What Does It Mean to Submit to God and Resist the Devil?

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Christian Living Based on James 4:7

“Submit therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” — James 4:7

In James 4:7, the inspired writer delivers a direct and uncompromising command to Christians regarding their relationship with both God and the devil. This verse stands as a clear call to action in the midst of a larger discussion on worldliness, pride, and spiritual conflict. Unlike many religious platitudes that merely suggest general morality or good intentions, this exhortation cuts to the core of Christian responsibility: submit to God and resist the devil. These two commands are inseparable, for one cannot truly resist Satan without first submitting to the authority of Jehovah.

The letter of James, written before 62 C.E. and likely one of the earliest New Testament writings, focuses heavily on practical righteousness and faithful living. James addresses believers scattered among the nations (James 1:1), many of whom were struggling with trials, temptations, partiality, and spiritual inconsistency. His style is forthright, not cloaked in theological abstraction but presented in clear, actionable imperatives designed to call believers to genuine, obedient faith.

Within chapter 4, James confronts the issue of worldliness—the pursuit of selfish desires that lead to conflict, pride, and friendship with the world, which is enmity toward God (James 4:1–4). The solution to this spiritual crisis is not self-reform or emotional remorse but decisive surrender to the sovereignty of God coupled with active resistance against the adversary.

This devotional will explore what it means to submit to God, what it looks like to resist the devil, why both are necessary, and how these commands enable the Christian to live victoriously and faithfully in a world marked by temptation and spiritual opposition.

“Submit Therefore to God” — The Foundation of Spiritual Victory

The first command is straightforward: “Submit therefore to God.” The Greek verb ὑποτάγητε (hupotagēte) is an aorist imperative, calling for decisive and complete submission. The term derives from ὑποτάσσω (hupotassō), meaning to arrange under, to subject oneself, or to place oneself in proper order under authority. It conveys the idea of military alignment—recognizing rank and obeying orders.

Submission to God is not partial compliance or selective obedience. It is total surrender to His will, acknowledging His right to command and direct every area of life. This submission is the antidote to the pride and self-centeredness condemned earlier in the chapter. James has just quoted Proverbs 3:34 in verse 6: “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Submission, therefore, is the expression of humility—it is the recognition that God is God, and we are not.

This submission is not passive resignation; it is active, willing allegiance. It involves yielding our desires, our plans, our thoughts, and our actions to the lordship of Jehovah. Jesus exemplifies this submission perfectly in His prayer at Gethsemane: “Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39).

True submission manifests in several key ways:

Obedience to God’s Word: Accepting the authority of Scripture in every area of life, not arguing against it or seeking loopholes, but aligning one’s life under its teachings (John 14:15).
Repentance from Sin: Turning away from practices and attitudes that conflict with God’s righteousness (Acts 17:30).
Dependence on God in Prayer: Acknowledging through prayerful dependence that we are not self-sufficient (Philippians 4:6).
Endurance in Trials: Trusting in God’s providence and goodness even when circumstances are difficult (James 1:2–4).

Without submission to God, resistance against the devil is powerless. Pride and self-reliance leave the believer exposed to Satan’s attacks because they reject the shelter of divine authority. Only those who bow before Jehovah’s sovereignty can stand firm against the adversary.

“But Resist the Devil” — The Duty of Spiritual Warfare

The second imperative, “resist the devil” (ἀντίστητε τῷ διαβόλῳ, antistēte tō diabolō), uses the verb ἀνθίστημι (anthistēmi), meaning to oppose, to stand against, to withstand actively. This is not a call to ignore the devil, nor to underestimate him, but to stand firm in deliberate opposition.

The devil (διάβολος, diabolos, slanderer, accuser) is real, active, and dangerous. Peter warns, “Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). He seeks to destroy faith, promote sin, and sever the believer from the blessings of obedience.

