Continuing with our discussion of the third domain of Divine judgment:

Sin began in the heavens when Satan decided to be his own god. From that single act of self-will has been born all of the sins that have cursed the peoples of the earth. Sin is a spiritual problem.

Sin did not originate as part of the physical creation. The physical creation was and is yet very good. But the sin that has come down to us from the heavens urges the flesh of man to disobey the eternal moral laws of God.

Sin can be removed from the creation only by judgment and war. The sin must be judged and then force must be exerted in order to drive it from us. Satan will not willingly release his hold on the creation.

It may help you to deal with the program of judgment, war, and deliverance if you recognize that the judgment is not directed at you but at the spiritual forces that drive you.

The sin for which you are most directly responsible is that of your self-will. Even your self-will is the result of Satan's activities. Eve would still be going about her business in the earth if she had refused Satan's urging to set her will against God's will. The Lord will bring you through many fires in order to burn the self-will out of you so you can abide peacefully in the will of God.

In our discussion thus far we have said there are three domains of Divine judgment.

The first domain has to do with the guilt of your sins. If you are a Christian the guilt of your sins was forgiven on the basis of the blood atonement made by the Lord Jesus on the cross of Calvary.

The second domain of Divine judgment has to do with the choices you make during your Christian life. Are you being diligent with all God has given you? Or are you disobeying God by living as part of the world system, wasting what God has given you, living in the appetites of your flesh and soul, not presenting your body a living sacrifice to God? You are going to reap in the day of resurrection precisely as your work has been.

The third domain of Divine judgment has to do with the person and works of Satan. God has determined to make an end of Satan's influence in the earth.

When the Lord Jesus died on the cross He purchased the creation. Satan no longer owns the physical realm. All belongs to Jesus.

Satan will not leave the creation even though he no longer has a legal hold on it. He is not honorable. He is a thief and a liar.

You and I have been forgiven. God has given us His Holy Spirit. Now the issue is to remove the compulsion of sin and finally the presence of sin from us for eternity.

The judgment that is coming upon you is to remove Satan from you. It is a blessing. It is deliverance. It is salvation. It is to be welcomed by you. You will enter the Kingdom of God through much tribulation because tribulation drives the sin and self-will from you.

Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. (I Peter 4:1,2—NIV)

To be continued.