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(#29) Satan Is Crushed

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If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then (#29) Satan Is Crushed [audio]

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall crush your head, and you shall bruise His heel. Genesis 3:15

Here was the situation. God had created the most amazing place. We can’t really imagine it. There was no death. There was no evil. Everything flourished. Then Adam and Eve breached the one boundary God had set for them and everything that God promised would happen came to pass. The entire universe fell into death and decay. Evil now flourished instead of good. Weeds, physical and spiritual, instantly became the natural bent of the world. And all seemed lost. Both creation and mankind “groaned” under the weight of this.

For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, Romans 8:22-23

You and I might have just obliterated everything that was now ruined and started again from scratch. But, instead, God breathed out a marvelous promise that one day the Seed would come to redeem and restore that which was lost. This was the promised Messiah. And when He would come, though Satan would bruise His heel, the Messiah would crush Satan's head.

And in the fullness of time, that happened, at the death and resurrection of Jesus, the Christ. And, that crushing is ongoing, part of the march of the people of God throughout the world:

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. Romans 16:20

This is an important statement and worthy of reading several times. It expresses the truth about the delegated power and authority that has been granted to the sons of God who continue to do battle in this world. The battle between the “seed of Satan” and the “seed of the woman” raged throughout the Old Testament and it still rages today. The “seed line” of the Messiah continues, for it is found in those who are brothers and sisters of Christ, sons of God, children of the Most High.

By Jesus’ death and resurrection, He not only defeated Satan, but He also cast him out. This is what Jesus said when He was foretelling his death: 

Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” John 12:31-32

However, the casting out and defeat of Satan does not mean that we do not still suffer under the consequences of a fallen world nor even the forces of evil. It just means that they no longer have ultimate power over us. On the contrary, we “crush Satan under our feet” whenever we push back the edges of darkness and engage in undoing the works of the devil. This was the mission of Christ:

The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8

And Jesus has given us the task to continue destroying those works. This is what the Body of Christ has been doing from day one as we looked at last time. Abortion and infanticide were common; mutilation and oppression of women were common; slavery was common; pedophilia was common; tyranny was common, and on and on. The reign of evil in the world is being pushed back by the Body of Christ as it marches through the world. Not perfectly, that is for sure, but also not as the world marches, for we engage in a radically different form of battle:

“But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”  Romans 12:20

In a world that believed one conquered by the sword, Jesus taught that it would be conquered by true love. Not the cotton-candy, no-truth, hand-out, gushing Hollywood love that has become the definition in our culture, but a tough, sacrificial commitment that pursues the true good in others and in the institutions God has made.

It was true love for abandoned children that built orphanages and tried to save them from the workhouse. It was true love for the sick and infirmed that built hospitals. It was true love for the common citizen that built a system on the belief that “all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights”.

But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. John 16: 7-11

(By the way, it was true love that moved Jesus to say “I tell you the truth”. The enemy’s lies have brought our culture to believe that telling the truth is hateful. This is the work of Satan, calling evil good and good evil.)

So, because of the death and resurrection of Jesus, Satan’s head has been crushed, he has been cast out, and he has also been judged. Do not miss all these pronouncements. Satan has been defeated and his works are to be destroyed under our feet. Do not retreat. Do not fear. He is a chained beast who roars but cannot defeat you. He still has his lies, but you have the Truth.

Ah, you might be thinking, however, what about 1 Peter 5:8?

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  

You might say, if he’s looking to devour someone, then he can devour me, right? 

But, look at verse nine:

Resist him, firm in your faith… 

And in James:

Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7

If you are in Christ, then the devil has no power over you, unless you believe his lies. Resist him and he will flee. The word devour is “to swallow”, the same word used in the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament) of the great fish that swallowed Jonah (Jonah 1:17). Like Jonah, we can get caught up in our own selfish desires, stumble and maybe get swallowed. But remember Jonah called out to the Lord (Jonah 2), which everyone who is truly in Christ in those moments will do, and God will hear and release him from the trap of lies. But, it is far better to resist and not spend one moment in the belly of a beast. 

