesus’ victory is complete and permanent and He gave it to us. 

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

‭‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭33‬ ‭NIV‬‬

5. The role of every believer is not to fight but to stand in the victory Jesus has already won. 

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭10‬-‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The “armour” we wear is the truth of our salvation that covers every vital part of our hearts and beliefs. The strategy is to replace, deliberately, every lie of the devil with the truth of God’s word…to choose to think about what God has done in place of that of which Satan accuses us. 

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This applied victory is a discipline and a process. When we are tempted to sin, we stand on the truth that we are dead to sin by our identity with Jesus in His death and resurrection. 

“For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—…In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭6‬:‭5‬-‭6‬, ‭11‬-‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The Holy Spirit always acts in tandem with the Word. He empowers what we confess. As we identify with Jesus…He neutralises the power of the flesh by His power…in our confession. 

When Satan accuses and condemns us because of sin, we have the truth to displace his lies. 

“My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.”

‭‭I John‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

We apply the corresponding truth that we have risen with Jesus to a new life. 

“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭6‬:‭4‬-‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We have died to sin. We are no longer held captive by sin’s power. We are free to obey Jesus as our supreme authority. 

“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” …So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

‭‭John‬ ‭8‬:‭31‬-‭32‬, ‭36‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We don’t fight the war Jesus has already won. We stand on the truth of His victory when Satan tempts us to give way to our old nature and our sinful responses and when he accuse and condemns.  The battles are fought in the heart and won through the truth we have made our own by faith. 

“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭14‬-‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

By prayer, we do what Jesus did. We cry out to the Father for His power to overcome. Our weakness is not the obstacle but the doorway into His grace. 

“That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This, then, is spiritual warfare, real and powerful through the blood of Jesus and the Word of God, in the power of the Spirit. 

46b BY THE WAY…WHAT IS “SPIRITUAL WARFARE”?

Bible Study, ,

Spiritual warfare, although not a Biblical term, is a real truth in Scripture…however, not because of the title and not as presented in some streams of theology in the modern church. 

We must first determine who is at war with whom. 

In the Old Covenant, Israel’s enemies were those surrounding nations that attacked them because of their disobedience to God’s covenant… culminating in the downfall, first, of Israel, the northern kingdom, and then of Judah, the southern kingdom. 

Israel’s enemies were implacable, relentless, and many. God’s people were supposed to be His representatives to the nations, their obedient lifestyles reflecting the nature of their God. Instead, they were no different from their idolatrous neighbours, bringing God’s wrath down on them in the form of war and exile. 

In the New Covenant, the real enemy, not the nations, but the rebellious heart, is revealed. The wicked hearts of God’s people were the cause of their downfall. The covenant requirements, God’s temporary remedy, pointed to His eternal prescription through the blood of His Son, but… few in Israel recognised their tragic condition. Most thought that the sacrifice of animals, in and of itself, would protect them from God’s wrath. 

“The multitude of your sacrifices— what are they to me?” says the Lord. “I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats…Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations— I cannot bear your worthless assemblies… “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭1‬:‭11‬, ‭13‬, ‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Even during Jesus’ time on earth with His disciples, His men didn’t see sin as their main problem. They thought that the Roman occupation, the enemy within they own territory, was what held them back as a nation from their destiny as God’s covenant people. Messiah would rid them of Rome’s presence and re-establish David’s kingdom in earth. 

Before Jesus’ return to heaven, the same question resurfaced…

“Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus reply was both vague and definite. Not now! Not Rome! He redirected His disciples to the current and pressing issue…

“He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Witnesses! Witnesses to what? 

It turned out, as they were soon to discover, that He, Jesus, was the core of a new life…not a national life under a new government, but a personal life under His Lordship… indwelt and empowered by His Spirit because of His death and resurrection. 

The real “spiritual warfare” was revealed…the war between the old, sinful nature within…that demands allegiance and gratification…and the new life of the Spirit who has taken up residence in the redeemed heart. The flesh destroys…

“The mind governed by the flesh is death…The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭6‬a-‭8 NIV

The Spirit restores and renews. 

“…but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”

Romans 8:6b NIV

The Sporit guides, teaches and corrects the obedient heart in the path towards the likeness of Jesus. 

This warfare is real, ongoing and relentless…

“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The only way to win the war…moment by moment…is to resist the demands of the flesh by submitting to the Holy Spirit and obeying His leading…

…and the secret of victory?

