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What is spiritual warfare?

Answered by Gene Cunningham, Basic Training Bible Ministries · from The Basics

Spiritual warfare is the life of faith, a raging spiritual war fought in the physical world and in the souls of individual men and women. This struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of wickedness (Eph. 6:11). It is an angelic conflict where believers face the daily issue of whether they will glorify God or gratify self.

There is no truce in this invisible war; the enemy is on the offensive from the moment a person believes in the Lord Jesus Christ until they are with Him. Satan, a master strategist and liar, uses personal attacks, precision timing, and the shock effect of multiple blows to disrupt inner peace and move believers to malign the character of God.

Instruction, training, strategy, and tactics for this warfare come through the Bible alone. Victory is won in the soul by choosing to believe God and taking thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor. 10:5). Believers must not attempt to fight this battle in human strength, as relying on human intellect or power is stepping outside the power sphere of God.

Also asked: What is the nature of the conflict that Christians face every day?
Also asked, more loosely
What does the Bible teach about the source of opposition to believers? · How can individuals in the Christian faith win battles with Satan and his forces?

Source: The Basics The Basics -- Subject Index entry 'Spiritual warfare' (printed pp. 9, 53, 65, 144, 243, 244, 245, 246, 248, 250, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 264, 275, 276) · Read this lesson in the book →

What this answer is about

The subjects this answer names in its own words. Where the record names that subject itself, it is shown in bold.

Angelic conflictPeaceSatanSoulSpiritual warfareWarfarecharacter of God

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Scripture recorded with this answer

Passages recorded with this answer.

2 Cor. 10:5What BTBM teaches from this chapter →Read it on Blue Letter Bible →
cited by 1 other question
Eph. 6:11What BTBM teaches from this chapter →Read it on Blue Letter Bible →
cited by 3 other questions

Where this is taught in the book

Closest first: the pages where the book treats this subject most directly.

Lesson 5–3: The Attack—Satan’s Strategy

p.243p.253

Lesson 1–1: The Problem—Sin

p.9

Lesson 1–2: The Plan—Redemption

p.17

Lesson 1–3: The Provision—The Cross

p.21p.22p.23p.30

Lesson 1–4: The Power—The Holy Spirit

p.37

Lesson 2–1: The Manual—The Bible

p.53

Lesson 3–3: The Promise—Spirituality

p.144

Lesson 4–1: Perspective—Grace

p.175

More pages teach this. The Source line above carries the full citation and opens the book.

Scripture is not BTBM’s to license: the references above link to Blue Letter Bible (NASB95), and the verse text shown on this page is served by BLB under their own license and terms.