The Children of God and the Children of the Devil in the Contest of Kingdoms
In the cosmic battle come to earth, King Jesus is in conflict with King Lucifer, the head of the fallen army of angels. This spiritual warfare, revealed to man, by God, on the pages of Holy Scripture, is manifested in the demonic corruption of mankind. Man has used his free will in the Garden of Eden to enslave himself to Satan (Gen 3; Rom 6:6), becoming unrighteous and unholy.
The devil is a destroyer, as well as a deceiver (Jn 8:44). He has deceived man and intends to destroy all humanity. Ironically, King Lucifer holds dominion over man, and fallen man is considered Satan’s seed, his offspring. Thus, the Bible calls unrighteous man, “the children of the devil (1 Jn 3:10).”
Ungodly children of the devil spend their lives in service to their evil master, who entices his citizens to sin against the Holy God, Yahweh. The wages paid for their labors of sin are remunerated with eternal death (Rom 3:23; 6:23). The culture of death is the product of those given over to misanthropy. The children of wrath (Eph 2:3), inspired to kill via abortion, terrorism, assassination, murder, war, etc., are only doing their king’s bidding. He was a murderer from the beginning (Jn 8:44). He hates man, and he incites man to hate men. There is no man that Satan’s children hate more than the man, Christ Jesus (Jn 7:7; 15:18–25)
The kings in conflagration, along with their subjects being in conflict, presents a Christian worldview that helps believers understand the world’s hostility toward them. Jesus said, “If the world hates you, it hated me before it hated you (Jn 15:18–25).”
The children of God are chosen by God before creation to belong to Jesus Christ (Jn 6:37; 1 Cor 3:23; Eph 1:4–5), His eternal Son and King of the universe. King Jesus came into the world to save His people from the course of sin and death (Mt 1:21). God’s motive, in the salvation of His people, is love (1 Jn 3:1), which He has poured out into their hearts (Rom 5:5).
The kingdom of God is spiritual, and salvation for the children of God begins with elect souls being regenerated by the Holy Spirit (Jn 3:1–8; Eph 2:5; Col 2:13; 1 Pet 1:3). The salvation of the body will come at the resurrection to come (Jn 5:28–29; 1 Cor 15), on the day of King Jesus’ return to gather His elect ones and judge the reprobate (Mt 24–25; Mk 13; Lk 21; 1 Thess 4:13–5:11; Rev 19:11–21).
The children of the devil are materialists living their best life now. Judgment and punishment for sins is appointed for the day when the Gospel has been preached to the whole world, and the full number of those to be saved has been achieved.
Oblivious to the spiritual blessings poured out upon Christians, the children of the devil scoff at the prospect of Christ, the warrior King coming again to judge the living and the dead (Acts 10:42; 2 Tim 4:1; 1 Pet 4:5). Meanwhile, the Christian prepares for the day when the Bridegroom will appear for His bride, the church, and every eye will see Him (Zech 12:10).
The way of life of the children of the devil is carnal, worldly, and sinful. It is marked by ungodliness and unrighteousness. The deeds of the flesh are apparent from the vice lists of the New Testament. The entire Bible, from Cain to Antichrist is full of examples of unholy sons of disobedience.
The way of life for the child of God, born again of the Spirit of Christ, is increasingly spiritual. Carnal endeavors to satisfy the flesh fade from the affections of the man made new and are loathed when they flare up. He that is spiritual is crucifying the flesh, as he takes up his cross of suffering in following King Jesus. He denies himself the pleasures of sin in the world by increased affection for the pleasures of heaven.
Cain killed Abel. Pharaoh enslaved the Israelites. Saul tormented David. Herod desired the death of the newborn King. Judas betrayed King Jesus. The dragon chases the chosen lady to destroy her offspring (Rev 12). All of these point to the reality of enmity between God’s chosen people and reprobate children of the devil, who should never be engaged in legal covenant nor contract. Believers and unbelievers are not to be equally yoked.
The children of God must be wise as serpents and harmless as doves in this world ruled by King Lucifer (Mt 10:16). We must do our best to be at peace with all men and to love our neighbors (Rom 12:18; Titus 3:2; Heb 12:24), doing to them that which we would have done to us. In the wisdom of Christ and power of the Holy Spirit, we overcome this world being more than conquerors in this spiritual war (1 Jn 5:4). Every Christian is a soldier, and he has a life of conflagration, but His assurance of victory is hidden in Christ, who has resurrected the believer’s soul and leads Him in triumph (2 Cor 2:14).
David Norczyk
Wallace, Idaho
March 20, 2022