“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬

…killed the passions and demands of the old sinful nature by identifying with Jesus in His death!

To be continued…

46c BY THE WAY…WHO WON THE WAR?

Bible Study, ,

We will never settle this issue of “spiritual warfare” until we get one thing straight. Who won the war? Some think that is we, God’s children, believers in Jesus, who are engaged in a battle with Satan and his minions. They believe that we must take up arms against the enemy. They think that the struggles we endure in our daily lives, our circumstances,  are our battle with the devil. 

They think and act accordingly! 

They pray against circumstances…take authority over the devil and evil spirits… take back what the devil has stolen…speak to the devil as though he were omnipresent…even interrupt their prayers to God with asides to Satan… all in a vain attempt to regain control and tell the devil where to get off! 

Does this behaviour work? Of course not! Why not? 

These people are trying to fight a war which has already been won! Instead of standing on the territory already theirs, they swing imaginary weapons at an enemy already overcome…disarmed and powerless…and believe that they are winning a great victory. Meanwhile, the flesh is still winning the skirmishes…evidenced by the fruit…the works of the flesh!

“The acts of the flesh are obvious…”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

…followed by a long list of disgraceful behaviour. 

By contrast…

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

So, how can we be so sure that the territory is ours…the sinful nature the wants to rule? The Bible is clear. Jesus won the victory at the cross. 

“When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he (Jesus) made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2‬:‭13‬-‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus won the war by perfectly keeping God’s law and then dying as a law-breaker. He earned the righteousness demanded of us and then freely gave the righteousness He won back to us. He beat the devil at his own game, exposing his ruse…lies and deception. “You don’t need God. You can be God. Make your own rules. Nothing will happen to you!” …and, when we did, he laughed “Got you!” He accused us! “You broke the law! You are guilty !You will die!”

Jesus exposed the devil’s scheme by dying, Himself…for us!

46a BY THE WAY…WHAT DOES “BINDING AND LOOSING MEAN”?

Christian Life, ,

“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭16‬:‭19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Now, here’s a humdinger! 

The most commonly-preached version of Jesus’ instruction to His disciples at Caesarea Philipppi…to explain “spiritual warfare”…has opened a “Pandora’s box” of fanciful interpretations. According to this idea, in simple terms, Jesus gave His disciples the authority to bind the devil, to hinder his evil power by their words, and to loose the Holy Spirit in situations where Satan seems to have the upper hand. 

Where, in the whole of Scripture, does this idea originate!

“Binding and loosing” was a religious and culturally understood concept of authority in first century Israel. Jesus, as a “rabbi with authority”, “sh’mikah”…one of the few to have this authority in His day… given to Him by the Father… would have dictated the terms of this authority, called His “yoke” which, He said, was already decreed in heaven.  Against the backdrop of the strict legalism of the religious leaders, Jesus invited His people to share His yoke. 

“Jesus’s yoke is a metaphor from Matthew 11:28–30, where Jesus invites weary people to take his yoke upon them, promising that his “yoke is easy, and my burden is light”.

Core Biblical Meaning

  • The Yoke Metaphor: A yoke is a wooden beam or harness placed across the shoulders of draft animals like oxen to help them pull a heavy load or plow a field. In ancient times, a rabbi’s “yoke” also referred to his specific teaching style, interpretation of the scriptures, and way of life.
  • Partnering with Christ: A dual-animal yoke paired a younger, inexperienced ox with a stronger, older, and wiser ox. When Jesus says, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,” he means walking alongside him. Jesus shares the yoke with the believer, carrying the primary weight and doing the heavy lifting.
  • Contrast with Legalism: Jesus was contrasting his gentle, loving approach with the heavy, legalistic burdens and hundreds of rigid rules imposed by the religious leaders and Pharisees of his day.
  • Rest for the Soul: Rather than offering an escape from life’s responsibilities or work, Jesus provides a transformed rhythm of life, grace, and inner rest instead of anxiety and self-righteous striving.” (Source: Google AI)

What did Jesus’ words have to do with “binding and loosing”?

“In Matthew 16:19, “binding and loosing” refers to first-century rabbinic idioms regarding moral, legal, and doctrinal authority: binding meant to declare something forbidden or prohibited, while loosing meant to declare something permitted or allowed. 

