Tag Archives: faith in Jesus

Reform yourselves by the renewal of your mind… to walk according to the faith of Jesus.

And be not conformed to this world (τω αιωνι): but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind(νοός), that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Romans 12:2

Before going into the study properly, let me first refine the translation, the terms used in the English translation do not honor the original sense of the apostle’s message. The terms, τω αιωνι, translated as ‘this world’, are not necessarily what the apostle wrote in his epistle.

As for the term,’τω αιωνι’, the meaning is not ‘world’, the term means a long period of time, but with emphasis on the indefinite aspect of it (eon, in English); the apostle uses the term rather to indicate that they should not let time pass indefinitely; the apostle’s exhortation is not to stagnate ‘permanently’ in their present state of thinking.

So, in his epistle to the community of faith in Rome, what the apostle is really saying to them is:

do not adopt the structure of thought established by this way of life, but transform yourselves by the renewal of how you think, so that you may prove what is the good, pleasing and perfect Will of God.

Note in the context of the reading that the apostle explains to his readers that all men are under a thought structure of disobedience and unbelief, the apostle discovers to them that God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all (11: 32); this same establishment is also presented in his epistle to the Ephesians, the apostle defines it as the mystery of God’s Will, which was not made known to any man, in the past, but is now revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets.[1]  The purpose of the Revelation of God by the Gospel is to show the abundant riches of His Grace, in order that all may understand whence God has brought them forth.

According to the apostle’s instruction, the structures of thought that the systems of life impose on their protégés can alter how the life of faith in Jesus Christ should be lived; and, together with the above, an incorrect way of thinking can alter the conception of God’s Will, and present it under other concepts that are not necessarily the good, pleasing and perfect Will of God. If one observes carefully, the apostle is warning about the danger of persisting in the style that the systems of life have established as the model of thought.

The thought structures imposed by the systems of life, in all their forms, social, cultural, military and religious, all walk hand in hand with an atheistic spirit whose emphasis is to establish a way of thinking in disobedience to God. This is what the apostle is warning about.

It must be emphasized that the apostle’s warning is not exclusive to the believers of the community of faith of Rome, Paul recognizes that the systems of life, Jewish, Greek, Gentile, all without exception, are oriented towards idolatrous worship, and loaded with a mythological influence, and as such, the behaviors of the inhabitants of such communities are behaviors in open opposition to the Will of God, this doctrinal emphasis we find it in all his epistles, without exception.  In his epistle to the community of faith of Ephesus, the apostle denounces that the Gentile systems of life are loaded with pagan practices:

among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind (διανοιῶν); and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

Ephesians 2:3

having the understanding (διανοίᾳ) darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

Ephesians 4:18

and be renewed in the spirit of your mind (νοὸς: mind);

Ephesians 4:23

In his epistle to the Colossian community of faith, the apostle denounces that the ‘gentile’ systems of life have no awareness of spiritual life.

And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind (διανοίᾳ) by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled.

Colossians 1:21

In his epistle to the Corinthian community of faith, the apostle demonstrates that ‘gentile’ thought forms are influenced by demons.

in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds (νοήματα: mind) of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

2nd. Corinthians 4:4

To Timothy he writes about the care he must be careful not to allow people around him to establish doctrinal thinking, for their thoughts follow mythological conceptions.

perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds(νοῦν: mind), and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

1st. Timothy 6:5

Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds (νοῦν: mind), reprobate concerning the faith.

2nd. Timothy 3:8

neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

1st. Timothy 1:4

The apostle’s warning is directed to the reader so that he understands that the life of faith does not consist only in believing, it is necessary that the one who believes in Jesus, additionally, abandons his structure of thought formation, everything, without exception, and renews it from the doctrine of the Gospel of Jesus. Faith in Jesus without an abandonment of the pagan structure of life formation, will simply result in a religious life, and possibly pious, but not a life with hope of Salvation.

