1 John 3:8  Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

Have you ever witnessed a live tug-of-war? The teams straining, the crowds cheering, and the flag in constant flux back and forth across the mid-line all keep spectators engaged and entertained. Evenly matched teams strive to physically outlast each other in a battle of strength. The competition takes an interesting turn, though, when teams are mismatched. The weaker team's strategy is to use logic, rather than brute force, to their advantage. Many a mismatched team has walked to the rope, taken their place, and grabbed hold only to let go once the starter's pistol is fired. It's a brilliant maneuver! When all tension is removed from the rope, the team pulling falls victim to the laws of motion and collapses on the ground. Does the flag cross the line in seeming victory for the fallen team? Yes. Has the weaker team fallen victim to the strength of the other side? No. Quite the opposite.

Luther uses the phrase "engage in combat" to describe the war taking place between the kingdom of the devil and the kingdom of God. No amount of human striving can keep sinners from the temptations that so easily entangle our hearts and minds. It is Jesus alone who saves. Just as a team pulling on the rope has no power over those who have let go, so the devil has no power over those redeemed by Christ. Through Jesus' death and resurrection, the tension in the struggle for our souls is released. Satan may think he has triumphed as he looks out over a sinful world. But in the world that is to come, he already stands defeated. The kingdom of God reigns victorious. 
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