The God of Peace Will Soon Crush Satan Under Your Feet
Four Final Instructions from Romans
Aaron Lee | Romans 16:17-23 | FCBCW Youth Worship | December 14, 2025
Question
What empowers a Christian to live for God’s glory? What helps us live for him? And how can we get more of this help when we need it?
Big Idea
We’ve reached the end of Romans, and Paul gives one last set of final instructions. This comes at a critical point in our text, and it’s the power behind Paul’s four final instructions from Romans:
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. (Romans 16:20)
When Paul says, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you,” it’s like a prayer, like a benediction, it’s like a blessing. He’s saying that grace will be with us as we go and live for him – specifically in the ways that Paul is writing about. This phrase is crucial to the context of our passage.
Grace was given to us at the cross – unmerited favor, a gift we did not deserve. But grace also goes with us as we live for him – an enabling power, a force to fuel our faith.
Sermon Preview
These are the four final instructions from Romans:
Keep watch
Be wise
Don’t worry
Get working
1. Keep watch
The first final instruction is to keep watch:
17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. 18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. (Romans 16:17-18)
Explanation
Christians are to watch out for divisive and deceptive false teachers.
False teaching has been a theme all throughout Romans, and here Paul gives one last plea. False teachers are divisive because they split the sheep between correct and incorrect doctrine. False teachers go against the sound doctrine of Scripture. They go against the fundamental aspects of our faith. They contradict what Paul and the apostles and Jesus have been teaching. Paul says to avoid them. Don’t entertain them. Don’t try to evangelize them. They know what they are doing. They do it on purpose. They don’t serve God but they serve themselves. The way they deceive is with their speech, smooth talk and flattery. We must be on guard.
Application
So, will you guard your doctrine and your heart?
Doctrine is what we believe. What we know is true – how we think through our theology. Our heart is what we perceive. How we feel. So how we think, and how we feel, must be guarded, it must be protected, it must be watched. We can do this by examining what is informing our minds and our hearts – what we are feeding on.
When you’re as old as I am, you have to watch what you eat. I exercise, but that’s not enough. I also have to watch my diet. When I eat too much greasy, fried, and processed food – it always looks so good – but I can feel it, and I know that it’s bad for me. And I can tell that I haven’t been eating well because I feel horrible the next day.
15“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16You will recognize them by their fruits. (Matthew 7:15-16)
When you take in what the world is feeding you, through your phones and social feeds, you’re going to feel it. All the lies, all the temptations, all the idolatry – it always looks so good – and you know that it’s bad for you. You’ll feel horrible the next day.
You need a healthy, steady diet of Scripture for godly gains. We experience God’s grace when we study scripture. It’s how God’s grace goes with us as we live for him.
2. Be wise
The second final instruction is be wise:
19 For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. (Romans 16:19)
Explanation
Christians are to exercise discernment in their lives.
Paul’s audience in Rome are obedient, they trust and obey God, and that’s a good thing. But blind obedience does not produce a mature faith. Wisdom means to be mature in thinking (1 Corinthians 14:20). Don’t be like children who don’t think through what they’re doing.
Application
So, will you learn together in the local church?
While we must guard what we believe, we must exercise with our Bible. We must train ourselves in using it – practice, rehearse, and repeat the gospel and the entirety of God’s truth. While it’s good to study Scripture by ourselves, God gives us the gift of brothers and sisters in our local church so we can all learn together. When it comes to discernment, small groups are a great way to get started.
I exercise by running. I think it’s good for my mental and physical health. I’ve been running since my senior year of high school, when my best friend got me started. We would run together at all times, during the day and even at night. I’ve found that it’s better and more fun to run with a small group of people, to keep ourselves pushing toward a goal.
“Whoever walks [or runs!] with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” (Proverbs 13:20)
I thank God for the small groups in my life right now. I have a men’s small group that I meet with, as well as my marriage small group. These brothers and sisters help me discern God’s will, as we’re sharing and praying through life. And we keep each other accountable for our common goal of living our lives for the glory of God and reaching the finish line to our heavenly home.
We experience God’s grace in our church, our small groups, fellowship with brothers and sisters, gathering together with God’s people. It’s how God’s grace goes with us as we live for him.
3. Don’t worry
Our third instruction is don’t worry:
20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. (Romans 16:20)
Explanation
Christians are not anxious because God assures our victory.
This is the only direct mention of Satan in the book of Romans – and it celebrates his defeat. I love how it’s almost like a passing statement by Paul, said casually but also just with the crushing weight of his words. All the difficulty that the Romans have endured will come to an end. The victory was secured at the cross, even though the battle still rages. These final skirmishes will soon be over. Keep watch, be wise, but don’t worry. It’s fitting that this would come at the end of Romans, echoing the beginning of the Bible in 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.”
