The Binding Of Satan

Revelation 20:1-3

For four thousand years the nations of the world were deceived by satan, held in the bondage and gross darkness of false religion. Only the nation of Israel had the light of Divine Truth. Then Christ came, laid hold upon the old serpent and bound him with the strong chain of his omnipotence "that he should deceive the nations no more." Our mighty Savior has bound the strong one that he might take his spoils and gather his elect from the four corners of the earth (Matt. 12:29; Rev. 12:5-11). How is satan bound?

1. Our Lord began to bind satan, TRIUMPHING OVER HIM IN THE WILDERNESS OF TEMPTATION, BY THE WORD OF GOD (Matt. 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13). Having bound the strong man, our Lord began to spoil his goods, casting out demons, healing the sick, raising the dead, and saving the lost. Satan's power over the masses began to be curtailed.

2. In the garden of Gethsemane, our Lord BROKE THE POWER OF SATAN BY FAITH AND PRAYER (Matt. 26:36-46). The devil tried to keep our Redeemer from the cross. But he rose in triumph after he had prayed (Heb. 5:7-9), and went to the cross with confident faith to lay down his life for us (Heb. 12:1-2).

3. Christ Jesus CRUSHED THE SERPENT'S HEAD BY HIS TRIUMPHANT DEATH UPON THE CROSS (John 12:28-32). He broke the power of satan's usurped dominion over the earth and began to draw his elect from every nation to himself by the virtue of his sin-atoning sacrifice.

4. When our Lord ascended up into heaven, exalted as King over all things, HE BROUGHT SATAN INTO CAPTIVITY UNDER HIS SOVEREIGN RULE (Psa. 68:18-19; Col. 2:13-15). The slithering serpent of Eden is now under the rule of the Man, Christ Jesus, our great Savior. He roars against us as viciously as ever. But he cannot devour, or even harm, God's elect.

5. And satan is bound by the power of Christ today THROUGH THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL (Luke 10:16-20). As God's servants preach the gospel of the grace of God, when it is effectually applied to the hearts of sinners by the power of the Holy Spirit, satan is bound.

Don Fortner