In those religions tracing their lineage to Abraham: Judaism, Islam and Christianity, Satan has consistently been the adversary of God and his people. All three faith communities believe Satan rebelled against God along with a significant number of other, lesser angels. (Luke 10:18) What was behind that rebellion remains uncertain. Some of the fallen angels are free to roam with him while others are being held in captivity awaiting final punishment. He and his cohort effectively call the shots on earth for now. Unlike God, he is a created being, but according to the prophet Ezekiel, his power is second only to God’s power. (Ezekiel 28:11-16) He is considered the prince of evil spirits. Because believers are protected by the name and blood of Jesus we need not fear him. But we shouldn’t take him lightly, either. The author of Jude warned, “even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!’” (Jude 9 | NIV) Satan wins some battles as daily news and weather reports seem to indicate. But the outcome of the war, along with his fate and that of his followers, has already been determined. (Revelation 20:10 | NIV and Matthew 25:41 | NIV) Although we are in a constant battle with him, he can only do what God allows. Sometimes we think Satan is attacking us when it is, in fact, God who is disciplining us “because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in” (Proverbs 3:12). But, as the story of Job teaches, there may be aspects of the story that we will never know.

To stand firm until the end we must arm ourselves for spiritual battle.

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. 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. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. (Ephesians 6:11-18 | NIV)

The name, Satan, is a synonym for Devil, Lucifer, evil spirit, serpent, adversary, enemy, tempter, evil one, wicked one, murderer, liar, ruler of this world, god of this age, prince of the power of the air, and great dragon. He is the personification of evil and the ruler of all who are not citizens of God’s kingdom. If you are not a disciple of Jesus, you are his disciple by default and blinded to the truth. “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4 | NIV). Satan uses lies and half-truths to provide unbelievers with a false sense of security that keeps sincere people from seeking the truth. He can make himself seem as sincere and godly as anyone and yet, if his mouth is moving, he’s lying. The apostle Paul warns “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light” ( 2 Corinthians 11:14 | NIV). Weak, Christians, who were not properly discipled or who do not know Scripture have fallen for his lies. Some have even accepted the lie that he is not even real. They think he is only an allegory for evil. And scientific surveys have provided actual numbers underscoring the non-biblical perspective of professed Christians.

According to a Barna survey of self-described Christians conducted in 2008, 78 percent held what one might call an orthodox view of God. They believed he is “the all-powerful, all-knowing Creator of the universe who rules the world today.” The remaining 22 percent ascribed to a non-biblical view of God. When it comes to Satan, however, 40 percent of the respondents strongly agreed with the statement “he is not a living being, but a symbol of evil.” An additional 19 percent somewhat agree with that statement. Eight percent of the sample did not know what, exactly, they believed. (http://www.barna.com/research/most-american-christians-do-not-believe-that-satan-or-the-holy-spirit-exist/). According to the Barna study, two thirds of professed Christians apparently believe Jesus was tempted by a symbol of evil. Interestingly, a study regarding belief in heaven and hell, conducted in 2014, by the Pew Research Center, found 72 percent of Americans, in general, say they believe in heaven, a place they considered to be one eternal reward. Only 58 percent of respondents believed in hell, a place of eternal punishment. Of those who are at least reasonably certain or absolutely certain God exists, all but 4 percent believe in a literal hell. Ninety-one percent of strongly religious people believe in hell. (http://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/belief-in-hell/#beliefs-and-practices). It seems more Americans believe in the existence of hell than professed Christians believe in the existence of Satan. And yet, Jesus spoke often of both.

