Wisdom's Corner
Bruise SatanPaul ends his letter to the Romans with chapter sixteen. He uses the first part of the chapter to commend several members of the church. He wants others to know of those who are working diligently for the Lord.
In verse seventeen, he changes from commending to condemning. Paul knows that there are those in Rome who are causing problems. These individuals do not want to follow God's word. They are teaching things contrary to the doctrine that came from God. Paul tell's the Christians to mark and avoid those who are doing this.
Paul says that these false teachers and trouble makers are serving their own belly. He says that these false teachers use good words and fair speeches to deceive the innocent. Paul wants them to beware of such. And Paul says that they are to desire to be wise in that which is good.
Then Paul says that the God of peace will bruise Satan shortly under the Roman Christians' feet. In the context, this statement must be referring to the marking and avoiding of false teachers. These trouble makers were going to be cast out of the assembly of the Christians.
Many people today do not want to believe that there is to be church discipline. They will say that God is a God of peace and that we should all just get along. They are correct to say we are supposed to get along with one another. And they are correct to say that God is a God of peace. But the God of peace requires that those who cause division be disciplined. When these individuals are disciplined, Satan is bruised. Satan loves sinners and hates Christians. To discipline those that Satan loves is to bruise Satan.
Make sure that you follow God. Do not be a person who causes division among God's people. And beware of those who teach something other than what God has given us in the Bible. If any of this is hard to understand, ask an adult to help you.
Mark McWhorter
Copyright 2002
Published by The Old Paths Bible School
(http://www.oldpaths.org)