The renewal of the mind is not an isolated process nor independent from the development of the spiritual life; the renewal of the mind is for the purpose of living according to the new life in Jesus.

not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing (ἀνακαινώσεως) of the Holy Ghost;

Titus 3:5

and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge (ἐπίγνωσιν) after the image of him that created him:

Colossians 3:10

It is not just about ‘purifying’ ways of thinking, the emphasis is not on ‘changing’ ways of thinking, we have to be careful not to glorify thinking as if it were all about thinking differently. It is about learning to live according to the faith of the Gospel. The apostle writes in his epistle to the Corinthians, and says that the preaching of the cross is ‘foolishness’ to those who hear it, Why is it foolishness?  Because it does not fit into the idolatrous way of thinking that the systems of life propose; see for yourself, all systems of life have pagan diets with foods sacrificed to idols, all have religious practices based on sexual depravity, all have customs based on unrighteousness, lying, stealing; the summary that the apostle presents in chapter one of his epistle to the community of faith in Rome emphasizes that every way of life promotes disloyalty and does not esteem natural affection as a virtue of character, this is what the pagan system of life promotes.[2]

The reason why even among the communities of faith we find the same ways of acting that we see in people who do not have Jesus, is because these communities do not emphasize the need to transform and renew their thinking; the great majority continue to think in the same way as they did before believing in Jesus, they have not changed their vocabulary, they continue to converse with the same sayings and proverbs as before, although many of them are of an ominous type; their expressions are fatalistic and some are even cursing, but they do not see this as an inconvenience to the life of faith.

It is not a matter of purifying thought as the ultimate goal, it is a matter of making the way of thinking subject to the obedience of the doctrine of the Gospel, that is the purpose. If believers do not see the need to be transformed in their pagan ways of life, we will soon see the emergence of religious forms of pagan life dressed in a philosophical Christianity.

Faith is not a way of thinking, and although at the moment of acting in faith it is not required to rationalize the acts or thoughts, it is necessary to renew the way of thinking so that when the teachings of the Word of Jesus are brought to memory,[3] it is done with the purpose of understanding what is the good Will of the Lord: so that you may experience what is the good Will of God, pleasing and perfect.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Authorized King James Version, 1909 (AKJV).

pastor Pedro Montoya

Chat on WhatsApp

[1]     Ephesians 3:5-6: 5 which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

[2]     Romans 1:28-32

[3]     John 14:26: But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Colossians 2:2: that their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding (συνέσεως: reasoning), to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;

2nd. Timothy 2:7: Consider (νόει: think)  what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding (σύνεσιν: reasoning)  in all things.

Enlightening the eyes of your understanding… in order to walk according to the faith of Jesus

The understanding is the part of human intellect that processes all the information that the senses send to the brain; however, the understanding can only ‘recognize’ as valid information that pertains to the physical-material plane. Understanding was the first human attribute that was disrupted by the sin of disobedience; in the book of Genesis we read that Adam and Eve were formed by the Creator with an understanding almost similar to that of the angels; [1] in chapters 2 and 3 we see an Adam with an understanding capable of even assigning names to the other created beings, however after the sin of disobedience we find him hidden, and in fear.[2]

The human understanding does not have the capacity to process knowledge of a spiritual nature, it almost automatically dismisses it and classifies it as implausible knowledge because it lacks the necessary evidence for validation. This is the main reason why a natural man cannot understand the things that are of the Spirit.

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

1st. Corinthians 2:14

The main cause of the absence of understanding is sinful behavior; all attitudes of disobedience, rebellion, and self-centeredness are conducive to fostering the absence of understanding.

The Bible highlights ‘understanding’ as a virtue that comes directly from God.

Only the Lord give thee wisdom and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that thou mayest keep the law of the Lord thy God.

1 Chronicles 22:12

Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.

Psalm 32:9

 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth forever.

