Thursday, October 28, 2010
1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
FOR US FIGHTS THE VALIANT ONE
With might of ours can naught be done,
Soon were our loss effected;
But for us fights the Valiant One, Whom God Himself elected.
Ask ye, Who is this? Jesus Christ it is.
Of Sabaoth Lord, And there's none other God;
He holds the field forever.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 262:2)
The picture looks gloomy indeed. There is not a single human being who is not overmatched when faced with the power and cunning of the devil. "On earth is not his equal." This is no mere flesh and blood foe. If we take on Satan by ourselves, the outcome is inevitable: "Soon were our loss effected."
But, like Martin Luther, we do not have to go up against the Evil One on our own. In fact, He who fights for us has already defeated Satan on our behalf. It is His victory that makes our God truly "A mighty Fortress."
God the Father chose God the Son to be the promised Son of a woman and sent Him into battle for us. He who is the very Commander of the angel armies (LORD of Sabaoth) took on Satan and his hordes alone. He destroyed the devil's power. He did it for you. You can be sure of that because He came back from the dead, came back to give His victory over sin, death and hell to you.
Satan is the one who is overmatched and must retreat, when we by faith stand with Jesus, who "holds the field forever."
