Spiritual Warfare

I. THE SPIRITUAL WARFARE IN THIS TEXT A. NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH THAT FOUND ELSEWHERE... 1. It is not quite the same war described in Ro 7:23 or 1Pe 2:11 2. In those passages, a different war is being discussed a. One in which there is a battle raging inside each one of us b. In those passages, the warfare is one that is INTERNAL B. THE WARFARE IN OUR TEXT IS EXTERNAL... 1. In which we are engaged in battle with OTHERS a. The context of 2 Corinthians should make this clear b. For Paul is defending his apostleship and ministry against false teachers 2. This "war" is one which involves: a. "arguments" b. "knowledge" c. "thoughts" -- Such is the "field of battle" in this war 3. This is a war that is fought whenever we try to... a. Lead a brother out of error b. Convert someone to Christ 4. The "objective" in this war as described by Paul: a. To defeat any argument or position which is "against the knowledge of God" (what He has revealed) - 2Co 10:5a b. To bring a person who has held such thoughts... 1) "into the captivity to the obedience of Christ" - 2 Co 10:5b 2) I.e., to become a "servant of Christ"