Resisting the devil is not accomplished through emotional determination or personal strength. It is achieved through the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10–18), which includes truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, the Word of God, and prayer. Each of these elements reflects dependence on God, not self.

Key components of resisting the devil include:

Recognizing Satan’s Schemes: Understanding the tactics he employs, such as deceit, temptation, accusation, and discouragement (2 Corinthians 2:11).
Using the Word of God Effectively: Following Jesus’ example in Matthew 4:1–11, where He counters Satan’s temptations by quoting Scripture with precision and authority.
Remaining Firm in Faith: Not yielding to doubt or compromise, but standing resolutely in the truth of the gospel (1 Peter 5:9).
Avoiding the Influence of Worldliness: Breaking ties with practices and associations that facilitate temptation (James 4:4).

Resisting the devil requires vigilance, alertness, and spiritual discipline. Paul commands, “Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13). Victory over the adversary is not the result of passive hope but of active spiritual warfare.

“And He Will Flee from You” — The Promise of Victory

The assurance that “he will flee from you” is not wishful thinking—it is divine promise. The verb φεύξεται (pheuxetai), future indicative, signifies certainty: the devil will flee. This echoes the promise in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that God provides a way of escape from temptation, ensuring that believers are never left defenseless.

Satan is powerful, but he is not invincible. His defeat is assured through the victory of Christ on the cross (Colossians 2:15; Hebrews 2:14). The believer does not resist the devil in isolation but stands in the strength of the risen Lord, who has already crushed the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15).

The flight of the devil is contingent upon the believer’s submission to God and resistance to evil. If a person remains entangled in sin or rebellion, Satan has no reason to flee. But when the believer stands firm, grounded in truth and obedient to God’s will, the adversary is repelled.

This does not mean that temptation will never return, nor that spiritual battle ends after a single confrontation. Just as Satan departed from Jesus “until an opportune time” (Luke 4:13), so he continues to seek moments of weakness. Yet every act of faithful resistance strengthens the believer’s ability to stand and reinforces the promise of ultimate victory.

The Balance Between Submission and Resistance

James 4:7 presents submission to God and resistance to the devil as two sides of the same coin. Attempting to resist the devil without submitting to God is futile. Likewise, claiming submission to God without resisting evil is hypocrisy.

These commands work together:

Submission grants authority: When we yield to God, we operate under His sovereign protection and power.
Resistance exercises faith: When we stand against the devil, we demonstrate trust in God’s promises and faithfulness.

This balance echoes Jesus’ teaching in the model prayer: “Do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13). The Christian life involves both dependence on God and active resistance against sin and Satan.

Application: Living Out James 4:7

Obedience to this verse requires practical steps each day:

Daily Surrender: Begin each day by consciously submitting your will to God’s. Pray, “Your will be done” (Matthew 6:10).
Identify Vulnerabilities: Recognize the areas where temptation tends to arise and prepare to resist.
Arm Yourself with Scripture: Commit key passages to memory that address specific struggles.
Remain Accountable: Cultivate relationships with fellow believers who encourage faithfulness and provide accountability (Hebrews 10:24–25).
Maintain Watchfulness: Stay alert to spiritual dangers, avoiding compromise or complacency.

Submission and resistance are not one-time actions—they are continual attitudes and practices that must be renewed daily.

Conclusion: The Path to Victory Through Submission and Resistance

James 4:7 offers a concise yet comprehensive guide to spiritual victory: submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you. These are not isolated instructions but integrated commands that together define the life of faithful discipleship.

Victory over temptation, sin, and spiritual attack is not achieved by human strength but through the power of God, accessed by humble submission and active resistance. The Christian who bows before the sovereignty of Jehovah stands firm against the schemes of Satan—not in fear, but in the assurance of God’s care, provision, and strength.

May every believer heed this command, live under God’s mighty hand, and stand boldly against the adversary, confident that the devil will indeed flee from those who are grounded in the truth and submitted to the Lord.

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About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).