Worship Preparation - September 10, 2023

Sunday, September 10, 2023

Read the sermon text: Romans 16:17-23

Read the sermon summary: In this week’s passage, Paul wraps up his letter by warning (vv. 17-18), encouraging (vv. 19-20), and greeting (vv. 21-23) the churches at Rome. The first section, made up of the warning and encouraging verses (vv. 17-20), is distinct from the greeting section (vv. 21-23) and can be taken on its own. A curious phrase concludes the first section, “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” (v. 20). Here Paul references the ancient promise of Genesis 3:15, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” This isn’t the only place Paul refers to Genesis 3 in our passage. In fact, Paul’s warnings and encouragement to the Romans are meant to be read with Genesis 3 in mind. What’s the point of referencing Genesis 3? The deceivers Paul warns the Romans about act similarly to the first deceiver (the serpent) in the garden. Whereas the first humans, having been deceived, desired to become wise in their own eyes, Paul wants the Romans to be “wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil” (v. 19). This same warning and encouragement applies to us: we are to watch out and avoid deceivers/deceiving influences and cling to the hope that, in Christ, the God of peace will soon crush Satan under our feet.

Read the following song lyrics in relation to the sermon: 

The Lion And The Lamb

He's coming on the clouds

Kings and kingdoms will bow down

And every chain will break

As broken hearts declare His praise

For who can stop the Lord Almighty

Chorus

Our God is the Lion

The Lion of Judah

He's roaring with power

And fighting our battles

And every knee will bow before Him

Our God is the Lamb

The Lamb that was slain

For the sins of the world

His blood breaks the chains

And every knee will bow before the Lion and the Lamb

Every knee will bow before Him

So open up the gates

Make way before the King of kings

The God who comes to save

Is here to set the captives free

For who can stop the Lord Almighty

Who can stop the Lord Almighty

Who can stop the Lord (Almighty)

CCLI Song # 7038281

Brenton Brown | Brian Johnson | Leeland Mooring

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CCLI License # 11078052