We first learn about Satan in Genesis when, in the form of the serpent, he tempted Eve. He again surfaced as the ‘father of lies” in the New Testament during the temptation of Christ. All three synoptic gospels record that the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. None of the authors provide any indication what happened was anything but fact. And that is where we really observe Satan’s modus operandi. He knew he was dealing with God, but still begins with a lie. His first words were, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread” (Matthew 4:3 | NIV). That was the same ploy that he used with Eve, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1 | NIV) He used a passage of Scripture from Psalm 91 in his second temptation. We must never forget he knows the Bible as well as any Christian and will twist it to lead the unsuspecting astray. Every heretic has his verse and Satan knows them all. The final temptation literally offered Jesus the world in exchange for worship. If you have decided to follow Jesus, you must anticipate attacks like those Satan used against him. Each method is regularly employed against Christ’s disciples. “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5: 8 | NIV).Your best weapons to remain faithful include: knowing Scripture, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11 | NIV), prayer, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13 |NIV), regular worship, and reliance on the Holy Spirit to aid in resisting his lies, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7 | NIV) 

Sanctification means to be made holy; set apart. It is purity before God. We cannot fully comprehend sanctification unless we understand what holy means. God is wholly holy. There is no other like him. And he has called those who follow Jesus to be holy; set apart from the unbelieving. “But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:15-16 | ESV). The Book of Leviticus contains instructions to the Jewish priesthood for ritual and moral purity. While Christians have been freed from ritual purity obligations, as a nation of priests, we remain obligated to live lives that set us apart from those who do not know Jesus. “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9 | NIV). Christians may remain in the world, but should not be of it. D.L. Moody explained it like this,  “Christians should live in the world, but not be filled with it. A ship lives in the water; but if the water gets into the ship, she goes to the bottom. So Christians may live in the world; but if the world gets into them, they sink.”

Holiness is exemplified by love for God, love for others, morality, integrity, philanthropy and humility. Christians become sanctified through Christ’s atoning sacrifice, but once we have been cleansed of sin by the blood of Jesus, the onus is on us to live lives that glorify him through following his example and obeying his commands. “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age” (Titus 2:11-12 | NIV). Sanctification is not one and done. It is a life-long process. The best illustration of this is jewelers rouge, which is used to polish gold. As the jeweler gently rubs it over scratches and imperfections, the gold eventually appears flawless. So it is with sanctification. Trials, tribulation and striving for Christ-likeness are the jewelers rouge that eventually allows us to reflect his image. 

We grow in holiness following conversion. Disciples are expected to become transformed into the likeness of Christ, rather than conform to societal norms. It is a matter of becoming and that takes time. Even the apostle Paul confessed he wasn’t there yet. “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me” (Philippians 3:12 | NIV). It is ok to be a silent witness for Christ by humbly living peacefully, being good citizens and neighbors, but we must not be secret witnesses. Secret witnesses are those who cannot be distinguished from the general population. Silent witnesses are always ready to share the hope that they have in Christ; hope that is reflected in what they do and say. Secret witnesses are constrained by their ungodly lifestyle and are silent about their faith because everyone knows they are not walking the talk. D.L. Moody said, “Where one man reads the Bible, a hundred read you and me.”

Sanctification is evidence of complete justification. Justification is God’s pardon. Sanctification is an expression of gratitude expressed in glorifying him with our lives. The order matters. Sanctification cannot substitute for justification. Think of it like this, true justification produces willing submission and submission results in sanctification. Christians are doers, not talkers. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10 | NIV). We strive to live and act like Jesus because we are saved, not in order to be saved. Sanctification is justification at work. “But someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works” (James 2:18 | ESV). 

Sanctification is not the product of white-knuckle determination. It is listening to and following the prompting of the Holy Spirit. We listen. We follow, but we still sin. And the closer we get to God, the more aware we become of our sin. Things that we would not have considered sin early in our walk with Jesus now lead us to repentance. The apostle John reminds us plainly, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8-9| NIV).

We use the words “save” or “saved” regularly. The fire department saved the house. I save money at the local bank. The swimmer owes his salvation to the life guard. Christianity uses “save” and its variants, “saved” and “salvation,” similarly. Salvation means deliverance from the influence or bondage of sin and a full pardon from the death penalty sin incurs. Those who are saved do not really die. They close their eyes to their brief, natural existence only to awaken to an eternal spiritual one. We are saved from the effects of our rebellion against God. That rebellion, sin, is not doing what we know is right and by taking God’s rightful place in our lives. The penalty of sin is eternal separation from God, which reflects the personal decision to live without him. In effect, those who will spend eternity away from God and his love simply get what they wanted in this life. And it just carries over to the next one. 

