False Freedom: Why Deliverance Ministry Can't Replace the Gospel of Jesus

5 “You hem me in both behind and before, and have laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it. Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in the depths, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 Even there Your hand shall guide me, And Your right hand shall hold me fast.” Psalm 139: 5-10


Hey, it's Tiffanni. If you haven’t already, I recommend reading part one and then coming back for part two.

Let’s talk about deliverance. You’ve probably seen it before — maybe you’ve even experienced it yourself — the shaking, the shouting, the expelling, and the rebuking of demons from a person’s body or mind. But what is deliverance, really? Some people explain it like this: even though someone may be saved and believe in Christ, there are still curses lingering from past sins or generational bloodlines that need to be broken. They claim that Jesus died to give believers the authority to break those curses and walk in the fullness of what God has for them. What was once a somewhat taboo subject has now become a mainstream practice in many Christian circles.

In Hebrew, the word for deliverance (תְּשׁוּעָה) is simply translated as "salvation." But salvation from what? The Bible speaks of deliverance in many ways — physical, mental, and spiritual. For Moses and the Israelites in Egypt, it was salvation from Pharaoh's oppression. For Daniel, it was deliverance from the lions' den. For all believers, it’s deliverance from sin and death, leading us into eternal life with Jesus.

So, here’s the big question: Is that enough? Why, then, does the practice of deliverance seem to point to something more, something beyond what Scripture teaches? The practice of deliverance in some circles often teaches a different gospel than the one presented in the Bible. What was once a simple message of salvation through Christ has, in some places, been turned into a spectacle. How did we get here?

Before I go further, I want to address something that may be on your mind already:

I am fully aware that demonic forces are real and active in the world today. Ephesians 6:12 makes it clear that Christians are in a spiritual battle. Demons can harass and attack believers just as they have since the fall of man.

If you’ve experienced deliverance, or if you believe in it, I want you to know you are not alone — I’ve been there too. But I ask you to prayerfully consider God’s Word as you reflect on this subject. The question I want to pose is simple: Is deliverance really a part of the believer’s life in Christ? Does Scripture support this practice for those who have already been saved by grace, or is something more being added to the gospel?


Question #1: What is Justification, Sanctification, and Glorification? (Romans 8:29-30)

Before we get into the doctrine itself, it is important to lay a foundational and Biblical framework for the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer. God’s work in our lives is little by little, behind the scenes, but so glorious. It is not in one moment or experience with God that we are changed but in the daily wringing out of our hearts and death to our former selves.

Step 1— Justification: Before we were saved, we were directly opposed to God — His enemies, yet He chose us in spite of ourselves. Romans 5:10 lets us know, “For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!” What kind of love is that that God turns His captives into His children? Salvation is an unearned gift. By faith and His grace, you are justified when you accept Jesus Christ and surrender to Him (Eph. 2:8-9). To be justified is to be made righteous in Christ and to be acquitted of former transgressions. The Bible says, “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.” (Romans 6:23)

See, the objective balance due for all humanity post Genesis 3 was death — point blank period. You and I cannot afford to pay that price. When sin entered the world through the first Adam, so did this death. But God. Before the foundations of the World were framed, God made a covenant with Himself to send His Son, Jesus, as the remission for all of our sins and to be the last Adam by whom we are redeemed. (1 Peter 1:18-21; Romans 5:12-17) Justification is salvation. Salvation is deliverance. Deliverance is once and for all from death and into life hidden in Christ. The devil can try all he can, but believers cannot be found guilty unto death before the Judge of all judges anymore.

Step 2 — Sanctification: This is where we are now. Sanctification is a process of being made holy and presenting our bodies as “living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God—which is our reasonable response.” (Romans 12:1-3) What does sanctification look like? There is no specific pattern, but its fruit is maturity in your walk with Christ, holding firm to Truth, putting off the old, and “pressing toward the mark of the highest calling which is in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14) In my opinion, this is where confusion about deliverance enters in. Sanctification is not wrestling demons and obsessing over tactics to stop the enemy from operating in your life, but a daily fight against the flesh and your human nature. Real spiritual warfare is a war for truth and against the doctrines of demons. This is why God calls us to diligently and rightly divide the Word because the devil is very cunning. (2 Timothy 2:15) And as we are being sanctified even in our sufferings, we rejoice for Christ is coming, and it is our joy to see Him.

