30 . Infernal Enmity
" I will put enmity between thee and the woman , and between thy seed and her seed ; it shall bruise thy head , and thou shalt bruise his heel ." Genesis 3:15 . The divine sentence pronounced against Satan after the fall of man was also a prophecy , embracing all the ages to the close of time and foreshadowing the great conflict to engage all the races of men who should live upon the earth .
God declares : " I will put enmity ." This enmity is not naturally entertained . When man transgressed the divine law , his nature became evil , and he was in harmony , and not at variance , with Satan . There exists naturally no enmity between sinful man and the originator of sin . Both became evil through apostasy . The apostate is never at rest , except as he obtains sympathy and support by inducing others to follow his example . For this reason fallen angels and wicked men unite in desperate companionship . Had not God specially interposed , Satan and man would have entered into an alliance against Heaven ; and instead of cherishing enmity against Satan , the whole human family would have been united in opposition to God .
Satan tempted man to sin , as he had caused angels to rebel , that he might thus secure co-operation in his warfare against Heaven . There was no dissension between himself and the fallen angels as regards their hatred of Christ ; while on all other points there was discord , they were firmly united in opposing the authority of the Ruler of the universe . But when Satan heard the declaration that enmity should exist between himself and the woman , and between his seed and her seed , he knew that his efforts to deprave human nature would be interrupted ; that by some means man was to be enabled to resist his power .
Satan ' s enmity against the human race is kindled because , through Christ , they are the objects of God ' s love and mercy . He desires to thwart the divine plan for man ' s redemption , to cast dishonor upon God , by defacing and defiling His handiwork ; he would cause grief in heaven and fill the earth with woe and desolation . And he points to all this evil as the result of God ' s work in creating man . It is the grace that Christ implants in the soul which creates in man enmity against Satan . Without this converting grace and renewing power , man would continue the captive of Satan , a servant ever ready to do his bidding . But the new principle in the soul creates conflict where hitherto had been peace . The power which Christ imparts enables man to resist the tyrant and usurper . Whoever is seen to abhor sin instead of loving it , whoever resists and conquers those passions that have held sway within , displays the operation of a principle wholly from above .
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