The god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they can’t see the light of the good news that makes Christ’s glory clear. He is the image of God.
You were following the ways of this world and serving the one who rules over the spiritual forces of evil. That’s the spirit who’s still at work in those who aren’t obeying God.
The great dragon was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. That dragon is the old serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray.
We also know that the Son of God has come and given us understanding so that we can know the God who is true. And we are in the true God by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
You unfaithful people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Anyone who chooses to be the world’s friend becomes God’s enemy.
Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts what God says about him. Whoever doesn’t believe what God says is calling him a liar by not believing what God has said about his Son.
The one who obeys God’s commands lives in him, and he lives in them. Here’s how we know that God lives in us: We know it by the Holy Spirit he gave us.
He threw him into the Abyss, locked it, and sealed him in. This was to keep Satan from deceiving the nations anymore until the 1,000 years had ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.
We know the earthly tent we live in will be destroyed. But we have a building made by God himself, a house not made by human hands. It lasts forever, waiting for us in heaven.
At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived, and controlled by all kinds of wrong desires and pleasures. We were hostile and envious. Other people hated us, and we hated them.
That’s why I’m suffering the way I am. But I’m not ashamed, because I know the one I’ve believed in and I’m certain that he’s able to protect what I’ve given him. I can trust him with it until the day he returns.
With God’s help, we’ve acted toward everyone, and especially toward you, honorably and honestly. We can say that with pride and a clear conscience. We’ve depended on God’s grace and not on the world’s wisdom.