Why My Faith Is In The Cross - Part VI
Feb 2013 |
Colossians 2:11-15 – “In Whom also you are circumcised with the Circumcision made without hands (that which is brought about by the Cross [Rom. 6:3-5]), in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the Circumcision of Christ (refers to the old carnal nature that is defeated by the Believer placing his Faith totally in the Cross, which gives the Holy Spirit latitude to work):
“Buried with Him in Baptism (does not refer to Water Baptism, but rather to the Believer baptized into the death of Christ, which refers to the Crucifixion and Christ as our substitute [Rom. 6:3-4]), wherein also you are risen with Him through the Faith of the operation of God, Who has raised Him from the dead. (This does not refer to our future physical Resurrection, but to that Spiritual Resurrection from a sinful state into Divine Life. We died with Him, we are buried with Him, and we rose with Him [Rom. 6:3-5], and herein lies the secret to all Spiritual Victory.)
“And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh (speaks of spiritual death [i.e., “separation from God”], which sin does!), has He quickened together with Him (refers to being made Spiritually alive, which is done through being “Born-Again”), having forgiven you all trespasses (the Cross made it possible for all manner of sins to be forgiven and taken away);
“Blotting out the handwriting of Ordinances that was against us (pertains to the Law of Moses, which was God’s Standard of Righteousness that man could not reach), which was contrary to us (Law is against us, simply because we are unable to keep its precepts, no matter how hard we try), and took it out of the way (refers to the penalty of the Law being removed), nailing it to His Cross (the Law with its decrees was abolished in Christ’s Death, as if Crucified with Him);
“And having spoiled principalities and powers (Satan and all of his henchmen were defeated at the Cross by Christ atoning for all sin; sin was the legal right Satan had to hold man in captivity; with all sin atoned, he has no more legal right to hold anyone in bondage), He (Christ) made a show of them openly (what Jesus did at the Cross was in the face of the whole universe), triumphing over them in it. (The triumph is complete and it was all done for us, meaning we can walk in power and perpetual Victory due to the Cross.)”
WHY SHOULD I PLACE MY FAITH IN CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED?
In Colossians 2:11-15, Paul qualifies why our Faith should remain in the Cross. In the last five installments of this series we have laid the foundation for this statement. The first seven Benefits have already been discussed. They are:
1. Verse 11a - Faith in Christ’s Cross causes a person to be Born-Again.
2. Verse 11b - Faith in Christ’s Cross brings me freedom from the dominion of the sin nature.
3. Verse 12a - Faith in Christ’s Cross causes one to be united with Christ, burying his past life forever.
4. Verse 12 - Faith in Christ’s Cross causes the Believer to be Co-Raised with Him and to live in Him.
5. Verse 13a - Faith in Christ’s Cross Co-quickens or energizes the Believer by the Spirit of God.
6. Verse 13b - Faith in Christ’s Cross Provides me with forgiveness of all sin, past, present, and future.
7. Verse 14 - Faith in Christ’s Cross Sets me Free from the Law as the Means to Righteousness.
(15) “And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”
Benefits #8 and #9 - Faith in Christ and the Cross Provides me with Freedom from the power of Satan and places me forever in the Victory Celebration of Christ’s Finished Work.
The Scripture abounds with the truth that the Believer overcomes Satan by the Power of Christ’s Cross. Our simple childlike Faith grants to us the very Life and Power of Christ. His Death on Calvary guaranteed the Believer that he would not have to face the powers of darkness in his own strength. In I John 3:8b the Scripture says, “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the Devil.” The term “destroy” in this verse means to break up, destroy, or to dissolve. It is very obvious that Christ came, that He was manifested. And if He was truly manifested then He would have had to “destroy” or break up and dissolve the work of the enemy, or Scripture is a lie.
More Scriptural evidence that Jesus’ Work on Calvary won the Victory over the Evil One can be found in Hebrews 2:14. Here the Scripture says, “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the Devil.” In this case, the word “destroy” means to render idle or useless; to render ineffective. It is the same word used to describe the condition of the sin nature in Romans, Chapter 6, after the believing sinner has been baptized into Christ. As a result of that union Romans 6:6 says, “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” The Word “destroyed” is the same Greek word and means that the sin nature has been rendered idle or useless as a result of the Cross.
As Believer’s we are to overcome opposition by Faith. In the case of sin, we believe that what Jesus did for us at Calvary set us free from both the penalty and the power of sin. However, we still must face the presence of sin, both in the world and in ourselves. Also, while Satan was defeated at Calvary he still walks about as a “roaring lion” seeking whom he may devour. We are to resist him by Faith. In I Peter 5:8-9a Peter tells us, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the Devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour: (9) Whom resist stedfast in the Faith.” What do we place our Faith in to defeat the Devil? What do we do to overcome the powers of darkness that try to steal and kill and destroy the fabric of Christ’s Life in us? What do we place our Faith in? We place our Faith, not in our works, our confession, our fasting, or the keeping up with any true Christian discipline. Instead we are to look to the event of the Cross where the Bible says Jesus defeated the powers of darkness, “making a show of them openly.” We are to understand that Jesus defeated the Devil two thousand years ago and by Faith in His Finished Work, I resist the powers of darkness. I submit to God by accepting the Cross as my Victory, and the Holy Spirit, seeing my properly placed Faith, goes to work on my behalf, equipping me to resist the Devil (seeJames 4:6-7).
With my Faith properly placed in Christ’s Cross and the Work He accomplished for me I am introduced into the ninth benefit. That is, “triumphing over them in it.” The word “triumphing” has a subtle reference to a Roman Triumph. This was a parade given to honor a General whenever a large enough victory was won. The whole city of Rome came to view the spoils of war, the defeated foes, the conquering General, his family, and the armies that fought by his side. God has placed the Believer in Christ’s Triumph. Every day I get up and take my place in the parade that honors Christ. Paul would write in II Corinthians 2:14a, “Now thanks be unto God, which always causes us to triumph in Christ. . . .” With my Faith securely attached to the Cross, the Finished Work of Christ, I gain all nine of these Benefits:
Faith in Christ’s Cross causes a person to be Born-Again.
Faith in Christ’s Cross brings me freedom from the dominion of the sin nature.
Faith in Christ’s Cross causes one to be united with Christ, burying his past life forever.
Faith in Christ’s Cross causes the Believer to be Co-Raised with Him and to live in Him.
Faith in Christ’s Cross Co-quickens or energizes the Believer by the Spirit of God.
Faith in Christ’s Cross Provides me with forgiveness of all sin, past, present, and future.
Faith in Christ’s Cross Sets me Free from the Law as the Means to Righteousness.
Faith in Christ and the Cross Provides me with Freedom from the power of Satan.
Faith in Christ and the Cross places me into the Victory Celebration won by Christ.
These are the reasons why my Faith is in the Cross of Christ!
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