Bible Question:

In the song: “Onward Christian Soldiers” when it says, “Christ the royal master, leads against the foe,” who is the foe?

Bible Answer:

Here are the first two verses of the hymn with the chorus.

Onward, Christian Soldiers

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
Forward into battle see His banners go!

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.

At the sign of triumph Satan’s host doth flee;
On then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver at the shout of praise;
Brothers lift your voices, loud your anthems raise.

Satan is our foe. He is against us. The following verses will help us understand what an enemy he really is,

 

In the song “Onward Christian Soldiers,” who is the foe?
STATEMENTPASSAGE
Satan does not want us to know God’s WordMark 4:15
Satan encourages us to sinMark 8:33; 1 Cor. 7:5
Satan moves us to lieActs 5:3
Satan tries to deceive us2 Cor. 2:11
Satan pretends to be “light” – that is, truthful2 Cor 11:14
Satan is at war against us1 Thess. 2:18; 1 Tim. 1:20
Satan wants everyone to follow him.1 Tim. 5:15
Satan tries to deceive the worldRev. 12:9
Jesus will defeat Satan at the end of the world.Rev. 19:11-20:3

 

Satan is not our friend.

Conclusion:

Satan is always working to make us look bad in God’s eyes. He can cause us trouble (2 Cor. 12:7) in this life, but he can never take control of a Christian. Satan is against us,

And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night. (NASB) Rev. 12:9-10

God tells us that Satan will be defeated in the end. Our foe, our enemy will be defeated. Praise the Lord of Lords! The Holy Spirit lives inside Christians and as a result, Satan can never take control of us,

You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. (NASB) 1 John 4:4

Praise our Savior!