Once baptized, the Christian faces a serious and continuous fight against the world, the flesh, and the devil. Each of these opponents poses a formidable obstacle to spiritual growth and overcoming. The flesh, representing human nature, remains a persistent hindrance even after baptism, acting as a major component of the cross that must be borne. The carnal mind is enmity against God, not subject to His law, and must be battled relentlessly to progress toward conformity with Jesus Christ. This fight requires a fierce attitude, akin to a soldier ordered to take no prisoners, crucifying, mortifying, and utterly slaying the flesh. The Christian's warfare is not against other people but primarily against one's own nature, which constantly persuades disobedience to God. This struggle demands patient endurance to serve God, as a soldier's duty is to please the one who enlisted him. Our Father in heaven has enlisted us into His cause, and like Christ, we are to follow through in obedience to Him. Christ, as the ultimate example in suffering, endured more than any of us ever will, showing that spiritual innocence can intensify the warfare. The better one becomes, the harder the tests, paralleling the increasing difficulty of challenges as one advances in any endeavor. God does not make growth and overcoming easy, even with the promise of salvation. Challenges are set before us to achieve His goals, requiring our cooperation in a reciprocal relationship. Obedience to God often provokes spiritual warfare, with impediments represented by human nature that must be confronted. As with Israel's examples, we must trust that God is with us, backing His promises, even when sacrifices and discomfort are required. Drawing back from this fight out of fear is akin to rebellion, a rejection of God's word and promise. Yet, God's assurance remains steadfast—He will never leave nor forsake us, always protecting and guiding through the battles, ensuring we are not tested beyond what we can bear, and granting patience and mercy to overcome.

True Christianity is not an easy way of life, as it involves a constant fight for those serious about glorifying God and achieving spiritual growth. A Christian must be discerning, taking great pains to maintain balance against three primary enemies: human nature, the world, and satan. Regardless of age, social status, education, or gender, these foes relentlessly pursue, making the Christian's journey a true battle to reflect God's character. Christian living parallels the Old Testament instruction of confronting enemies, as seen in Israel's responsibilities to drive out inhabitants of the Promised Land in cooperation with God. Similarly, Christians must confront and drive out old habits, attitudes, and loyalties from pre-conversion days. This warfare, though spiritual and not involving physical weapons, requires loyalty, courage, self-denial, vision, understanding, and sacrifice to become victorious overcomers. Resisting the world's pressures is a major area of this warfare, as its subtle influences can easily be overlooked unless one remains aware and takes protective steps. The world, established on selfish human nature, feeds self-absorbed inclinations, making it crucial to fight and resist its attraction, which influences the heart, because so much is at stake. Regarding satan, though a formidable enemy, his direct danger to individuals is less than that of human nature and the world. While he walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, his influence often comes through the systems and attitudes he and his demons have constructed in the world. God has placed a wall of protection around His people, limiting demonic attempts to corrupt and destroy loyalty to Him. The advice is to be sober, vigilant, and to resist satan, standing firm in faith, knowing that with God's protection and Jesus Christ's victory, satan can be beaten. Submitting to God ensures that satan will flee, and wearing the whole armor of God enables Christians to stand against his wiles, holding ground by moving forward offensively with unmovable conviction.

True Christianity is a fight, a warfare of far greater importance than any war among nations, with stakes that may be eternal in their consequence. This spiritual battle involves every person who has ever been born, some for long periods like Abraham and Moses, and others for shorter times, with varying intensities, but all must war. The Christian's warfare includes hand-to-hand conflicts, wounds, battle fatigue, and discouragement, with sieges and assaults unique to its nature. There are victories and defeats, and the consequences are unchangeable and eternal once the fight is over, with no possibility of reparation. The enemy in this war is the evil triumvirate of the world, the flesh, and the devil. The world serves as a nearby distraction from duties to Christ, while the devil encourages over-indulgence, but the most challenging adversary is the ever-present flesh. This internal struggle is constant, as the carnal heart, the instrument of death, generates sin and must be contended with to prevent its enmity against God from breaking out. Jesus Christ, as the Commanding General, directs each Christian in their unique battle, where the consequences are profound. The Christian must be a soldier, understanding that suffering is part of their lot in life, enduring it with patience and perseverance. Like a soldier, a Christian is called to give wholehearted, loyal devotion, prioritizing their service to Christ above civilian distractions. This warfare demands adherence to the rules laid down by Christ, expressing love through obedience in every activity. The battle is continuous and unremitting, requiring the Christian to crucify the flesh daily, mortifying evil desires with a resolute determination to exterminate sin utterly. Despite the intensity of this warfare, there is hope and assurance. The legal reality of being justified under Christ's blood provides spiritual safety, as if shielded invisibly, even amidst the struggle. Yet, this safety obliges the Christian to cooperate with God during sanctification, using the tools provided by His Spirit to fight and overcome evil drives. This fight is not for salvation but for preparation for the Kingdom of God, transforming the Christian through the practical experience of God's law written on their heart and mind.