“To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill all your good pleasure for goodness and the work of faith with power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” – 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
Romans 16:20a
“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.”
– Romans 16:20a
Main Thought: The apostle Paul is bringing the Romans epistle to a close. He has spoken of, and magnified, the great doctrines of the grace of God, justification by faith alone, the sovereignty of God in salvation, the transforming sanctification of the Christian, and many others. As he begins to close this book, he reminds this persecuted church to remember that no matter what they are experiencing now, the peace of God and the triumph of Christ and the church is sure to them. This statement, however, is not just a statement to the believers and Church of that day, but it is a reminder to all believers of two things: 1) All believers have peace with God the Father through the precious blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We once were sinners, enemies of God (Colossians 1:21), but In Romans 5:1, Paul tells us “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” and Ephesians 2:13 says “But now in Christ Jesus you who were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” Paul is reminding them, and us, that we are in right standing with God the Father because of Christ’s death for us. 2) The second part of this phrase is a reminder of the promise of Genesis 3:15, which came immediately following Adam and Eve’s sin in the Garden of Eden. In the Garden of Eden, our Lord prophesied that the seed of the woman, speaking of Christ himself, would be bruised on his heel, speaking of His death. However, the bruising of the serpent’s head here speaks of a fatal, crushing blow. The Church is reminded that the crushing defeat of Satan is sure and he is already a defeated foe. Christ subjected himself to death so “that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14). We do not fear Satan because he has already been vanquished. Listen to the words of Martin Luther’s great hymn A Mighty Fortress Is Our God: “For still our ancient foe, doth seek to work us woe, his craft and power are great and armed with cruel hate…the prince of darkness grim, we tremble not for him, his rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure…the body they may kill, God’s truth abideth still; His kingdom is forever.” What great reassurance for all of us in this short verse, reaffirming to us the peace and reconciliation we have with God for all eternity, and the sure, eternal victory over Satan secured for us by our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank God and bow the knee to our Lord today for these great promises.
David Webber
David Webber is married to Mary with four children and four grandchildren, and serves as the Pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Longview, TX. He obtained a BS in History from the University of Texas at Tyler, TX, and pursued studies at Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary in Jacksonville, TX. Throughout his ministry, he has been an invited preacher and educator in numerous churches and various Bible conferences. Surrendering to the gospel ministry’s calling in 1972 at the age of 16, he received preaching licensure from Little Flock Baptist Church in Longview, Texas, in 1974. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in History from the University of Texas at Tyler in 1978, he was ordained in December of 1980 by Faith Baptist Church. Following this, he contributed his services to Faith Baptist in Longview and subsequently engaged with Grace Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas, where he instructed Sunday School and delivered sermons as needed. In February of 1994, Faith Baptist invited him to lead as their pastor, a role he has faithfully held to the present day. David writes a blog for the church website and is a writer for The Art of Worship.
More from David Webber
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
Matthew 16:6
“And Jesus said to them, ‘Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” – Matthew 16:6
Philemon 1:7
“For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.” – Philemon 1:7
Hebrews 12:5-7
“And you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, ‘My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the LORD, nor faint when you are reproved by Him; for those whom the LORD loves He disciplines, and He flogs every son whom He receives.’ It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?” – Hebrews 12:5-7
Isaiah 28:15-16
“Because you have said, ‘We have cut a covenant with death, and with Sheol we have made a pact. The overflowing scourge will not reach us when it passes by. For we have made falsehood our refuge and we have hidden ourselves with lying. Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh, ‘Behold I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed.” – Isaiah 28:15-16
Psalm 84:11-12
“For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you.” – Psalm 84:11-12
Psalm 84:1
“How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!” – Psalm 84:1
Hebrews 2:1
“Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.” – Hebrews 2:1
John 4:13-14
“Jesus said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him, will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.'” – John 4:13-14
Matthew 4:17
“From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” – Matthew 4:17