1 Peter 5:8-9; James 4:7-10, Resisting (2)

On an unimportant side note, if you read the two passages for today you might wonder if Peter was thinking about James’ earlier writing to the twelve tribes scattered abroad (Jas. 1:1).  Peter, in my estimation, leaned significantly on Paul and might have drawn from others.  That’s not bad.  It’s Peter the humble.  In other words, he knows whereof he speaks when he calls us to humble ourselves.  Think about this when we come to the situation in Gal. 2 in a few paragraphs.

Peter has told us to be serious, be watchful and to resist the devil.  Then he adds a phrase to explain further this resistance: steadfast in the faith.  He ties this phrase to the knowledge that his listeners should have, which is that others in the brotherhood are experiencing the same sufferings.  They are not alone; they were not singled out.

I believe it is quite helpful to note the use of the Greek term for resist in the entire NT.  We have seen it in 5:9 and also in Jas. 4:7 and Eph. 6:13.  Here are the others.

·        Mt. 5:39: In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said not to resist an evil person but to turn the other cheek.

·        Lk.21:15: Christ will give a mouth of wisdom that adversaries cannot withstand.

·        Ac.6:10: Sanhedrin unable to resist wisdom w/which Stephen spoke.

·        Ac.13:8: Elymas the sorcerer withstood Paul & Barnabas.

·        Rom. 9:19: In Paul’s teaching on election he refers to the adversarial relationship of men towards God: Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?

·        Rom. 13:2: Whoever resists governing authorities resists the ordinance of God; and those who resist bring judgment on themselves.

·        Gal. 2:11: Paul withstood Peter in Galatia.

·        2 Tim 3:8: Janus & Jambrus withstood Moses.

·        2 Tim 4:15: Alexander the coppersmith withstood Paul's words.

Every use of the term is in an adversarial context.  Often it is the adversary who is resisting.  The Bible sees Satan and his minions as real and aggressive.  Note that our weapon of aggressive combat is our words.  Jesus promised a mouth of wisdom for situations when we are under pressure (persecution).  The actual sword is the word of God (Eph. 6:17).  Do not miss what Jesus said in Mt. 5:39: NOT reviling when reviled, but turning the cheek, is one of the greatest strategies of the soldier of Christ.

In most of these passages the adversary is human.  Our true enemy is the devil and those with him (Eph. 6:12).  But his attacks are usually from people around us.  Thus we must have Christ-given wisdom in our response.  Jesus also used words in resisting the devil (Mt. 4:1-11).  We should be careful, however, not to get in shouting matches with the devil as some are prone to do.  We believe this is the point of Jude 8-10.

So keep the house occupied (Mt. 12:43-45) with pure and simple devotion to Christ (2 Cor. 11:3).  Put on the armor.  Use the Sword of the Spirit.  Pray unceasingly.  Counter Satan’s authority with our authority to make disciples (Mt. 28:18-20).