Eternity in God’s presence is, in essence, the end result of being saved, Salvation can’t be earned. It is a gift of God’s grace or unmerited favor. We get the reward we do not deserve instead of the punishment we do deserve. That is the gospel message. “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. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved” (Romans 8:9-10 | NIV). Life to the full that Jesus promises is deliverance from the power sin once held over us and the resulting guilt and shame sin always carries with it. When we place faith in Jesus’s death, burial and resurrection we are filled with the Holy Spirit who leads and empowers us to live the life God intends for us to live.

Faith, plus nothing else saves us. Salvation results from placing absolute faith and confidence in what Jesus did on the cross. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:16-17 | NIV). All God requires for salvation is childlike trust and willing obedience. Once we are saved, only apostasy, totally renouncing faith in Jesus, will again place us in eternal jeopardy. 

Salvation is only the first step toward discipleship. But it must not be neglected or taken for granted. True discipleship makes us want to be like Jesus and produce “fruit in keeping with repentance.” Believers receive the Holy Spirit to help us do that, but only if we listen to his voice and follow his leading. Faith in Jesus, alone, makes him our savior, but obedience demonstrates that he is our lord.

In the Old Testament the word, niham, translated “metanoeo” in the Greek, becomes “repent” in English. It typically describes an action by God (e.g. God repented or relented and did not destroy his disobedient children). New Testament usage of metanoeo or variations of it refers to actions by humankind. The first part, “meta,” is a prefix meaning change. The second part “noeo,” describes how one perceives and responds to reality; what they see. Consequently, the compound word describes change and worldview. It means: ’to think differently after’ or to “perceive afterwards.” In repenting, a person literally changes direction. He or she turns around and adopts a new worldview. They stop following the patterns of the world and strive to be like Jesus. True repentance is observable. Jesus said you can tell if a person has truly repented by watching what they do, if they, “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance” ( Matthew 3:8 | NIV). Observable actions demonstrate transformation. We are no longer who we were and it shows. 

Repentance is simply turning from the world’s darkness and toward the light of Jesus. If you are a visual learner, here is a simple example to assist in understanding it that I adapted from the metanoia.org website. Imagine you are standing in a circle of people in a dark room, facing away from the center. There is a light source in the middle of the circle. Everyone is facing it but you. You can’t see anyone else. All you can see is your indistinct shadow on the wall. But, if you turn around, you can see the light and the faces of the others in the circle. Compared to your shadow, you see them clearly. Jesus is the light. We can only really see him and others by turning away from the darkness and toward him. The Holy Spirit gives us 2020 spiritual vision. It means thinking differently about everything and everyone. We become more observant and acutely aware of what we say, feel and do, especially as it relates to others. True Jesus-followers measure themselves only against Christ’s words and actions.

The first beatitude is foundational to coming to God through Jesus. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3 | NIV). Jesus is concerned with the spiritual condition of those who follow him; specifically that they recognize how spiritually poor they really are. It is only when they realize their spiritual tank is empty that they are ready to have it filled by the Holy Spirit. The infilling of the Holy Spirit must be preceded by an awareness they are separated from God and become overwhelmed by a conviction that something within them must change. But that compels them to realize they can’t do it without help.

The second beatitude describes the proper response and reward for genuine repentance. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matthew 5:4 | NIV). In his book Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones viewed Christ’s reference to mourning from an individual, sinner’s perspective. “Those who are going to be converted and wish to be truly happy and blessed are those who first of all mourn. Conviction is an essential preliminary to true conversion.” He further asserted that the Christian mourns for his or her sins and the sins of others, along with the damage sin introduced into the world.  True repentance carries with it godly sorrow and the manifestation of that sorrow is the mourning for which Jesus promises comfort. “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death” (2 Corinthians 7:10 | NIV).

