Advent Series VBC Pastor John Johnson I John 3:8 December 11-12, 2004
“What Christ’s Coming Means to our Daily Struggles” While some might dismiss the initial scene in the Passion, when Jesus stomps on the head of the snake as Hollywood embellishment & exaggeration, the screenwriter had it right - It does capture the essence of why Jesus came to this earth - Going all the way back to Gen 3:15 - “And He will crush your head and you will strike His heel” - This was the reason for His entrance unto the world stage - As affirmed in I John 3:8b - “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work” - He entered into human history, in the flesh, for this: to undo, break up, destroy the works of the evil one - But what does this mean? - When Jesus destroyed the works of the adversary, what exactly happened? - Especially since evil seems to have so much influence - HOW HAS Jesus DESTROYED THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL? - Scripture tells us He did it at every level - Jesus took on Satan in his life, death, and resurrection 1) IN HIS EARTHLY LIFE, Jesus CONFRONTED THE EVIL ONE - Christmas was God’s version of D-Day - Jesus was dispatched from heaven to lead the fight against evil - And when He appeared on earth, it amounted to a daring raid - Bethlehem was God’s invasion of enemy occupied territory, to reclaim His property, the souls of men and women, from the very beginning - Peaceful as it may have seemed on the surface, the nativity represented nothing less than the moment of great cosmic conflict between heaven and hell - One can fairly say all hell broke loose on Christmas
Illustration Some years ago, I was in Bethlehem and I intentionally went out into the hills to find some solace - To capture a sense of that first Christmas - But my surroundings would not let me find the peace I wanted - The blare of those antagonistic to Christianity were determined to run us off - Muslims on loud speakers, suspicious villagers - But then, what did I expect, a wintry Hallmark scene? - From the beginning, those antagonistic to Christ were set to run Him off - But then Jesus’ first act was to take on evil - In Matt 12:29, Jesus likened His coming to someone entering a strong man’s house, tying him up, and carrying off his possessions - And Jesus did - Jesus challenged Satan in the wilderness as one of His first public acts - Confronting the demons, setting them to flight - These were all preliminary victories, aiming to destroy the works of the devil 2) IN HIS DEATH, Jesus DISARMED THE EVIL ONE - Colossians 2:15 says that when Jesus died on the Cross, the powers of darkness were disarmed, stripped, degraded - Denied the power and authority over those Christ claimed for Himself 3) IN HIS RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION, Jesus EXPOSED THE EVIL ONE - Having stripped Satan of his authority, He made him and his powers a “public spectacle” (Colossians 2:15) - Ephesians 4:8 tells us God paraded the powers in a triumphal procession, exposing them as utterly helpless -Demonstrating Christ’s triumph
But what does this mean? - If Christ’s work is so comprehensive and complete, why am I facing such intense spiritual conflict? - Why do I continue to experience spiritual defeat? - Most of us might say “The devil seems active as ever” - He still blinds - 2 Corinthians 4:4 - He still tempts - I Thessalonians 3:5 - He still takes captive - 2Timothy 2:26
WHAT ARE THE WORKS THAT HAVE BEEN DESTROYED? 1) THE WORK OF ESTRANGING US FROM GOD - Jesus came to destroy this enmity, separation between us and God, and EACH OTHER - and make peace - But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you to God (Colossians 1:21-22) - By Jesus’ appearing, by His life and death, He has paid the price - And now things have been made right with God 2) THE WORK OF ENSLAVEMENT - In disarming Satan, the powers lost their ability to hold people in bondage - No longer separated, we now have access to God’s power - No longer estranged, we live in union with Jesus - Our old self has been crucified - The body of sin has been rendered powerless (Romans 6:6-7) - Jesus has set us free from sin’s grip - Hence, the adversary no longer has the authority to exert compelling influence over people claimed by Christ Finally, 3) THE WORK OF CONDEMNATION - Jesus came and destroyed Satan’s most critical work condemnation - He no longer has the power to condemn those who belong to Christ - Since our sins are forgiven, Satan has no damning weapon - He can hurt us, even kill us - But he no longer has soul destroying power - Christ cancelled the debt, freed us from our bankruptcy - Romans 8:1: “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”
- No wonder the writers of the NT speak so triumphantly - As Piper writes, “The glory of Christ is seen in His absolute right and power to annihilate or incapacitate Satan and all demons” But let me ask - are you allowing yourself to be feel distant? - Experience bondage? - Are you beating yourself up with condemnation, or condemning others? If so, you’re ignoring – disbelieving - the work Jesus came to destroy WHAT SHOULD BE--MUST BE OUR RESPONSE? 1) BE ALERT TO THE PRESENCE OF EVIL - We still live in a fierce war zone - When we ignore this, there are unnecessary casualties Point - Even though the outcome has been determined, Satan has not conceded defeat - Overthrown, he is not yet eliminated - He still prowls about as a roaring lion (I Peter 5:8) - Ever near us, spying us out, striving to ruin the soul of man - Bind us in a grip of unforgiveness, worry, hopelessness or bitterness, anything that he finds will work - To estrange, enslave, condemn Illustration -Iraq stands as a present day illustration - The war has been won, the oppressor has been routed - But battles continue, and lives can be lost if we are not alert 2) FIGHT THE FIGHT - As Paul told Timothy, “Fight the good fight” - Do not give a foothold (Ephesians 4:26) - It is a fight of perpetual necessity, admitting of no breathing time, no armistice, no truce - Either resist or become a casualty - So, resist the devil (James 4:7) - Take on His armor (Ephesians 6:10-19)
3) APPROPRIATE THE POWER THAT IS OURS - Because their power has been broken - And we are one in Christ - Every authority and principality against which we contend can be withstood - They no longer have ultimate authority, power over our lives - He can tempt, but he cannot coerce - He can seduce only those in the market to be seduced Arnold: “Believers acquiesce to the influence of evil powers only in so far as they do not depend on the resources available to them in Christ� So Appropriate His power - We are dead to sin - Colossians 2:20 - DIE TO IT! - We have been given the fullness of God - Ephesians 3:19 - RECEIVE IT!