Psalm 111:10

 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

Psalm 119:34

No human discipline has the capacity to provoke understanding, God turns it into insolence.

 but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

1st. Corinthians 1:27

When men and women come to the Gospel of Jesus, and submit themselves under the Lordship of Jesus, the strongest battle they have to face is against the perverted thought structures with which they lived during their previous life; this battle is not easy, for they have to ‘reprogram’ their understanding according to the spiritual teachings of the Gospel of Jesus. According to the parable of the sower, lack of understanding, the cares of life and persecution for the sake of the Gospel ‘choke’ the Word.[3]

The first step in renewing the structures of thought consists in ‘seeing’ all things under the ‘Light’ of the Word.

In the text of Ephesians 1:17-19, Paul speaks about the faith exercise of ‘enlightening’ the eyes of the understanding as the strictly necessary condition for overthrowing the structures of sin that directed the life of disobedience.

17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18 the eyes of your understanding(καρδίας) being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

Ephesians 1:17-19

In what does it consist to ‘enlighten’ the eyes of the understanding? To ‘enlighten’ the eyes of the understanding means the capacity for ‘discernment’ according to the Wisdom which the Spirit of Truth establishes by the Revelation of the Word concerning the work and Will of God on earth.

The purpose of the life of faith in Jesus is to participate in the establishment of the Kingdom, this is achieved to the extent that our sense understands the Scriptures.

Philip’s experience in his encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch teaches us, firstly, that it is important to God that we all understand the Scriptures, without exception; and secondly, that no one can ‘understand’ if someone does not adequately explain the Word, this is the work of the vocation to which we have been called by His Grace.

In the original text, however, it does not read, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, but, the eyes of your heart (καρδίας) being enlightened. According to Hebrew thought, the heart is considered to be the place where thoughts originate.

A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

Matthew 12:35

but I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Matthew 5:28

for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Matthew 6:21

And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?

Matthew 9:4

O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

Matthew 12:34

For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

Matthew 15:19

It is not a matter of substituting terms without first understanding the meaning of their original use. Paul uses in his wording the word ‘heart’ (καρδίας), and not the word ‘mind’ (νοός), to show thereby that life according to Grace (2:5) is not a philosophical indoctrination, aimed at the transformation of the way of thinking (νοός), but the manifestation of the Supereminent Greatness of the Power of God who by the adoption of sons by the good pleasure of His Will (1:5), chose us from before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blemish (1:4). God’s Grace consists in the transformation of man’s sinful nature.

Thus, the eyes of your heart being enlightened, is the exhortation of faith to allow the Spirit of Grace in Jesus to ‘convert’ us into another person, that is, that the Spirit transform the personal identity of every man and woman of faith, ‘abolishing’ by the working of the Power of His might (1:19) all past conduct, hostile to God, bringing forth through Christ Jesus a new person in the holiness of the family of God (2:19).

The eyes of your heart being enlightened, presents us with a much broader vision than just a transformation of the mind, it means a complete and radical transformation of the way of being and acting.  It means to stop seeing things according to the carnal vision of the Adamic man, and to begin to see according to the faith that in Jesus we are also seated at the right hand of God the Father (2:6).

33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. 34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

Mathew 12:33-35

Thus, with the instruction, the eyes of your heart being enlightened, the apostle unveils to us the ‘mystery’ of the good pleasure of God’s will for us who have believed, so that with the knowledge of what the life of Grace means, we may learn to live it and take care of it. The apostle presents in the whole epistle a striking summary of the benefits of faith in Jesus Christ.

