The Christian and the Devil
A Sermon on Satan and the Christian from Ephesians 6:10-13
Originally preached Jan. 8, 1961
Scripture
10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against …
Sermon Description
Does Satan really have free reign on earth? The Bible teaches that the whole world is in the kingdom of Satan and under his power. Those who live in the world are blinded by his lies and continually live under his power. In this sermon on Satan and the Christian from Ephesians 6:10–13, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones reminds that Christ Jesus has come into the world and by His death and resurrection has overthrown the devil. Those who are in the kingdom of God have been rescued from the power of Satan and transferred to the kingdom of God. Those who are of God can never fall again and become subject to the devil's power. This does not mean that the devil will not try to destroy the faith of Christians. He is a lion seeking to devour , but if Christians resist him, he will flee, for the power of Christ is greater than the devil. Christians live continually battling against the schemes of the Satan as he is opposed wholly to the kingdom of God and the church. However, Christians can now know that Christ will return and vanquish Satan once and for all. Christ will bring the kingdom of God to completion and destroy the kingdom of Satan. This hope should strengthen the church and Christians in their faith, love, and trust in Christ and in his gospel.
Sermon Breakdown
- God created a perfect world, but the devil entered and tempted man. Man fell, resulting in the troubled state of the world.
- God initiated a plan of redemption through Jesus Christ to counteract the devil. Christ defeated the devil in every way, including through his death and resurrection.
- There is now a division between the world and Christians. The world lies in the wicked one, under the devil's control. Christians have been delivered from the devil's control.
- Christians have been translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of Christ. They are no longer under the devil's power. The devil cannot grasp or clutch Christians again.
- Although Christians have been delivered, the devil can still attack, tempt, and trouble them. Christians must wrestle and fight against these attacks.
- The devil cannot change Christians' position or cause them to fall from grace. He can only shout at them, interrupt them, and tempt them to sin. But Christians do not return to his clutches.
- Christians are in God's kingdom, with their lives hidden in Christ. The Holy Spirit in them is greater than the devil. Christians have overcome the devil.
- Christians have eternal life and will never perish. Nothing, including the devil, can separate them from God's love in Christ.
- Christians can resist the devil, and he will flee from them. By putting on the whole armor of God, Christians can stand against the devil.
The Book of Ephesians
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.