A Biblical Vision, Part II: Mastering the New Testament Witness to Christ

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A B i b l i ca l Vi s i on, Par t I I : Mas ter i ng the New Tes tament Wi tnes s to Chr i s t

b. He cured the raving demoniac of the Gadarenes, Matt. 8.28-34.

c. Demons wailed in terror at his presence, Mark 1.24-25.

2. Jesus opposed the kingdom of the devil : He was endowed with the authority to defeat and bind all the powers of the devil, and to destroy his works over God’s creation and all humankind.

3. Jesus’ destruction and domination over the forces of the devil prove his kingly authority and the presence of the Kingdom in the earth, Luke 11.14-23.

4. With Jesus’ kingly presence, the Kingdom came in the midst of the people, Luke 17.20-21.

5. Jesus’ public ministry is a plundering of the house of the strong man, the devil, and the reassertion of God’s right to rule over his own house, Matt. 12.24-29 – But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” [25] Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. [26] And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? [27] And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. [28] But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you. [29] Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house.”