  • 1:3:… hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
  • 1:4: … he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love:
  • 1:5:   having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself,…
  • 1:6: … he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
  • 1:7:… we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
  • 1:9:   having made known unto us the mystery of his will,…
  • 1:11:   … we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
  • 1:13:   … after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
  • 2:1:  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
  • 2:2:   … in time past ye walked according to the course of this world,…
  • 2:3:   … in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
  • 2:5:  … hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
  • 2:6:  … hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
  • 2:8:   For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
  • 2:10:   … we are his workmanship,…
  • 2:11:   … that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision…
  • 2:12:   … ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
  • 2:13:   … in Christ Jesus,… are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 
  • 2:14:   … He is our peace,…
  • 2:15:   having abolished in his flesh the enmity,…  for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 
  • 2:16:   and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross,…
  • 2:17:  … and came and preached peace to you which were afar off,…
  • 2:18:    … we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
  • 2:19:  … ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
  • 2:20:  are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
  • 2:22:  … ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

In the final part of the apostle’s instruction, in chapter 1, Paul says that this whole process is developed by the working of the Power of His might, which means the ‘immersion’ that the Spirit of Truth does with the one who has believed in Jesus, bringing him spiritually into the Body of Christ,[4] to reconcile him to the Father,[5]  and make him a member of the community of faith through Christ Jesus.[6]

17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20 which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 and hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

(1:17-23)

pastor Pedro Montoya

Chat on WhatsApp

[1]     Génesis 2:19: Formó, pues, Jehová Dios de la tierra toda bestia del campo, y toda ave de los cielos, y trájolas á Adam, para que viese cómo les había de llamar; y todo lo que Adam llamó a los animales vivientes, ese es su nombre.

[2]     Génesis 3:10: Y él respondió: Oí tu voz en el huerto, y tuve miedo, porque estaba desnudo; y escondí me.

[3]     Mateo 13

[4]     Romanos 6:3-4: 3 ¿O no sabéis que todos los que somos bautizados en Cristo Jesús, somos bautizados en su muerte? 4 Porque somos sepultados juntamente con él a muerte por el bautismo; para que como Cristo resucitó de los muertos por la gloria del Padre, así también nosotros andemos en novedad de vida.

[5]     Efesios 2:14: Porque Él es nuestra paz, que de ambos hizo uno, derribando la pared intermedia de separación;

[6]     1 Corintios 12:27: Pues vosotros sois el cuerpo de Cristo, y miembros en parte.

      Efesios 1:22-23: 22 Y sometió todas las cosas debajo de sus pies, y diólo por cabeza sobre todas las cosas a la iglesia, 23 La cual es su cuerpo, la plenitud de Aquel que hinche todas las cosas en todos.

Life in Christ Jesus is a Life of Faith …Publication of New Book

We announce the publication of the book “Life in Christ Jesus is a Life of Faith”

It is a study material presented with the purpose of showing us that being ‘Christian’ does not necessarily mean living a life of faith; the reader will be confronted in his knowledge of the faith and will see how much religious philosophy has been injected into the contemporary proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus.

Life in Christ Jesus is the result of faith, of believing that Jesus of Nazareth is God incarnate and manifested to humanity, to the Jewish people in principle, in order to by his teaching and example, reveal the way of reconciliation with the Creator.

Life in Christ Jesus is a life of faith, it consists in living on earth observing the principles of life in heaven; it consists in learning not to depend on the resources that derive from self-sufficiency and denial of God, nor to live under the fear originated by the powerlessness of not knowing how to handle adverse circumstances; life in Christ Jesus is a life of rest based on the Word of Salvation that He sends to free us from that which threatens our faith.

Buy it in a paperback

Books by Amazon

Also available in digital format

digital format
Chat en WhatsApp

What is life in Christ Jesus?

Life in Christ Jesus is the result of faith, of believing that Jesus of Nazareth is God incarnate and manifested to humanity,[1] to the Jewish people in principle, in order to show by His doctrine and example[2] the way to reconciliation with the Creator.[3]

Life in Christ Jesus is a life of faith, it consists in living on earth observing the principles of life in heaven;[4] it consists in learning not to depend on the resources that derive from self-sufficiency and denial of God, nor to live under the fear originated by the powerlessness of not knowing how to handle adverse circumstances; life in Christ Jesus is a life of rest based on the Word of Salvation that He sends to free us from that which threatens our faith.

