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The sermon portrays fallen humanity as helplessly enslaved to sin and therefore in need of God’s effectual saving call. Satan attacks sinners by twisting biblical doctrines—especially election, effectual calling, and perseverance—into reasons for despair. Spurgeon directs troubled hearers away from self-reliance and toward Christ’s rebuke, blood, and cross as the only sufficient answer. The sermon combines assurance for those coming to Christ with a severe warning to unbelievers that judgment is certain if they remain outside Him.
Theological center: Salvation and deliverance from Satan are sovereign works of God accomplished through Jesus Christ, received by faith and secured for the elect.
Applications: Come to Christ despite doubt · Look to Jesus alone · Believe on Christ · Distinguish conviction from despair
Primary texts: Luke 9:42 · James 4:7 · Mark 8:36
“And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.” Luke 9:42 THIS child possessed with an evil spirit is a most fitting emblem of every ungodly and unconverted man. Though we are not possessed with devils, yet by nature we are possessed with devilish vices and lusts, which if they do not distress and vex our bodies, will most certainly destroy our souls. Never creature possessed with evil spirit was in a worse plight than the man who is without God, without Christ, and without hope in the world. The casting out of the unclean spirit was moreover a thing that was impossible to man and only possible to God. And so is the conversion of an ungodly sinner a thing beyond the reach of human ability and only to be accomplished by the might of the Most High. The dreadful bellowing, foamings, and tearings caused in this unhappy child by the unclean spirit are a picture of the sins, iniquities, and vices into which ungodly men are continually and impetuously hurried. And a type of that sad and terrible suffering which remorse will by and by bring to their conscience and which the vengeance of God will soon cause to occupy their hearts. The bringing of this child to the Savior by his parents teaches us a lesson, that those of us to whom the care of youth is entrusted, either as parents or teachers, should be anxious to bring our children to Jesus Christ, that He may graciously save them. The devout desire and compassion of the father for his child is but a pattern of what every parent ought to feel for his offspring. Like Abraham, he should pray, “O that Ishmael might live before thee,” and not only put up the prayer, but also strive in the use of the means to bring his child to the Pool of Siloam, that haply the angel may stir the stream and his son may step into the water and be made whole. The parent should place his offspring where the Savior walks, that He may look upon him and heal him. The coming of the child to Christ is a picture of saving faith, for faith is coming to Christ, simply believing in the power of His atonement. And lastly, the casting down and tearing which is mentioned in my text is a picture of the comer’s conflict with the enemy of souls. “As he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him.” Our subject this morning will be the well-known fact that coming sinners, when they approach the Savior, are often thrown down by Satan and torn, so that they suffer exceedingly in their minds and are well-nigh ready to give…