Remember, you are sealed by God. You are His. Stop any thoughts that make Satan equal to God in power or nature in your mind. Satan isn’t omnipresent. He is a finite being. He can only be in one place at a time. He is not omniscient. He doesn’t know what you are thinking. He is not omnipotent. In fact, what little power he has, has been broken, crushed, judged. He awaits his final end in the lake of fire.

Stand firm then and be strong:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:10-17

Jesus has not only crushed Satan, but he has given us the privilege and responsibility to continue to crush him under our feet. Not in our strength (be strong in the Lord) and not in our armor (put on the full armor of God), but resisting and standing firm, all for the glory of God.

Soli Deo Gloria!

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[Sculpture by Antoine-Louis Barye, 1865]

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(#2) The Seal Was Broken
 If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then (#2) The Seal Was Broken [audio] We don’t spend much time talking about the seal that was placed upon the tomb, but I think it is significant. Here is the historical record: The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard. (Matthew 27:62-66) The account states that the chief priests and the Pharisees “made the tomb secure by sealing the stone…”.  This seal was most likely several ropes that were drawn across the stone and then affixed to the tomb walls with a soft clay imprinted with some symbol of authority. It was also likely that the ropes were sealed at their juncture in front of the stone. In this way, no one could move the stone or the ropes without breaking the dried clay and destroying the “seal” affixed upon the clay.  The seal was there to “put on notice” that no one was to mess with the tomb. Rome could deal quite nastily with those who did so. Now, this doesn’t mean much to us today, for we are long past the norm of using “seals” as they were utilized in ancient times. but in those days, a seal was inviolable[1]. It represented authority, authenticity, and finality. No one messed with a seal. In the book of Esther, when King Ahasuerus issued the order to save the Jews, he commanded them to “seal it with the king's ring, for an edict written in the name of the king and sealed with the king's ring cannot be revoked.” (Esther 8:8) When Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den, “… a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel." (Daniel 6:17) In the vision concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, the Scripture says: And the vision of all this has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed. When men give it to one who can read, saying, “Read this,” he says, “I cannot, for it is sealed.” (Isaiah 29:11) The permanence of a seal against all who were unauthorized to break it was an inviolable part of their world.  It becomes even more apparent when John is caught up to heaven and there beholds the scroll with seven seals. John weeps because there was “no one worthy to open the scroll or to look into it” (Revelation 5:4). Of course, we find that the Lamb, “standing as though it had been slain” (Revelation 5:6), was worthy to break the seals. And when each of those seals were broken, great calamity came upon the earth. Seals in the Scripture mean something. And John had wept, because the seal represented an inviolable wall to anyone who did not have the authority to break it. Seals show authority. They show authenticity. And they show finality for all except the one who had the authority to break them. And so, we now come back to the tomb. The seal, whether it was a Roman seal or the High Priest’s seal, represented a fixed closure that no one was allowed to breach. When it was set upon the tomb, there was a finality, a stamp of ultimate authority, that said, “This tomb is closed.” Ah, but God is not subject to the laws or seals of man. I can imagine that when the earth began to shake and the stone was rolled aside, that those clay seals with the authority of man impressed upon them broke into a thousand pieces and lay as trash littering the ground. If Jesus rose from the dead, then the seal of man, meant to keep Him in the grave, had been utterly and completely destroyed. But there is one more thing that must be mentioned regarding “seals”. It is important to note that God has given us this detail in the record to help substantiate the reality of the accounts of the empty tomb and the risen Lord Jesus. But it also brings our minds to something quite wonderful. In John 6:27, Jesus said: Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” If God seals something, it is sealed! In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13) “… it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. (2 Corinthians 1:21) This is God’s seal of authority, authenticity, and finality. You are His, sealed with His guarantee. Oh, my, dear brothers and sisters in Christ! How deep is the steadfast love of God that He should do such mighty things to secure us to Himself and then tell us that He has put His own seal upon you and me? As David writes: “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.” (Psalm 139:6) [previous] [next]     [1]Inviolable /ĭn-vī′ə-lə-bəl/: never to be broken, infringed or dishonored; unassailable; secure from violation or assault or trespass