Application
So, will you remember that God wins?
Don’t forget that Satan will be crushed. One way that God tells us to remember this glorious truth is by singing. And we don’t just sing the same songs over and over again. God commands us to write and sing new songs because he is infinitely worthy. The Psalmist hit upon this theme:
Psalm 110:1: The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”
When I was a young worship leader, I used to think we were supposed to leave our troubles behind when we sang. I thought we were meant to make an effort to forget our worries and simply start singing. Somewhere along the way, I learned that God does not want us to leave our troubles at home, but to lay them down before His throne. Casting your burdens means you throw, hurl, and heave them toward God. We bring our whole selves when we sing from the heart. We don’t forget our worries – we remember that God will win. The reason we can do this is because God can handle it—and it actually helps us. We sing through the night because we know the day is coming. We can sing because God is sovereign.
Trust in Him at all times, God’s children. For God alone my soul will wait. I will pour out my heart before Him. God is our refuge and our strength. Singing stirs up your soul. Singing shines light in the darkness. Singing gives hope to our hearts. Our final salvation is sure, and our simple faith becomes strong.
This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. We experience God’s grace when we sing together. It’s how God’s grace goes with us as we live for him.
4. Get working
The fourth instruction is to get working:
21 Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen. 22 I Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord. 23 Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you. (Romans 16:21-23)
Explanation
Christians work together in ministry.
Paul had a team he was working with, and I want to draw your attention to Tertius. Tertius was the man who really wrote Romans. Tertius was a scribe who physically wrote the letter. He served as Paul’s amanuensis — a type of secretary in the ancient world. This was a behind the scenes role, but he comes to the forefront to sign off at the end of this epic epistle.
You’ll find more names at the end of Romans, including Timothy, Gaius, Erastus, and more. You see that Paul had a team — he wasn’t working alone. I tend to think of Paul as some sort of lone wolf, but this is obviously not the case. He had his people. He had his team.
Application
So, will you join the team?
Partnering together for God’s mission is nothing new. Paul serves as an example to us, and we all have the local church to leverage. To serve together on a team is wise and God’s way. Even Jesus had his disciples.
I’m blessed to have been on many teams and groups throughout my life. I was in my high school drumline. I even played basketball in junior high. In elementary school I was on a nationball team. I work with a healthcare team. My wife and I are a team. The thing about all of these teams is that they all come to an end. Even the work that we do, the awards we won, they won’t last forever – and they won’t matter in the grand scheme of eternity. But what will matter is the work we do for God in the church. Our teams in the world are good, but the team of the church is for God. If you are a Christian, God has chosen you to be on his team, and you have a role to play:
“But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.” (1 Corinthians 12:18)
I’m grateful for my local church and that I get to be on the team. There are no benchwarmers. We all have a part to play. I’m motivated to get working, serving even behind the scenes, with Jesus at the center of the greatest story ever told.
We experience God’s grace as we serve together. It’s how God’s grace goes with us as we live for him.
The Gospel
It’s fitting for us to remember at Christmas that the birth of Jesus is all about God’s grace.
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people.” (Titus 2:11)
If you have not received God’s gift of grace – salvation through his Son, I offer it to you free of charge this Christmas. And if you are a believer, I pray that you will see God’s gift of grace given to you freely throughout your life. God is generous with his grace – abundant and overflowing.
Answer
Is grace the free and undeserved favor that is only given to us at the cross? No. Grace is also the free and undeserved power that helps us live for God. Unmerited favor and enabling power. It’s the foundation and the fuel.
As you keep watch, as you be wise, as you don’t worry, and as you get working – God’s grace will be with you. And we access it by asking:
16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)
Conclusion
The grace of Jesus Christ goes with us, guiding us and guarding us to live for God’s glory.
My brothers and sisters, you know this grace is strong; you know this grace is sovereign. God’s grace is sufficient—His power is made perfect in our weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9) The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.
The God of Peace Will Soon Crush Satan Under Your Feet
Grace was given at the cross
And it’s God’s grace that goes with us
His power guides and guards us home
Our strong and sovereign help and hope
Teachers, false, will harm your faith
Keep watch, be wise, and know God’s ways
Inside your heart, you’ll hide his word
And you’ll find friends inside the church
On God’s mission, get to work
It’s for God’s glory that we serve
Don’t worry, trust the God of peace
Will soon crush Satan ‘neath your feet
References
Ask Pastor John, What is Grace?
Romans: Reformed Expository Commentary by Daniel M. Doriani
The ESV Expository Commentary by Crossway
The ESV Study Bible by Crossway
The Gospel Coalition Bible Commentary on Romans by Donny Ray Mathis II