The Devil himself

2 Cor. 11:14-15  And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.  So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

In a weighty verse near the end of his first epistle, the Apostle Peter issues a stirring call to spiritual vigilance. This comes immediately after his exhortation to exercise humility toward one another and toward God (1 Peter 5:5–7). Turning from inward humility to outward alertness, Peter warns the church of a present and dangerous enemy: the devil himself (v. 8).

Peter describes not a mythical being but a real and personal foe. One of the greatest errors that we can make in the Christian life is to underestimate the power of Satan. Although the devil is a creature and not omnipotent, omniscient, or omnipresent—attributes possessed by God alone—he is also a formidable adversary who can cause great damage to believers. In fact, the term that Peter uses for “adversary” (Greek antidikos) has a legal connotation, describing an opponent in court. It reminds us that Satan is the great accuser of God’s people (Rev. 12:10). For example, in Zechariah’s vision, the devil stood beside Joshua the high priest, whose clothes were soiled, and accused him of his sins to discredit him (Zech. 3:1). Likewise, Satan accuses us of sin, seeking to cripple us with doubt and despair. This is entirely different from the ministry of the Holy Spirit. When the Spirit convicts us of our sin, He points us to Christ, producing in us repentance, greater faith, and a renewed desire for grateful obedience. Satan, on the other hand, tries to drive us away from the cross of Christ so that we will wallow in our shame and defeat. Peter says that Satan “prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). The imagery is vivid and terrifying.

His roar may take the form of accusation, persecution, false teaching, or the deceptive voice of temptation. Whatever the form, his aim is always the same: to oppose Christ by attacking the church. The devil is not idle. He is restless, cunning, and cruel. Like a lion stalking its prey, Satan watches for the vulnerable, the isolated, and the careless. He seeks not merely to tempt but to devour—to destroy faith, sow division, and lead souls into ruin.

For this reason, Peter gives us two imperatives: “Be sober-minded” and “be watchful.” These commands appear throughout the New Testament (see also Matt. 26:41; 1 Thess. 5:6; 2 Tim. 4:5) and suggest a state of mental clarity and spiritual alertness. The reference to “sober-minded” (Greek nēphō) is not merely to abstinence from drunkenness but to having a disciplined state of mind governed by truth and self-control. It means having a mind set on Christ, resisting the spiritual dullness that comes from pride, ease, and preoccupation with earthly concerns. To be “watchful” (Greek gregoreō) is to stay awake, spiritually alert to dangers, temptations, and false teaching. It means being vigilant over our hearts and attentive to the schemes of the evil one. These are not passive traits; they are active disciplines necessary for spiritual warfare.

We are no match for Satan in our own strength.

Peter also writes from personal experience. There was a crucial moment in his life when he tragically underestimated the power of Satan. At the Last Supper, Jesus told His disciples: “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’” Full of self-confidence, Peter replied, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” Jesus then revealed to Peter the painful truth: “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” Incredulous and offended, Peter doubled down: “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” (Matt. 26:31–35). That very night, just as the Lord had said, Peter denied Jesus three times. He overestimated his own strength and underestimated Satan’s. Now in his later years, writing to a young and suffering church, Peter speaks with the gravity of experience. He knows what it means to face the adversary unprepared, and he wants his readers to know this: We are no match for Satan in our own strength. That is why we must be sober-minded and watchful.

Yet Peter does not leave us in fear. The next verse exhorts believers to “resist him, firm in your faith” (1 Peter 5:9). We are not helpless before the enemy. We can resist Satan by being “strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might” (Eph. 6:10), putting on the whole armor of God. To be firm in our faith means to be rooted in the content of the Christian faith, wearing the breastplate of Christ’s righteousness and wielding the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Moreover, we do not stand alone. Peter writes this exhortation to the church, adding this encouragement: “knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.” We have a brotherhood. Our union with Christ also unites us to His people. The roaring lion preys on the isolated, but the flock that stays together under the Chief Shepherd’s care is guarded. Christ uses the means of grace in the local church and the communion of saints to preserve His people from the jaws of the enemy. Above all, we must put our trust in the Good Shepherd who protects His flock. It is true that we are no match for Satan, but it is also true that Satan is no match for Christ (Rom. 8:33–34; 1 John 4:4). He, too, is described as a Lion, One who is righteous and has already conquered through His life, death, and resurrection (Rev. 5:5). As Augustine said, “Who could avoid encountering the teeth of this lion, if the lion from the tribe of Judah had not conquered?” The same Christ who restored Peter after he was sifted like wheat by Satan “will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you” (1 Peter 5:10). As we seek to be sober-minded and watchful, let us entrust ourselves to the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls.

Article by Michael G. Brown / Tabletalk Magazine

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Rev. Michael G. Brown is pastor of Chiesa Riformata Filadelfia in Milan, Italy, and a missionary of the URCNA.

Is there an evil force in the world that is working towards your destruction? You may be surprised to learn that the answer is no. But before you find comfort in that, there is something else you should know. Dr. Sproul discusses what that is in this message entitled “The Battle with the Devil.”