The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 507

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.
The antagonism that exists between the spirit of Christ and the spirit
of Satan was most strikingly displayed in the world’s reception of Jesus.
It was not so much because He appeared without worldly wealth, pomp,
or grandeur that the Jews were led to reject Him. They saw that He
possessed power which would more than compensate for the lack of
these outward advantages. But the purity and holiness of Christ called
forth against Him the hatred of the ungodly. His life of self-denial and
sinless devotion was a perpetual reproof to a proud, sensual people. It
was this that evoked enmity against the Son of God. Satan and evil
angels joined with evil men. All the energies of apostasy conspired
against the Champion of truth.

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