The Strand Study Bible

Written From Philippi During Paul’s Third Missionary Journey II CORINTHIANS In order to combat this device and not be deceived, every believer must become “grounded in the Word of God.” The Word of God must have the last say in a believer’s life (Gal 2:11-14 and Acts 17:10-11). 2. Satan is always trying to get us to doubt the goodness of God (Gen 3:1) Satan knows that an understanding of the goodness of God is what ultimately leads men to a change of mind (repentance - Rom 2:4). Satan is the great accuser (Rev 12:10). He not only loves to cast doubt upon the goodness of God before men, he even loves to cast doubt upon the goodness of men before God (Job 1:9-11 and Zech 3:1). In order to combat this device and not be deceived, every believer must become “convinced of the goodness of God” (Rom 8:35-39 and II Cor 5:14). Everything that happens to us has a purpose ( I Pet 1:7 , Rom 8:28 and Gen 50:15-20). 3. Satan is always trying to discredit the validity of God’s Word (Gen 3:2-4) Satan tries to discredit the Word of God in one of two ways: * by introducing different “scriptures” into the world , such as, Hindu literature (c. 700 BC – I Ki 6:38), the writings of Buddha and Confucius (c. 500 BC – Dan 4:33 & 8:27), the Apocrypha (c. 300 BC), the Gnostic gospels (c. AD 50 – Colo 2:16), the Koran (c. AD 657 – Gen 16:12), The Book of Mormon (AD 1829 – Psa 82:6 ), etc. Satan’s goal is to confuse the world as to what is and what is not the Word of God * by getting God to break His Word ( Mt 4:1 -11 & 16:21-23) Satan knows that if God breaks His word that He destroys His name (Psa 138:2). One of Satan’s aims throughout human history has been to get God to fail in just one of His promises. In order to combat this device and not be deceived, every believer must become “a student of apologetics” ( Phil 1:17 ). Whenever you begin to doubt the Word of God, you begin to doubt the God of the Word. 4. Satan is always trying to deceive us into following our own will (thus appealing to our pride - Gen 3:5) Like the angels before us (Isa 14:12-14 and Rev 12:9), humans have been given a free will (and, yes, an ill-advised opportunity/ occasion to use that will to appeal to our pride). In order to combat this device and not be deceived, every believer must learn “to practice humility” ( I Ki 21:29 ). Humility is not something we profess; rather it is something we must practice on a daily basis. 5. Satan is always trying to discourage us from serving God (Gen 3:6-10) Satan will use our fears (Gen 3:10, Daniel 3:4-7,16-18 and Mt 26:57-58,67-74), our focus on worldly circumstances (Mt 11:1-3, II Cor 12:7-10 and Job 1:9-10), our failures (Lk 22:31-32, I Tim 5:14-15, Eph 4:26-27 and II Cor 2:11 ), our fondness of worldly possessions (II Tim 4:10), and our feelings (Jn 20:24-29), to discourage us from serving God. In order to combat this device and not be deceived, every believer must learn “to build up his faith” ( Lk 17:6 ). Faith is not believing in spite of the circumstances; faith is obeying in spite of the consequences. 6. Satan is always trying to devour us by ruining our testimony (Gen 3:14-15) Since the promise of salvation to the human race in the Garden of Eden, Satan has been working hard to devour every believer as quickly as he can so that they cannot be used of God to accomplish His will (I Pet 5:8). Satan attempts to devour us via the world (I Jn 2:15-16 and Rom 12:1-2), his person (II Cor 11:3), or our flesh (Gen 3:5-6 and I Sam 16:14-23). In order to combat this device and not be deceived, every believer must learn “to give God his mind” ( Phil 2:5 ). We need to work diligently to give our minds over to God everyday. 7. Satan is always trying to distort the simplicity of the Gospel of CHRIST (Gen 4:1-8) Satan knows that the Gospel, when presented properly, has the power to save anyone ( Rom 1:16 ). Therefore, he loves to twist and pervert the plan of salvation in the minds of men so they fail to be saved (II Cor 4:3-4 and Gal 1:6-12). In order to combat this device and not be deceived, every believer must learn “to witness and present the Gospel in its simplicity” ( Gen 3:15 a ). We do not need to aid the Devil by not witnessing to a lost world. NOTE – If we, as Christians, are going to “be able to stand against the wiles (craftiness) of the Devil” ( Eph 6:11 ); if we are going to be able to stand our ground and not retreat or fall in the pursuing struggle, then we are going to have to be able to defend ourselves spiritually. We are going to have to learn to: * be loyal to truth, not institutions (because Satan is always trying to disguise his real person) * be acutely aware of God’s goodness (because Satan is always trying to get us to doubt the goodness of God) * become a student of apologetics (because Satan is always trying to discredit the validity of God’s Word) * be wary of pride (because Satan is always trying to deceive us into following our own will, thus appealing to our pride) * be careful about our feelings (because Satan is always trying to discourage us from serving God) * be Word-filled (because Satan is always trying to devour us by ruining our testimony) * be Gospel minded (because Satan is always trying to distort the simplicity of the Gospel of Christ) 2:12 Paul had visited Troas right before he entered Macedonia in Acts 20:1. 3:2 THE ADAGE IS TRUE: The best argument for Christ and the best argument against Christ is the life of a Christian 3:7 The OT Law ( ministration of death ) condemns a man to death and Hell (Gal 3:10 and Acts 13:39). The Law was written to show man that he couldn’t keep the Law, thus his need for a Savior (Rom 7:7-13 and Gal 3:19,24). 3:18 The Bible is a mirror that reflects Christ’s glory ( beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord ). The more a believer gazes into it intently the more he becomes like Christ. Just as Moses’ face reflected God’s glory on Mt Sinai, so we are to reflect the glory of Christ through the indwelling Spirit of God. A mirror should be used to show us our filthiness, not another’s filthiness ( Amos 7:7 ). 1933