Step 3 — Glorification: Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus! We are looking forward to the return of Jesus when He appears. Are you on a search for miracles, signs, and wonders? Just wait. Glorification is the totality of Christ’s promises in our lives. Much of what we are seeking on this Earth will not be revealed until the moment that the last trumpet sounds. Sin will be no more. We will stand before God perfect. In the twinkle of an eye, we will all be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:52) Believers in Christ will be in complete restoration and harmony at home with our Father once and for all. We cannot rush glorification nor can we rush God for the desires of our hearts. (Romans 8:18) I know the New Earth will be beyond the scope of our imagination. The wheelchair-bound will be bound no more! The blind will see again! The lame will walk! The deaf will hear!

12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” — 1 Corinthians 13:12

With this prayerfully being understood, I present the case against this doctrine.


Question #2: Is deliverance a doctrinal issue of first importance?For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures.” 1 Corinthians 15:3 

Answer: In my opinion, yes, because it challenges how we are justified (cleared of all charges) and sanctified (made holy). Is it through the finished work of Christ? Did Christ actually finish His work on the Cross? Do we have to “activate” His blood or complete this work by renouncing, rebuking, and curse-breaking over and over again? To answer these questions: Yes. Yes. No. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Below are verses that support Jesus’ work being finished once & for all:

  • “So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.” John 19:30  (When Jesus uttered those words, He was declaring the debt humanity owed to His Father beginning in Genesis 3 was wiped away completely and forever.)

  • “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.” Galatians 2:21 

  • “Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” Galatians 3:2-3 


Refutation #1: Deliverance from demons is not for believers.

Claims of Christian deliverance are usually based on:

  1. Personal Experience. Hebrews 1:1-2

  2. Misuse of Scripture.  2 Timothy 4:3-4

  3. Out of Context Old Testament Application. 

A quick search on GotQuestions lets us know that “the generally agreed-upon definition of “deliverance ministry” will usually focus on the casting out of demons or spirits in an attempt to solve problems related to specific demons. For example, a deliverance minister may seek to help someone overcome anger by casting out a spirit of anger. Deliverance ministries also focus on tearing down spiritual strongholds in one’s life, finding inner healing, and claiming the victory in Christ over all enemies. Many refer to soul ties, curses, and the “legal rights” of demons. Biblically, demons or evil spirits are known to be fallen angels that rebelled in heaven with Satan.” (Revelation 12:49Isaiah 14:12–20Ezekiel 28:1–19).”

Curses… Let’s look into that.


Question #3: What are these ‘curses’ & where do they come from? There are three alleged sources for their origins:

  1. From the sins of your ancestors in your bloodline. Spirits follow your bloodline and keep you bound in patterns of their sins also known as “Generational Curses.” This comes from a misinterpretation of Exodus 20:5 which says “You shall not bow down to them [idols] or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me.”  There are so many ways I  can go with this, but I will hone in on three points: 
              1a.) This has nothing to do with evil spirits haunting a bloodline, but it was God who gave these punishments. Think of a mother who struggles with drug addiction, her child is susceptible to adopting that pattern, yes. Those are called consequences for sins that affect others, but there’s no Biblical support for a demon following your ancestral line as a curse. The only cursed individual in this situation is Satan himself, and he has no chance of redemption. A curse is a death. God cursed him and only punished Adam and Eve with consequences we feel to this day, but He never cursed them. Since Adam was the first of humanity all sins and their consequences entered through him. (Romans 5:12-21) There is a stark distinction between curses and consequences.