When Jesus told Peter, “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven,” He was granting foundational authority to Peter—and later the apostles—to set the parameters and rules for the New  Covenant community (the Church) in alignment with God’s pre-established divine will.” (Source: Google AI)

All this to explain that, in the atmosphere of the terrible idolatrous beliefs and practices which the disciples were there at Caesarea Philippi to see in person, Jesus declared that His yoke…His way of doing life in obedience to God’s Torah…which He himself modelled and taught… would displace the yokes of debauched paganism and religious legalism. 

The yoke of legalism, modelled by the Pharisees, was burdensome. Jesus’ yoke of mercy and grace was liberating and brought rest. 

The crux of the matter was that It was Jesus’ yoke that heaven permitted and that the yoke of the Pharisees was forbidden…already a done deal from heaven’s perspective. 

Jesus could introduce His yoke as God’s directive because He died to make possible the transformation of a rebel slave into a willing son. 

The real issue was that, at every place, like Caesarea Philippi, where idolatry has displaced God’s rule on earth, Jesus would transform pagans into a community of His people by the power of His yoke. 

So, what do we make of the teaching on “spiritual warfare”?

To be continued…

45b BY THE WAY…WHICH KEYS?

Bible Study, ,

“And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”

Matthew 16:19 NLT

Why on earth was Jesus talking about? Keys? Binding and loosing? Theologians have made some heavy weather of these statements!

What was Jesus promising to do? He was promising to give them His authority to open the kingdom of heaven. 

“Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Let’s examine some of the possible keys. 

First, what do keys do? They open what is inaccessible without a key. 

Jesus had an issue with the Pharisees because they had keys they should have used to give people access to the truth of God’s rule. Instead, they shut the door to the kingdom of God, blocking the entry to those who wanted to go in. 

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭23‬:‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What did the religious leaders do to prevent people from entering the kingdom? They bound on God’s people laws and rituals impossible to keep but they themselves were rotten inside, pretending to be what they were not and only letting the laws show on the outside.  

So, the laws of God, without the power of God, locked people out of the kingdom. They could never obey God’s law with a sinful heart. X They needed a new heart and a new disposition, a “rebirth”, to gain access to God’s rule, to please God. 

Key number one…so Jesus told Nicodemus, is…

“Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.”

‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

For this key to open the kingdom, the first step is to exchange “works of the law” for faith in Jesus. 

“Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭2‬:‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Key number 2…For the key of faith to work, God must intervene to activate spiritual life. 

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins…But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬, ‭4‬-‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Through the Holy Spirit, God gives life to the dead spirit, and activates faith in Jesus for salvation. Confession confirms the faith that raises the dead spirit to life. 

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

God completes the transaction by declaring the sinner “not guilty” because Jesus had paid the debt. 

“Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Key number three…the master key, the object of faith that activates all the other keys…the blood of Jesus!

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭19‬-‭22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

These and others, are the keys that give a guilty sinner access to God and all the benefits of His grace. However, Paul made clear that these keys are in the hands of those who use them. Without the ones that open the kingdom of heaven with the right keys, the doors to God’s kingdom will remain firmly locked. 

“If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭9‬-‭10‬, ‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The keys of the kingdom reside, not just in the hands but in the mouths of those who bring the good news. 

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns!”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭52‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

So, when Jesus promised His disciples the authority to open the kingdom, He was giving them an assignment…” Preach  the Good News so that those who hear may believe “

 “Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭18‬-‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

There is no secret to entrance into God’s kingdom…not the works of our flesh but faith in the blood of Jesus. This faith is activated, through grace, by the power of God, by hearing and believing the message about Jesus, by confessing faith in His death and resurrection, by the Spirit of God raising us to new life…and by total commitment to trust in and obedience to Jesus as Lord. 

From start to finish, salvation is a partnership between God and us …God initiates, and works…and we respond by faith, confession, and obedience. 

A postscript… keys have a

second function. They also lock doors that no one can open.  Jesus claimed to hold those keys as well. What does He keep locked? 

“In the Bible, Jesus holds the keys of Hades (hell) and of Death, and He also speaks of giving out the keys of the kingdom of heaven.

The Keys of Hades and Death

  • Reference: Revelation 1:18 (“I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death”).
  • Meaning: They symbolize Jesus’s absolute, supreme authority and dominion over death, the grave, and the spiritual realm. Through His resurrection, He conquered death and holds the power to grant eternal life.” (Google AI)

As much as Jesus has the keys to the kingdom of heaven, and gives authority to open heaven to His disciples, so He also holds the keys to death and Hades. He alone has the authority to lock the realm of the dead so that no one escapes who have consigned theirselves to that place.