Kraków A-595 kościół św. Józefa ul. Zamoyskiego 2 detal ambona b.jpg

I John 2:1  My children, these things I write to you in order that ye may not sin; and if any one sin, we have a patron with the Father, Jesus Christ [the] righteous;

2 and *he* is the propitiation for our sins; but not for ours alone, but also for the whole world.

3 And hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

4 He that says, I know him, and does not keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;

5 but whoever keeps his word, in him verily the love of God is perfected. Hereby we know that we are in him.

6 He that says he abides in him ought, even as *he* walked, himself also [so] to walk.

7 Beloved, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment, which ye have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye heard.

8 Again, I write a new commandment to you, which thing is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light already shines.

9 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in the darkness until now.

10 He that loves his brother abides in light, and there is no occasion of stumbling in him.

11 But he that hates his brother is in the darkness, and walks in the darkness, and knows not where he goes, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

12 I write to you, children, because [your] sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.

13 I write to you, fathers, because ye have known him [that is] from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked [one]. I write to you, little children, because ye have known the Father.

14 I have written to you, fathers, because ye have known him [that is] from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and ye have overcome the wicked [one].

15 Love not the world, nor the things in the world. If any one love the world, the love of the Father is not in him;

16 because all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

17 And the world is passing, and its lust, but he that does the will of God abides for eternity.

18 Little children, it is [the] last hour, and, according as ye have heard that antichrist comes, even now there have come many antichrists, whence we know that it is [the] last hour.

19 They went out from among us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have surely remained with us, but that they might be made manifest that none are of us.

20 And *ye* have [the] unction from the holy [one], and ye know all things.

21 I have not written to you because ye do not know the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? *He* is the antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.

23 Whoever denies the Son has not the Father either; he who confesses the Son has the Father also.

24 As for *you* let that which ye have heard from the beginning abide in you: if what ye have heard from the beginning abides in you, *ye* also shall abide in the Son and in the Father.

25 And this is the promise which *he* has promised us, life eternal.

26 These things have I written to you concerning those who lead you astray:

27 and *yourselves*, the unction which ye have received from him abides in you, and ye have not need that any one should teach you; but as the same unction teaches you as to all things, and is true and is not a lie, and even as it has taught you, ye shall abide in him.

28 And now, children, abide in him, that if he be manifested we may have boldness, and not be put to shame from before him at his coming.

29 If ye know that he is righteous, know that every one who practises righteousness is begotten of him.

DARBY translation

Jesus defeated the devil at the cross.

Colossians 2:15  having spoiled principalities and authorities, he made a show of them publicly, leading them in triumph by it.

This is part of a larger summary of the work of Christ, spoken of in Colossians, chapter 2.

Colossians 2:6 As therefore ye have received the Christ, Jesus the Lord, walk in him,

7 rooted and built up in him, and assured in the faith, even as ye have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

8 See that there be no one who shall lead *you* away as a prey through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the teaching of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ.

9 For in him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily;

10 and ye are complete in him, who is the head of all principality and authority,

11 in whom also ye have been circumcised with circumcision not done by hand, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of the Christ;

12 buried with him in baptism, in which ye have been also raised with [him] through faith of the working of God who raised him from among the dead.

13 And you, being dead in offences and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he has quickened together with him, having forgiven us all the offences;

14 having effaced the handwriting in ordinances which [stood out] against us, which was contrary to us, he has taken it also out of the way, having nailed it to the cross;

15 having spoiled principalities and authorities, he made a show of them publicly, leading them in triumph by it.

Luke 10:19  Behold, I give you the power of treading upon serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall in anywise injure you.

Matthew 28:18 (KJV) And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

The devil may operate through things of the world, or things of the flesh, but the devil is a defeated foe.

The authority has been given to believers, but if it is not used, there is no effect.  It is put into action through knowledge and the choice to: 1. submit to God  2. resist the devil.

James 4:1  From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?

2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?

6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

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

8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

As is mentioned at the bottom of each post, more resources for advanced study on topics of interest are available through various ministries listed at this site.