Life in Christ Jesus is a life of establishing God’s Will on earth;[5] any other theme or emphasis is just ‘aggregate’ benefits granted by Grace to those who showed the dignity of being called ‘children of God’.

Life in Christ Jesus is a spiritual life, it is a new life brought about by the Spirit of Truth who introduces us into the Body of Christ, by water baptism in His Name;[6] and from there, every ‘born-again’ person becomes a ‘Temple’ of the Holy Spirit,[7] establishing spiritual guidance,[8] deliverance,[9] healing,[10]  and supernatural strength.[11]

Life in Christ Jesus is being hidden in God,[12] is restoration of the image and likeness of god,[13] is God’s righteousness,[14] is Peace and Joy;[15] life in Christ Jesus is to glory even in tribulation.[16]

Life in Christ Jesus is God’s dignity and honor,[17] not that we sought Him, He sought us, and gave Himself up in propitiation for us.[18] Therefore, he who has been called to live the life in Christ Jesus understands and can say with certainty of faith:

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:35-39

All biblical quotations are taken from the King James Version.

Pastor Pedro Montoya

Chat en WhatsApp

Twitter: @pastormontoya

[1] 1st. Timothy 3:16: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

[2] 1st. Peter 2:21: For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

[3] Romans 3:23: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

[4] Matthew 16:19: And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

[5] Matthew 6:10:Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

[6] Romans 6:4:Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

[7] 1st. Corinthians 3:16: Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

      1st. Corinthians 6:19: What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

[8] Romans 8:14:For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

[9] Romans 6:22:But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

      Colossians 1:13:who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

[10] Romans 8:11:But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

[11] Ephesians 1:18-19: 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

[12] Colossians 3:3:For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

[13] Romans 13:14: But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

      Ephesians 4:24: and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

[14] Philippians 3:9: and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

[15] Romans 14:17: for the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

[16] Romans 5:3: And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

[17] Matthew 8:8-10: 8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. 9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

[18] Galatians 2:20: I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Spiritual warfare, the resource to grow in faith

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle (ἡ πάλη: fight of strength) not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Ephesians 6:11-12

Spiritual warfare is seen in many Christian circles as an auxiliary knowledge of life in Christ Jesus, useful to know, but not necessary to reach salvation; therefore, many men and women of faith do not consider it a subject of transcendent study to grow in the life of faith; however, there are quite a few testimonies of the Spirit of Truth in the Scriptures that testify to the contrary; the most notable testimony is the one we find in the epistle of the apostle Paul to the community of faith in Ephesus: Put on the full armor of God, for we have a struggle (ἡ πάλη: struggle of strength) against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the world, the governors of this darkness, against spiritual wickedness in the air.

The teaching that the apostle presents in the epistle on the ‘armor of God’ is not a study in spiritual warfare, that is not the task of the apostle in writing the epistle; the teaching is aimed at instructing those who have believed in Jesus on how to live the life of faith according to the Gospel of the proclamation of Peace.[1]  The apostle’s mission is to teach the Gentiles of Ephesus how to free themselves from the pagan way of life to which they were accustomed in the old way of living.[2]  Note, however, that in the teaching introduced by the epistle, the apostle links spiritual warfare with faith, as if both had the same function of forming life in the Gospel; that is, as if both exercises –spiritual warfare and faith– were the daily way of living life in Christ Jesus. This way of Paul presenting spiritual warfare and faith together under the same instruction on how to live the life in Christ Jesus leads us to establish, without a doubt, that a life of faith cannot be developed without taking into account that faith is to face the fiery darts of the evil one, which leads us to understand that faith is spiritual warfare, without discussion.

