Know This - That Satan is a Defeated Enemy — Zac Poonen — March 31, 2024
http://rlcf.church River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
The speaker teaches that the Gospel is more than just forgiveness for sins; it requires understanding that sin is coming short of the life of Jesus Christ. He emphasizes that believers must press forward daily in Christlikeness, rather than remaining in a perpetual state of spiritual infancy. Furthermore, he stresses that just as Christ canceled our debt to God, we must forgive others by choosing not to remember their sins, living instead by our will rather than our memory.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
The first part of the gospel: The certificate of debt is cancelledChrist cancelled the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us by nailing it to the cross, freeing us from condemnation.Colossians 2:14–15
What is the true definition of sin?Sin is falling short of the glory of God, which is defined in the New Testament as the life of Jesus Christ.Romans 3:23
Moving past the kindergarten of the Christian lifeMany believers stay in the kindergarten of only knowing their sins are forgiven instead of constantly pressing on to perfection and Christlikeness.
How God forgives and how we must forgiveGod chooses not to remember our sins anymore, and we must forgive others in the exact same way by choosing in our will not to hold their wrongs against them.
The second part of the gospel: The devil was defeatedA gospel that only preaches the forgiveness of sins while leaving out the defeat of Satan is only half a gospel.
Submit to God and resist the devilWhen we first submit completely to God and humble ourselves, we can resist the devil and he will flee from us.
Taking pride seriouslyGod opposes the proud, and even avoiding the way of the cross out of self-preservation aligns with the voice of Satan.
Jesus made the devil powerlessJesus partook of flesh and blood so that through His death He might render powerless the one who had the power of death and free us from lifelong slavery.Hebrews 2:14–15
Rejoice that your name is written in heavenWhile the 70 disciples rejoiced that demons were subject to them, Jesus told them to rejoice primarily that their names were written in heaven to prevent pride.Luke 10:1–20
Putting on the armor of GodBelievers are called to put on the full armor of God to stand against the clever schemes of Satan in the spiritual realm.
Our struggle is not against flesh and bloodFighting with human beings—whether spouses, neighbors, or coworkers—destroys our spiritual power to fight against Satan.
The lesson of David and the lionWhen David rescued the lamb from the lion, he did not lecture the lamb; he attacked the lion. Similarly, we must deal with Satan rather than fighting people.
Loving difficult neighbors instead of fightingInstead of retaliating against difficult people or hostile neighbors, believers should love them, pray for them, and handle the spiritual enemy behind the conflict.
