What Does Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Say About the Cross Defeating Satan?

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the power of Satan over the world?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes Satan as "the strong man armed that keepeth his goods in peace." He explains that Satan has a tremendous power that has dominated and controlled the human race throughout history. According to Lloyd-Jones, Satan "dominates and controls the mind" of humanity, "governs our desires," and controls "our actions, our wills." He points out that Satan "makes us hate God" and "makes us hate God's laws." Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that Satan's power is so great that "every human being ever born into this world has been defeated by it," including Adam when he was perfect.

Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say Christians should "glory in the cross"?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that Christians should glory in the cross because it is the means by which Christ defeated Satan and delivered believers from his tyranny. He explains that "the cross is a great victory" and "the final move in a great battle." Lloyd-Jones states that on the cross, Christ was "spoiling principalities and powers" and making "a show of them openly, triumphing over them." He points out that while the world might view the cross as a tragedy, Christians see it as "Good Friday" because it was the day on which Christ accomplished our salvation by conquering our greatest enemy.

How did Christ defeat Satan through the cross according to Lloyd-Jones?

According to Lloyd-Jones, Christ defeated Satan through the cross by reconciling sinners to God. He explains that Satan's power over humans is "nothing but a usurped power" which he can only exercise because sin has separated people from God. On the cross, Christ was "blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us" by paying the penalty for sin. By reconciling believers to God, Christ enables them to receive God's power which delivers them from Satan's clutches. Lloyd-Jones states that "from the moment of the cross, the Gentiles began to believe and to enter into the kingdom of God," showing that Satan's power was broken.

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as the fundamental problem with the world's approach to solving its problems?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones criticizes the world's approach to solving its problems as "indescribably superficial." He argues that society never asks the fundamental question of "why is the condition what it is?" and "why is the world as it is?" Instead of recognizing the spiritual dimension of human problems, the world focuses only on the visible realm. Lloyd-Jones states that people "don't believe in the one who really causes the whole trouble" (Satan), and therefore their solutions never address the root cause. He points out that despite "all the effort of civilization after civilization," the world remains in a "terrible predicament" because it fails to recognize the unseen spiritual realm where Satan operates.

How does Lloyd-Jones explain the hatred directed at Jesus during His crucifixion?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the hatred directed at Jesus during His crucifixion was fundamentally demonic in nature. He asks why people would treat so cruelly a man "who's done no harm or wrong to anybody at all, who was always going about doing good." He points to the mocking, spitting, and jeering as evidence of something unnatural and "hellish." Lloyd-Jones says the only explanation is that it was "the devil in these men and women" - the hatred of Satan coming out through them. He quotes Jesus' own words from the cross: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do," explaining that the people didn't realize they were being used as instruments of "the power of darkness."