8. What is the pivotal issue in the life and death struggle between good and evil?

Though God’s moral law is just as essential to the existence of His universe as are the physical laws that hold it together, Satan charges that the law is impossible to obey. Through constant and insidious undermining of God’s law, Satan attempts to overthrow His government and even God Himself. JTL15 11.1

The temptations brought to Christ by Satan during His earthly ministry reveal the seriousness of the controversy over obedience and surrender to God’s will. These temptations, which represent every temptation humanity faces, prepared Jesus to be a “merciful and faithful High Priest” (Hebrews 2:17). Jesus answered those temptations by quoting Scripture. Today, the great controversy raging furiously around Christ’s authority involves not only His law but also His Word—the Scriptures. Christ is the focus of the Scriptures yet increasing numbers of Christians no longer view the Scriptures as the Word of God, the infallible revelation of His will. It suits both Satan’s nature and purpose to suggest other centers of “truth” than Christ and His word. JTL15 11.2

Jesus went to the cross, not only to be our Sin-bearer, but to show that the law of God could not be erased and endures forever. The cosmic controversy came to its climax at the cross. The love and faithful obedience Christ demonstrated in the face of Satan’s cruelty undermined Satan’s position as the usurping prince of this world, assuring his ultimate downfall. JTL15 11.3