"from the power of the devil"

This is the first time we've mentioned "the devil," isn't it? Well then, we need to stop here and talk about him.

The main thing you need to know about the devil is that he is a fallen angel, oft called Satan. (This story is told in part in Revelation 12:7-17.) He led a rebellion against God in heaven and was thrown down because of it.

This story from Revelation also identifies Satan as the "accuser." Satan is the one who wants to dredge up all of our sin-sickness and show it to God for His judgment. (See Job chapter 1 for a picture of Satan in action in this way.) Until Christ came, he did this in the very throne room of heaven; since Christ has come, however, he can only use his accusations against us in an effort to dismay us and drive us to despair. 

Satan is well-known as "the tempter." (Well known temptation stories include Satan tempting Adam and Eve in the Garden (Genesis 3) and Satan tempting Jesus in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11).) In fact, many Christians like to use him as their excuse when they sin (e.g., "the devil made me do it"). But as you can see from the rest of the meaning of the Second Article and the other stories in Scripture: We don't need Satan's help to sin; we'll sin without him. He's just happy to help us along!

It is clear that Satan's objective is to hinder the work of Christ and to hinder those who work for Him. When Peter objected that Jesus had to be crucified to be the Christ, Jesus called him "Satan." (Matthew 16:21-23) 

Later in Paul's second letter to the Corinthians, he makes reference to being frustrated with a "thorn" in his side, "a messenger of Satan." While it's possible that Paul is speaking in hyperbole, Paul reports that God's response to Paul's plea that God remove the "thorn" was to say, "My grace is sufficient for you." Clearly the harassment of this thorn was tempting Paul to doubt the sufficiency of God's good grace to sustain his life and work.

In summary: Satan is a supernatural opponent of God and His work in Jesus Christ! And we should not take him lightly. As a fallen angel, Satan is powerful! But One more powerful than Satan is with us and for us and will never let us be tempted beyond what we can bear, but will always provide a way out of the temptation so that we can stand. (1 Corinthians 10:13)