The Defeated Foe Who Has Not Yet Conceded

The cross of Christ was the moment where Satan and his demons thought they were securing victory. And yet it was Jesus who was driving out Satan, securing the victory.

Scripture Focus: John 12:31; Hebrews 2:14-15; Colossians 2:15

"Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out."

"Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives."

I want you to understand something. The Bible says here that people around you live as subjects in slavery to the fear of death. And the cross of Christ was the decisive moment where Jesus rendered powerless Satan's predominant weapon that he hangs over your head. That is death.

I was on a plane yesterday. This girl sitting next to me is grabbing the arms of the chair. She says, "I'm just—what if this engine overheats while we're up in the air?"

I said, "What are you so afraid of?"

"Dying."

The world is afraid of dying. And I took that opportunity. She said, "Why are you not afraid of dying?"

And this text was already in my mind. I said, "Well, to tell you the truth, Heidi, I used to be subject to slavery to the fear of death like you. But Jesus, through death, rendered powerless him who had the power of death, that is the devil. I don't fear death at all."

But she's afraid. Why? Because everyone fears death. It's a biblical reality. Apart from Christ, that is what Satan hangs over their head.

Every religion has as its base immortality. What happens when you die? Reincarnation, the afterlife, Valhalla, etc. At its base, every religious system answers the question: What happens when we die?

But Jesus says in light of His own death, "the vice grip, the clutch and the keys to death that the devil held are now rendered powerless."

There is definitely demonic possession and oppression today. But before Christ's death, Satan's power was undisturbed. He held authority. In the Old Testament, the ruler of this world had not yet been cast out.

But now, Christ has triumphed over the darkness. We are to be aware of his schemes, his strategies, his devices. We are to put on our armor. But the battle has been won.

Some people even in our context today in the church live in paranoia about the devil. Listen, the devil is powerful. He lurks. He prowls like a roaring lion (1 Peter 5). But the battle has been won.

Satan is a defeated foe who has not yet conceded power. Between Christ's first advent when He came 2,000 years ago and His second advent when He comes in glory and power, we do now live in a time where the devil exercises considerable influence.

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

Revelation 12:10-11: "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb."

How is the great beast, the great dragon, the great evil named Satan defeated? By the blood of the Lamb.

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