Repentance and belief are inextricably linked. Repentance is not feeling bad or guilty because you got caught doing something that God doesn’t like. It is a recognition that you are eternally separated from God. Belief is necessary for God to dispense his grace by forgiving your sins. Belief exercised by faith saves us. “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1 | NIV). Jesus said, “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15 | NIV) The heart of the good news of the gospel is, even though you cannot restore your relationship with God, Jesus has already done it for you.“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 | NIV). We are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. “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). 

What does it mean to be born again? The word theologians use for “born again” is regeneration. It describes renewal, restoration or regrowth and occurs in both the natural and spiritual worlds. Cells in the bodies of living things regularly die and are replaced through the process biologists call regeneration. Death gives way to new life. Jesus said a spiritual rebirth was necessary to enter the Kingdom of God. Just as we had no say in our natural birth, we have no control over our rebirth. “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:44 | NIV). Regeneration results from placing faith in Jesus as both lord and savior in response to the Holy Spirit’s prompting. It means dying to self to live for Christ. Theologically speaking, regeneration or rebirth justifies the believer in God’s sight. It saves him from sin’s penalty. The proof of regeneration is receipt of the Holy Spirit. And the proof of the Holy Spirit is striving to be like Jesus by living a life that glorifies God.

We are all born into a natural, sinful world. In the natural world we make our own choices and follow the course we decide. Some people believe that life is short and all that matters is “looking out for number one.” Such people are godless and self-seeking. But most of us, on the other hand, try to be good people who do mostly good things. And while that works pretty well, there is something inside us that longs for a connection to something greater than ourselves. There is always a sense there is more. Nothing we try or buy seems to satisfy. The gospel message demonstrates we can never be good enough for God on our own. It also makes us aware of how we can satisfy that longing by ultimately making that connection and gaining a restored relationship with God. A relationship with God is only possible through regeneration. 

The gospel is the door that allows us to move from being a natural being inhabiting a material world to one who sees the world from a radically different spiritual perspective. “The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned”(1Corinthians 2:14 | NIV). No matter what happens around us, we have confidence that everything is going to work out exactly as God intends. We no longer have to worry about tomorrow. Knowing God has our backs allows us to put others before ourselves. What God wants, we want. “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2 | NIV). No, it isn’t looking through “rose-colored glasses.” Everything around us likely remains the same. We are totally different. Our priorities and concerns are no longer self-defined. We are, indeed, a new creation. “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20 | ESV). We have been born again!  

If you are wondering how you can be born again you are in good company. Nicodemus, a Pharisee and member of the Jewish ruling council secretly visited Jesus one night. He didn’t ask the question directly, but apparently Jesus inferred that to be the reason for his visit. “Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again’” (John 3:3 | NIV). This was the first time “born again” appeared in Scripture. Nicodemus stated the obvious regarding the physical impossibility of an adult being naturally reborn. Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit” (John 3:5-6 | NIV). After Christ’s resurrection and ascension, the apostle Peter put flesh on those bones. He was asked a similar question after he preached his first sermon. His response, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38 | NIV).

Regeneration is only the beginning of a walk of faith. It only places our feet on the pathway of sanctification–striving to be like Jesus. Through the Spirit’s leading, Christ’s disciples are empowered to live lives that honor God by emulating Jesus as they expand God’s kingdom on earth. It is common for people to say that they “made a profession of faith,” “accepted Jesus,” or “gave their life to Jesus.” All of those phrases essentially mean the same thing as regeneration or born again. But that is only if the person went beyond simply accepting Jesus as a fact of history and considering him to be a great teacher and role model. It even means more than them believing he died on the cross for their sins and those of everyone else in the world. It must also mean that they have turned away from sinful behavior and with their whole heart are trusting in Jesus as both their personal savior and lord. Accepting him as savior is easier than making him lord over every aspect of their life. But, unless that happens, they have been still born, not reborn.