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If Jesus Rose from the Dead, then... (#0)
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most important truth claim in a biblical worldview. It is the key apologetic for Christianity. It is the most important event in history. The implications of the Resurrection are so deeply woven into the fabric of our Christian faith that it is important for us to continually embed its truths into our heart and mind such that it becomes an ever-present reality. To do this, I would like for us to ponder fifty compelling arguments and implications that are true if Jesus, indeed, “rose from the dead.” We will look at these, one a day, over the next seven weeks. This will take us through Ascension Day and Pentecost. The latter two are important days of remembrance following the Resurrection and we will highlight them. But more importantly, I want to help people contemplate, on a daily basis, over a sustained period of time, the tremendous significance of the Resurrection. We will do this by considering not only the many proofs, but also the many deep implications. I would encourage you to do this as devotions with your spouse or as a study for your small group and then engage in a healthy discussion (suggested questions will be provided in the daily email). My prayer is that God will use these days to increase faith within the Body of Christ and our ability to provide a "neighborly apologetic" to those who are open to hear as the result of the relationships we are building with them. Paul states that without the resurrection, our faith would be in vain and we would still be lost.  “… if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.”      1 Corinthians 15:17 This is not a minor statement, and it should cause us pause, for it puts this unique historical event into sharp perspective. Without the Resurrection, we are hopelessly lost. We are without a true faith and we are unforgiven, still condemned in our sins. We should probably read that verse over several times before plowing forward. It is easy for me, and possibly you, to treat Easter as another Christian holiday marked by multiple, and possibly extensive, preparations. Church choirs rehearse diligently and on overtime, special services are prepared (think Good Friday and sometimes Sunrise Services), thousands of lilies are tended and provoked to bloom at the right time and are purchased to line sanctuary rails, special meals are planned and prepared and joyously consumed, treasure hunts are created, painted eggs are hidden and Easter baskets are filled with chocolate bunnies, peeps, and who knows what else the market has, and will, come up with.  The point here is that just like Christmas and Thanksgiving and every other holiday, including birthdays, anniversaries, and the multitude of “take-your-boss-to-lunch” kind of days, they are preceded with much preparation, happy execution, and then forgotten except to toss the wrappings into the trash and press on with life as usual. When I was at the White House, the annual “Easter Egg Roll” on the south lawn was a big deal with weeks of preparation, followed immediately by a massive clean-up and the Secret Service hustling folks out of the “compound”. The next day, it was impossible to find any evidence that there had been anything going on. For the Resurrection, however, Paul implies that it is something so critical to our faith that it should be an ever present reality. The astounding cry, “He lives!” should be ongoing, not a one-and-done holiday. Certainly, "We serve a risen Savior, He's in the world today," as the famous hymn states, is an astounding, continual reality. I believe it is important for us to frequently ponder and meditate upon the deep implications that the tomb was really, truly empty and the resurrection of Jesus from the dead is absolutely true. So, we will look at not only these implications, but also the apologetic propositions and the incredible truths that logically follow this unmatched historical assertion. We will generally lay down the apologetic arguments first and then deal with the implications. And hopefully, after working your way through all of this, you will have imprinted these implications and truths deep in your heart such that they will help you with your walk into the darkness we call future. Because it is the Resurrection of Christ that stands not only at the forefront in the apologetic reality of who Jesus is and what God has done for us, but also the enduring hope we have in Christ. As another famous hymn states: "Because He lives, I can face tomorrow." [Next: It Would Have Shaken Everything]
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