                  1b.) God Himself refutes the idea of generational curses in Ezekiel 18“The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel: ‘The parents eat sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’? “As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel. For everyone belongs to Me, the parent as well as the child—both alike belong to Me. The one who sins is the one who will die.”  This was a popular saying in Israel. The people believed that God was unfair and children were being punished because of their parent’s sins, but God made it clear that every individual is responsible for themselves. Your actions can affect others not because they are related to you, but solely because this is the nature of humanity.

                 1c.)  Is God not One who desires mercy rather than sacrifice? Exodus 20:5 is followed up by verse 6: “but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.” His blessings and mercy innumerably outweigh His punishments. Why would a merciful God who gave up His own Son for you continue to punish you for a sin you never committed? Or why would He allow demons to re-enter a born-again believer? What is the scriptural support for this type of cruelty? You won’t find it because it is not in His nature.

2. When you have unconfessed sin in your daily life, you can come into a covenant with spirits that grant them a “legal right” to harass you and even possess you. For instance, soul ties. I agree that your sins have punishments and unbelievers have no protection from demonic possession unless the Lord chooses to intervene. I reject the statement that believers can remain under a curse. See, there is a difference between the love that God has for all people and the covenantal love He has for His church. That love is found in the terms and conditions of the New Covenant mediated between God and man through Jesus. Believers in Christ are promised a new heart and spirit, the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit, sanctification, and eternal life (Ezekiel 36:26-27.) The true curse and wages of sin is death according to Romans 6:23. Galatians 3:13 lets us know “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” Repentance of sin is important, but if you forget to pray against something specific does not mean the devil has free reign in that area. He does not have that much power, and thankfully, neither do we. God forgives us.



3. Those who practice witchcraft and divination can put curses on you that allow the enemy access to you. By faith, we know that Christ became sin who knew no sin. We also know Ephesians 1:13 says, “After listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise.” 

Sealed — to set a mark upon, to stamp, to brand, confirm their hopes, and in respect to God denotes total ownership. Because we have been branded by God through the sealing of the Holy Spirit, who are we to fear? Do you truly believe a child of God can be affected by vain sacrifices to idols that cannot see and cannot hear? I hope you understand the answer is absolutely not. Since we have been found innocent by the blood of Christ, every charge that comes against us has no legal grounds. You cannot curse what God has eternally protected, and committing such an abomination without repentance has dire consequences. (Revelation 21:8)


Now that we have covered how curses operate in believers’ lives, (they don’t), we can debunk this “casting out of spirits” business. Now, demon possession can occur in unsaved people, and I’m positive we encounter these spirits quite often. In the New Testament, we see Jesus, the Apostles, and those to whom he gave authority preaching, healing, and casting out unclean spirits.

The Koine Greek word for “casting out” is ekballo, insinuating authority, force, and violence. The power of Jesus’ words and presence expelled any demonic force possessing an unbeliever — in an instant, unclean spirits fled the scene. With this information, it is now appropriate to ask, “Can demons possess born-again Christians?” The short answer is no. 

Below are some common manipulations of the text to try and prove this point. There are many passages, but I will show two examples:


A. “Deliverance is the children’s bread.” Mark 7:24-29

  • Jesus, a Jew, traveled to the Gentile region of Tyre, an area where His presence was unexpected. A Syrophoenician woman from that region heard about His arrival and, in desperation, sought Him out because her daughter was possessed by an unclean spirit. Initially, Jesus responds, saying, "Let the children be satisfied first, for it is not right to take the children's bread [salvation] and throw it to the dogs." However, due to her persistence and faith, Jesus tells her that the demon has been cast out of her daughter. She returns home to find her daughter lying on the bed, free from the possession.

  • Context: The “children’s bread” in question is salvation. The Greek word for salvation means deliverance. Jesus was only sent to the lost sheep of Israel so that through their reinstatement all nations would receive the Gospel through them. It was only when they rejected Him that He pioneered the invitation to the Gentiles Himself. The conversation between Jesus and the woman reveals what God has been looking for all throughout history — faith. Because of her faith that was accounted to her as righteousness, Jesus delivered her unsaved and possessed daughter. 