The basis of this teaching of Paul is the continuity of the work of proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom that the apostle established during his stay in the city of Ephesus.[3]

Thus, according to this teaching, life of faith and spiritual warfare are doctrines of character formation for those who have been born of the Spirit according to the Gospel of Jesus; in these, note, faith is defined as a “shield”,[4] not a weapon of attack but a weapon of defense, which leads us to the understanding that spiritual warfare is not solely about “rebuking” Satan, nor is it solely directed at waging battle against satanic possessions; spiritual warfare is the resistance that one who has believed in Jesus puts up against Satan to prevent him from continuing to use his life as an instrument of iniquity.[5]  Note that this teaching is not exclusive to Paul’s doctrinal theology; the apostle James writes in fairly similar terms, which shows us that this teaching was the general content of the doctrine of the gospel:

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

James 4:7

Spiritual warfare is the faith resource developed in and by the Spirit of Truth to strengthen the spiritual growth of the man and woman who have believed in Jesus.[6]

The man and woman of faith become strong in the Spirit not behind a desk seeking information about the life of faith, they become strong in facing and resisting all the darts of the enemy, taking refuge in the Truth of Jesus’ teachings. He who submits himself to the Lordship of Christ but does not resist the devil, is equivalent to the soldier who does not carry his shield, at some time the darts of the enemy will strike him, and he will perish: taking the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

The life of faith does not consist in ‘attacking’ Satan, nor in destroying the kingdom of darkness, the life of faith consists in being ‘witnesses’ to the super-eminent greatness of God’s power that worked in Christ Jesus, raising him from the dead, and placing him at the right hand of the Father in heaven;[7] in doing this, as recorded in the teaching of Jesus, the gates of hell will not prevail against the advancement in faith of his saints.[8]  The kingdom of darkness is destroyed by the testimony of faith.[9] 

The life of faith in Jesus consists in establishing on earth the principles of Heaven, in the face of which there is no frontal attack great enough to bring down a man or woman of faith.[10]  The life in Christ Jesus is a life of faith.

Faith is spiritual warfare because, as the apostle Paul rightly stated, we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.; but it is a warfare that is waged from resistance to all that seeks to lead man and woman to walk in opposition to the teachings of Jesus. This spiritual warfare consists of taking away from Satan all ‘legal rights’ that allow him to operate in the same environment of faith; a theology that teaches the believer to ‘rebuke’ the devil is useless if it does not first instruct him on how to cancel the actions that give Satan ‘rights’ to operate in their environment.

Faith is born of restored character in the image and likeness of Jesus Christ; the legal right that Satan uses to continue to operate in a faith environment is the same ambiguity of mind that still persists in the heart of the believer.[11]  Apostasy is precisely a double doctrinal position; in Jesus’ words, apostasy is the tares sown in a wheat field.[12]

Another testimony of the Spirit of Truth that spiritual warfare is the resource for growth in faith is found in Paul’s exhortation to Timothy: “fight the good fight of faith”.

Fight (ἀγωνίζου) the good fight (ἀγῶνα) of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

1st. Timothy 6:12

In this exhortation, the apostle is defining spiritual warfare as the conscious ‘effort’ to do God’s Will. Fight’ means ‘strive’ to establish the Will of God. The expression used by the apostle reflects an ‘agonizing’ effort, that is, an effort carried to the ultimate consequences.[13]  The good fight of faith, then, means the strength born of the knowledge of God’s call that is imposed on all spiritual resistance that seeks to stop the work of faith. According to this teaching, faith is born of the personal decision to go beyond the limits of sacrifice –state of agony, according to the term used by the apostle– until the work demanded of us by the Spirit is completed. Faith overcomes all resistance put up by the kingdom of darkness; faith is understanding that nothing and no one can stop the work of the Lord, but understanding, above all, that we are charged with watching over it. Faith is not just waiting for things to be fulfilled, faith demands active participation. In the epistle to the Hebrews we find this same exhortation in almost the same words.

