Jesus and the Church

John 3:18-21

[18] Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. [19] And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. [20] For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. [21] But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

From the beginning, Satan has targeted humanity because he realizes he is a creation, not the Creator, and he hates God for it. In Satan there is hate, death, and an eternity apart from a loving God. There is a spiritual battle going on for the souls of all mankind. In God’s providence, the church was established to help equip, encourage, and do battle together with other believers. Christ is the head of the church, underscoring the importance of making it the centerpiece of your life here on earth.

“The paradox of Satan’s rebellion is that, while he could offend God by his behavior, he could do nothing to harm him, whereas he could and did harm himself. Satan’s life is one of constant frustration because of its inner contradictions. He can get what he wants only by destroying himself, but his unwillingness to go that far ensures that he can never satisfy his desires. Unable to achieve his own goals, he takes out his frustration on anyone he can, and it is here that human beings come into the picture.” God Is Love - Gerald Bray