  • Application: This verse has nothing to do with deliverance from demonic possession after believing in Christ. This is about deliverance from sin being given to the Jew first, and then the Gentile. There is an emphasis that neither she nor her daughter were saved at all, nor technically could they be yet, but for her faith, they were — similar to those of old who were justified without seeing the promised Messiah. If her daughter was already saved, there would be no demon to cast out, because there would be an instant indwelling of the Holy Spirit and instant fleeing of unclean spirits. 

27 “Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. 28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.”  Romans 3:27-31


B. “The Parable of The Empty House.” Matthew 12:22-45

  • Background: Drawn-out, ritualistic, and useless exorcisms were common in these days, usually performed by Pharisees. In the middle of these practices, Jesus appears on the scene and casts spirits out of people immediately with a shocking amount of authority. The aforementioned Pharisees encounter Him after He delivers a deaf and mute man who was demon-possessed. The Pharisees believed He was casting out unclean spirits by the power of Satan. He exposes this logical fallacy by stating, “If  Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” Soon after, they ask Him for a sign to determine His credibility as Messiah. He rebukes them and uses the deliverance that just occurred as a real-life example of what it means to deny Christ. 

  • Context: He was exposing the evil generation of Pharisees and Israelites who rejected Him as Messiah. They were looking for a military figure or political leader who would deliver them from the oppression of the Roman Empire, not a man similar in appearance to them preaching salvation. If Jesus chose to satisfy their itching ears with signs, they may have believed in Him on a surface level, yet their hearts would not be possessed by God. Because they would be empty, their state of wickedness after knowing the truth of God would be 7 times worse than before. He uses the Empty House analogy to explain this.

  • Application:  Aside from the fact that this verse is not about demonic possession, He uses the literal concept to prove His spiritual point. In regards to literal demon possession, Jesus is not talking about believers either way. He is speaking to a group of people who rejected Him and were not filled with the Holy Spirit. In a spiritual sense, believers are not empty houses. Demons can possess an empty person, but the Holy Spirit evicts darkness and illuminates a true believer of Christ. The moment you accept and believe in Christ is the moment you are indwelled with and sealed by the Holy Spirit. (John 14:17; Role of the Holy Spirit). 

“The foul fiend calls the man, "my house." His audacity is amazing. He did not build or buy that house, and he has no right to it. He speaks of his leaving the man as a mere coming out: "I came out," he says, as if it were an easy matter, "I will return." Evidently, he considers that he has the freehold of man's nature, and can go and come at his pleasure. If Satan quits a man of his own will, he is sure to return just when it suits his purpose. Only the divine force which ejects him can secure his non-return. Reformations which are not the work of conquering grace are usually temporary, and often lead up to a worse condition in after years. The unclean spirit carries out his resolve: he returns, "and when he is come, he finds it empty": no one else has taken possession, and so no one hinders his entrance into his own tenement. It is true it is swept from certain grosser sins, and garnished with some pretty moralities; but the Holy Spirit is not there, and no divine change has been wrought, and therefore the unclean spirit is as much at home there as ever he was. The parable needs no further explanation; temporary reformation is well-pictured. The devil has no objection to his house being swept and garnished; for a moralist may be as truly his slave as the man of debauched habits. So long as the heart is not occupied by his great foe, and he can use the man for his own purposes, the adversary of souls will let him reform as much as he pleases.” (Spurgeon)


To hold firm the idea of Christian deliverance, you would have to adhere (in some way) to these beliefs: 

  • Jesus’ work on the cross was not sufficient because all He did was give us authority to take salvation into our own hands. Acts 4:12. 

  • The Holy Spirit does not have the power to fully uphold His end of the redemptive covenant and sanctify you. Psalm 89:34. 

  • The full Gospel is not enough to save anyone. 2 Corinthians 5:14. 

  • Your personal experience trumps the word of God. 


