Sermon:

Satan Crushed

 

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11292015SatanCrushedDonRuhl

 

Satan Crushed 

Do not lose hope

Romans 16.20

Don Ruhl • Savage Street, Grants Pass, Oregon • November 29, In the year of our Lord, 2015

Song Leader and Song Suggestions: Phil Joseph – No suggestions

Prelude: 

  1. The Reason for this Sermon 
    1. Back in 2000 at the Nile Street Church,
      1. a boy in the congregation drew a picture of an open Bible.
      2. On one side he had written Romans 16.20.
      3. On the other side he had written First Corinthians 1.3.
    2. He handed his picture to me and
      1. told me that these were to give me a jumpstart
      2. for next the Sunday’s sermon.
    3. I will use them tonight as a jumpstart to my sermon.
  2. The Grace and Peace of Jesus Christ
    1. Romans 3 forms part of Paul’s conclusion
      1. of what he had been arguing in chapters 1 and 2.
        1. Chapter one the Gentiles are sinners.
        2. Chapter two the Jews are sinners.
      2. In Chapter three, he presents the purpose of the Law of Moses,

        19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin (Rom 3.19–20).
    2. By our sin we stand in danger of the Judgment.
      1. Listen to Paul’s argument that all people are sinners.
        1. Romans 1.18 presents the world’s position before God,

          18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness (Rom 1.18).
      2. John 3.18 presents the situation,
        1. that the whole world is under the judgment of God
        2. that He gave us one last chance to be saved,

          18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God (John 3.18).
    3. Jesus is our one last chance for redemption.
      1. He frees us from our great enemy, Satan, and
        1. his powerful weapon, sin.
      2. Satan does not and cannot make us sin, but
        1. he does tempt us.
        2. Twice the Bible calls him the tempter (Matt 4.3; 1Th 3.5).
      3. We can be given a victory over him,
        1. then the power of temptation and
        2. sin will be weakened.
      4. The two passages that have been suggested for me deal with this reality.

Persuasion: 

  1. Romans 16.20a – Satan Will Be Crushed

    20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly… (Rom 16.20).

    1. Why did Paul make this promise?
      1. Paul sent his greetings to the church in Rome, starting at 16.1.
        1. The members at Rome loved one another.
        2. At that time only one congregation existed in the city of Rome.
          1. Imagine that for Grants Pass!
          2. Many needs would exist, requiring care from everyone.
      2. Then listen to what the apostle says in verses 17 and 18,

        17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple (Rom 16.17–18).
      3. They had to be decisive and take the steps of verses 17 and 18, because
        1. of what Paul then says in verse 19,

          19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil (Rom 16.19).
        2. Trouble headed their way, because
        3. people would enter the church in Rome,
          1. teaching false doctrine,
          2. causing division in the church.
      4. Satan’s uses division in the church effectively.
        1. He wants to divide us,
          1. which will hurt our preaching and teaching.
          2. In John 17 Jesus prayed for the unity of the church.
            1. When you see why He prayed for the church’s unity,
            2. you will understand why Satan wants to see us divided,

              20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me” (John 17.20–21).
          3. Some people do not know what to believe, because
            1. of the division they see in Christianity.
            2. You and I know we should go straight to the Scriptures, but
              1. the average person does not know that.
              2. They go to a church and hear one thing,
                1. they visit another and
                2. hear something else.
        2. Satan determines to ruin
          1. what Paul said in the first sentence of Romans 16.19,

            19 For your obedience has become known to all… (Rom 16.19).
          2. People inside and outside the church,
          3. in Rome and beyond Rome,
            1. knew of the obedience of members of the church there.
            2. Their unified obedience
              1. helped Christianity to explode in the Roman Empire
              2. in the first several centuries.
                1. What would those outsiders think
                2. when troublemakers split the congregation?
      5. If the brethren practiced what God said to do in verses 17 and 18,
        1. they would gain a victory over our chief adversary.
        2. That is why Paul can say that the God of peace
          1. would crush Satan under their feet.
          2. God would be the main actor, but
            1. it would be because of the action
            2. that the brethren took.
    2. He is the God of peace.
      1. Isaiah 27 presents a recurring theme in Scripture.
        1. Even when you read of harsh rebuking from God’s prophets,
        2. you need to hear what He said here,

          4 Fury is not in Me.
          Who would set briers and thorns Against Me in battle?
          I would go through them,
          I would burn them together.
          5 Or let him take hold of My strength,
          That he may make peace with Me;
          And he shall make peace with Me.
          (Isa 27.4–5)
    3. Satan will be crushed under our feet shortly.
      1. Romans 16 does not say Satan will be crushed under God’s feet shortly.
        1. God helps.
        2. However, standing with God we are stronger than Satan.
      2. Satan is crushed under our feet when we maintain unity.
        1. Of course, the unity must be the unity of the Spirit.
        2. It cannot be a false unity of man.
  2. Romans 16.20b and First Corinthians 1.3 – Victory by Grace and by Peace

    20 …The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen (Rom 16.20).

    3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (1Co 1.3).

    1. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is with us.
      1. Without the grace of Christ,
      2. we would be crushed under Satan’s feet.
        1. Nothing of Satan can compete with the grace of Christ.
        2. Grace is greater than all sin and all enemies.
    2. Grace and peace come to us from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
      1. Never forget that grace and peace
        1. will be in your life
        2. when you go to the Father and the Son.
      2. Grace and peace are not just for saving you at the beginning.
        1. They are for your everyday life.
        2. If you do not think you have grace and peace everyday,
          1. find out why.
          2. Something is wrong or missing, or
            1. perhaps you are just not aware of those blessings.
            2. Living by faith is primary.