3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

Hebrews 12:3-5

The apostle Paul’s exhortation to Timothy can be paraphrased as follows: “Sacrifice yourself to the point of agony in order to win this spiritual battle of faith; on it depends the Eternal Life for which you were called, having borne witness before many witnesses”. Faith is activated when man and woman enter into spiritual warfare. Faith is not to faint because of those who have piety for the sake of pomp,[14] faith is to continue proclaiming the virtues of the one who called us out of darkness into the wonderful Light even though we do not see the results of our action of faith.[15]

In the teachings established by the apostle Paul, spiritual warfare is not always referred to as a frontal fight against the forces of darkness, the apostle warns that the demons use alternate forms to hide so that they cannot be ‘rebuked’ for their actions; the apostle describes several forms of attack used by demons, the first of which is persecution, in his epistle to the Philippians, we read:

having the same conflict (ἀγῶνα) which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

Philippians 1:30

The reference that the apostle makes in this text from Philippians is with regard to the persecution he suffered during his stay in the city of Philippi,[16] persecution that he still suffers at the time of writing the epistle; the text can be paraphrased as follows: “having similar suffering to Christ, as you have seen when I was among you, and as you have been notified, that I still have“. Faith is the participation with the sufferings of Jesus Christ,[17] in others of his written faith is presented as perseverance and joy.[18]

Another way demons use to attack those who live a life of faith in Jesus is by the introduction of false doctrine, in the epistle to the Colossians we read about the sorrow in the apostle to learn of those who introduce false doctrine into the community of faith, and to be powerless to intervene personally:

For I would that ye knew what great conflict (ἀγῶνα) I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

Colossians 2:1

What the apostle is facing can be understood in the following paraphrased translation that we have prepared: “I want you to know how great a conflict I have for not being with you, for those of Laodicea, and for all those I do not know personally. I would like to be with you to strengthen your hearts, and to lead you in love, that you may understand and not give up the riches of the revealed knowledge of God, and of the Father, and of Christ.”

The apostle is transmitting the sorrow that is in his heart because of the threat that is hanging over those communities –Laodicea and Colossae– false doctrinal threat that attempts to make them desist from the knowledge of the Gospel that they received through Epaphras, and that has made them stand out as communities of faith in Christ Jesus, and for the love that they show to all the saints that have visited the community.[19]

What Paul is manifesting is his powerlessness not to confront in person those who are introducing teachings that distort sound doctrine in the region. Paul has discovered that behind some of the teachings that the believers of Colosse and Laodicea have received in recent visits from Judaizing preachers, there are teachings that attempt to disrupt the knowledge of Truth, about God incarnate and manifested in Jesus. Spiritual warfare is present in the denunciation of every introduction of apostate doctrine, for not to denounce it means to allow it, which makes us participants in it, according to the apostle John.[20]  In this case the apostle confronted it through the epistles sent to both communities.[21]  Faith is the result of zeal for the work of God; spiritual warfare is aimed at combating all apostate doctrine.

Spiritual warfare is not waged only by ‘rebuking’ demons, as we have seen in the previous cases, there are situations that do not allow it, and not because of that one who has believed in Jesus must refrain from entering into spiritual warfare; spiritual warfare is waged on the basis of the testimony of faith, in the epistle to the Hebrews, we read:

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race (ἀγῶνα)  that is set before us,

Hebrews 12:1

The ‘race’ to which the apostle refers is the struggle against the spirit of sin that is present in the environments we frequent; the ‘weight of sin’ consists of the arguments of deception and falsehood on which the societies of the cities in which we live have been built, arguments of deception and falsehood that demand that we behave according to their philosophies of life. Faith is to reject every philosophy of life that cannot be explained according to the teachings of the Word of Truth.

In his final statement, late in his life, the apostle identified that spiritual warfare is in reality the ‘good’ battle of faith, thus making it clear that spiritual warfare is in reality the faith resource developed in and by the Spirit of Truth to strengthen the spiritual growth of the man and woman who have believed in Jesus. He who desists from entering into spiritual warfare, discards his faith growth.