Questions to Consider and Additional Resources:

  1. Why would demons be permitted to live in the house of God? They can’t. They have no “legal right” to ever enter under the New Covenant. They can attack and tempt as far as God allows, but never dwell inside of you to be expelled as a blood-bought believer. You were bought at a high price to be saved from this very torment. (1 Cor. 6:19).  You no longer have rights over what can come into your body. You are now in total possession to God, and He doesn’t cohabitate with demonic forces. They flee at His name in an instant. (Mark 1:21-28)

  2. If a demon could even enter you as a believer, where does the Holy Spirit go? He doesn’t leave His home, for you are sealed unto Him covenantally according to Romans 8:9. (See John 14:16; 2 Corinthians 1:22, & Ephesians 4:30 as well.) We can grieve & quench Him, but He will not leave a believer. That is Old Covenant. 

  3. How can two kingdoms be at war and housed within the same body and yet that body is outwardly at war against the kingdom of darkness? Jesus talks about this in Matthew 12:24-33. It is not possible to resist Satan outwardly but then house the enemy inside of you as well. Satan cannot cast out Satan, for that is an oxymoron. If we claim to have demons and need deliverance, but then we cast demons out of others, by whom are we doing the casting?

  4. If we keep binding things, how are they becoming unbound again? One, because demons don’t listen to us. We do not have the authority to operate in their realm — God is sovereign while we are to be still. If you peer into the demonic, it will peer back. You are opening yourself up to things you shouldn’t be messing with and are not even necessary for your spiritual growth. (Binding & Loosing.)

  5. “Is this point of view coming from naivete? You know “Satan loves when you don’t believe in deliverance.” He actually hates it, because he plays an excellent game of deception and chasing after shadows. It is a mere distraction. The devil cannot stop our salvation, but he can delay our sanctification if we allow him. God cleanses us from all unrighteousness as we walk in the light of Christ according to 1 John 1:5-10.“If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.

  6. Can the Holy Spirit leave?

  7. Can a Christian be Possessed? — Costi Hinn. 

  8. The Cycle of Deliverance. 

  9. Do Old Testament Curses Apply Today?

  10. Demons don’t have Legal Rights. 

  11. Your Legal Rights as a Believer. 

    More Supporting Verses: Romans 2:4, 1 John 4:1-3, 1 Timothy 4:1, Ephesians 6:10-20, Romans 13:14, Romans 8:1-39, 1 Corinthians 8, Colossians 3:15, John 17, John 8:31-32, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-6, Matthew 6:25-33, Colossians 2, Galatians 3, Jude 1


FINAL THOUGHTS: 

Deliverance is seen as a quick fix instead of a spiritual danger for believers. Sanctification is for the long haul. The promise of our perfection is heavenly and eternal, so it’s okay to be in the trenches on this Earth — that doesn’t mean you have a demon, it means you’re human and we live in a fallen world, but you are being kept by God. After setting sinners free, Jesus told them, “Go and sin no more,” not “Okay, now you need to repent on behalf of your bloodline, break these covenants, rebuke spirits, and then go through deliverance.” Jesus is deliverance personified. Your post-salvation deliverance experience may very well be genuine, but that does not ever trump the Word of God.

We put ourselves in unnecessary bondage when we have the Key inside of us. Our job is to spread the Gospel and pray for His will to be done. We can pray for those who are demon-possessed, and if we end up encountering them in a possessed state, we ask the Lord to grant them freedom & repentance. It is by His will, not ours, but in all demonic situations, the light of Christ drowns out darkness every single time. At His name and in His presence, they must flee. It is not through formulaic prayers but submission unto His will. Rejecting the need for deliverance is not rejecting the move of the Holy Spirit; it is embracing His supernatural authority all the more. The Spirit of God is the Spirit of Truth. The spirit of prophecy is the testimony of  Jesus. 

He loves you, and His desire is for you to truly understand that you are free—free indeed. He has already secured the promise of your deliverance, a promise made long before the world was even created.

My purpose in life is to honor Him by accepting the freedom He has given me. I am no longer bound by the scrutiny of any law; I am simply under His protection and grace.

I pray that this message strengthens and refines your faith. Take everything shared here and measure it against the truth of God's Word.

20 “He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”

Yours in Christ,

Tiffanni x

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