I have fought (ἠγώνισμαι)  a good fight (ἀγῶνα), I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

2nd. Timothy 4:7

A third testimony to the value of spiritual warfare as a resource for growth in faith is the way the apostle describes the supernatural results obtained by those who entered into disproportionate battles to defeat all their adversaries, striving only on the promise God had given them, that through them great deliverance would be established on earth:

33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

Hebrews 11:33-34

In the first verses of the chapter he emphasizes that without faith it is impossible to please God, and he defines under that very statement, that faith is the conviction that he who comes to God believes that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him, thus emphasizing that all they achieved was not on their own merit, but because they held fast to the knowledge they had of who God is,[22] and to the knowledge of the Truth of His Word.[23]  Faith is clinging to the knowledge of the Sovereignty of God, if God said it, He will do it, and we will carry it out.[24]

When a person who has begun a life of faith in Jesus does not know about spiritual warfare, every vicissitude he faces he will see in it, or a trial or a temptation, all depending on alternate knowledge he possesses, but he will hardly see in it the God-established way of growing and strengthening in faith; many people even, when faced with these types of setbacks, desist from continuing to develop in their spiritual growth.[25]

Spiritual warfare is not an auxiliary knowledge of life in Christ Jesus, spiritual warfare manifests itself in the opposition that the person suffers in all his daily and everyday activities, to lead him to desist from his decision to follow the teaching of Jesus; and he will be confronted, whether he wants to or not, whether he understands about it or not, because by being Light for Jesus he will represent a threat to the forces of darkness; the difference of knowing about the subject is that by becoming aware of the reality of the spiritual struggle, and what it represents for the faith, the person will face every situation with the joy of knowing that he is fighting the battles of Jehovah,[26] and his action against the spiritual hosts of evil will be with wisdom and much more forceful.

The faith that is built on the activity of spiritual warfare is the faith that moves mountains to the sea

Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

Matthew 21:21

All biblical quotations are taken from the King James Version.

Pastor Pedro Montoya

Twitter: @pastormontoya

Chat en WhatsApp

[1]     Ephesians 2:14-17: For He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; …   17 and came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

[2]     Ditto 4:21-24: 21 if so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

[3]     Acts 19:9-12:  9 But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. 10 And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. 11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: 12 so that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

[4]     Ephesians 6:16: above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

[5]     Romans 6:13-19: 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. …  19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

[6]     Ephesians 6:10: Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 

[7]     Ditto 1:19-20

[8]     Mathew 16:18. See also Genesis 22:17: that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

[9]     Revelation 12:11: And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

[10]   Mathew 7:24-25: 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

[11]   Luke 9:62: And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

[12]   Mathew 13:24-30

[13]   1st. Thessalonians 2:2: but even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention (ἀγῶνι).

[14]   Read the context of the chapter.

[15]   Isaiah 53:1: Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?

[16]   Acts 16:12-40: 12 and from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.…   19 And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, 20 and brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, 21 and teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. 22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. 23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: 24 who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

[17]   Philippians 1:29: For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; Philippians 3:10: that I may know him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

[18]   Romans 5:3: And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;   2 Corinthians 4:17: For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

[19]   Paul refers to a possible visit by Mark, Barnabas’ nephew: Colossians 4:10

[20]   2nd. John 9-11: 9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11 for he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

[21]   Colossians 4:16: And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.

[22]   Jeremiah 9:24: but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.

[23]   Titus 1:2: in hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

[24]   Psalm 60:12: Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies. Psalm 108:13: Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.

[25]   Mathew 13:20-22: 20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21 yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. 22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

[26]   Numbers 21:14; 2 Chronicles 32:8; Isaiah 30:32; Judges 3:1; 1 Samuel 18:17; 25:28