The Cross And Satan's Defeat

Satan has been very successful over the past several years at pushing the Church away from the Cross. He cannot deny Christ and what Christ has done for us at the Cross, that being a settled fact and a Finished Work. He is helpless to deny that or to stop its effects, providing the Believer functions according to God’s prescribed order. However, Satan can and HAS substituted something else to take it's place. Any gospel that preaches any other source other than the cross of Christ and the resurrection power of Christ and Christ alone is another gospel! All of Satan's victories in our lives comes in this arena. His greatest arsenal is that of New Age Humanism wrapped up in religious wrappers! The Cross is the foundation of the modern church and will ever be that foundation! May we never know anything but Christ and HIM CRUCIFIED! Satan's greatest strength is in the church's ignorance of this great truth. His greatest deception comes in offering the church another "CHRIST" other than that of Christ Crucified and another "SPIRIT" that promotes humanism instead of pointing man to the Lamb of Glory and the finished work of His redemption for our redemption, sanctification and ultimate glorification. The Cross is the only power against Satan and the powers of darkness. Satan knows this too well, thus, he seeks daily to keep us away from true faith in the Finished work of Christ. Neighbor, your soul depends on this truth! We preach Christ Crucified, for it is the POWER of God unto Salvation - first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.

TEXT: Col. 2:14-15
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; [15] And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

1 John 3:8
He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

The cross is the only thing that stands between man and eternal hell. It is also the only thing that stands between the church and apostasy. It is the foundation of ALL doctrine. ALL doctrine, no matter what that doctrine is, must be laid with the foundation of the CROSS.

The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul says, “The preaching of the Cross is to them who perish foolishness, but to us who are saved, it is the Power of God” (I Cor. 1:18). What little the modern Church knows about the Cross of Christ can be wrapped up in the simple statement, “Jesus died for me.” While that is certainly true, and, in fact, one of the most beautiful and wonderful statements that could ever be made, still, if that’s as far as it goes, then sentimentality is about the limit of the knowledge of most Christians, regarding the Cross. Some look at the Cross as some mystical object almost like a talisman ready to ward off demon spirits. The preaching and message of the Cross goes much deeper than some formula to ward off the enemy's tactics. Satan's power is no match for God's power and God's power is wrapped up through the work of His beloved Son, Jesus Christ when He offered Himself up for Man's sinfulness.

Satan's power was and still IS 100% destroyed by the blood of Jesus Christ, thus the blood is the ONLY source for breaking the powers of darkness over fallen humanity through the work of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Spirit moves in one's life, be it through conviction of the unbeliever or overcoming power for the Christian, as a result of what Christ did 2,000 years ago on Calvary!

That sounds so simple, yet most Christians walk in legalism, bondage, and darkness without knowing their answer to the dilemma and sin nature reigning in their life is found the same place they first met Jesus - at Calvary's CROSS and placing their faith in His Finished Work.

Most Christians think their Pastor is truly “preaching the Cross,” if he mentions it once in a while. If one truly understands the Cross, one will always separate himself from the “works religion” and embrace GRACE! We are not saved by works, lest ANY man boast, but by grace through faith in the Finished work of Christ! While every good Christian will definitely have good works, his faith will not be in those works, but rather in Christ and His Finished Work. This is not meant to demean works in any fashion, but is definitely meant to demean the placing of one’s faith in those works. Paul said:

Eph. 2:8-9 - “For by Grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the Gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast”

Gal. 6:12-14 - “As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the Cross of Christ. For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the Law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. But God forbid that I should glory, save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world."

Some Christians may read these words and instantly claim this doesn't apply to we as believers, simply because “circumcision” was a part of the old Law of Moses, and is no longer necessary regarding the New Covenant. That may be right but Paul's point here goes far deeper than just a casual reading of the scripture would warrant.

Paul is using “circumcision” as an example. In fact, it can refer to anything, and does refer to anything in which we place our faith, which means that the Cross is no longer the object of our faith. This is what the Apostle is telling us. And the tragedy is, the far greater majority of the modern Church has placed its faith in anything and everything except the Cross of Christ. Formulas will not set you free from the power of darkness! Shouting at the devil will not make the devil and demons stop their assault against our lives! Having great preachers lay hands on us, as wonderful as that may be, will not set us free from the power of Satan. NO MAN has shed His blood, save ONE - and that is the darling of heaven CRUCIFIED, the LAMB OF GLORY, the SON OF THE LIVING GOD, the Lord Jesus Christ - the ROSE OF SHARON, the BRIGHT and MORNING STAR, the FIRST AND THE LAST, the ALPHA AND THE OMEGA, SLAIN before the foundations of the earth! Glory to God. Glory to God!

It's not by law we are saved and it's not by law we are sanctified either! It's not by law or the keeping of rules we came into this great salvation and it's not by law or rules we STAY in this great salvation! Salvation is not of man, it's ALL of CHRIST. That's why the enemy tries so very hard to keep unbelievers in darkness about the truth of Jesus. He doesn't care about shielding them from the "truths" of religion or movements. He jollies in blinding men to their need for God by giving them a false way of salvation and "another Christ," to put their faith in. And mark my word, even we in the so-called modern church age need watch our souls carefully in this fateful hour before Jesus comes as the apostasy continues to increase in its scope and intensity! Millions are being led astray unto "another gospel," that is pointing them to "another Christ," driven by "another Spirit!"

2 Cor. 11:1-4
Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. [2] For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. [3] But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. [4] For if he that cometh preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

Satan's greatest advantage over the last 20 years has come through attacks on the message of the Cross! He has drawn the church away to psychology, self-esteem gospels, purpose-driven visions and all sorts of other foolishness in the name of salvation and Grace. NONE OF THESE KEEP SATAN'S POWER AT BAY! I appreciate what the Pentecostal world has done in bringing the message of the Holy Spirit to the Body of Christ. I'm Pentecostal as they come. I speak in tongues every single day of my life during my prayer time. I don't say that in boast OR in jest. It's a serious matter as the Holy Ghost prays through me. But my faith against Satan's powers and the demonic hordes of hell that assault my soul (AS WELL AS EVERY SINGLE READER'S OF THIS MESSAGE!) is not in tongues or the gifts the Holy Spirit blesses me with. My faith is not in quoting certain scriptures over and over and thinking that by doing so I'm warding off evil spirits. Neighbor, my faith is ANCHORED, SECURED, FOUNDED, PLANTED, ESTABLISHED, NAILED to the FINISHED WORK OF CHRIST! It's not by "my" faith or "my" word or "my" anything that keeps me free from the powers of sin. It's through the SHED BLOOD OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST! And it's a message the church has sadly forsaken! It's a message that has "went out of style with the current 'trends'" as some ignorant and foolish ministers of today claim. It's a message that no longer "appeals" to the masses and in need of being more "contemporary."

I say this with all the strength and anointing I can muster. Souls are dying. Men are crying. Preacher, your so called "appeals," and "contemporary" methods are sending millions to hell and you will stand accountable to God one day for the false gospel you have led those sheep to accept. They will stand accountable too for listening to your false siren song of hell itself but you will have the blood of millions on your hand. Preach the Cross, preacher. Preach the BLOOD, preacher. Preach the LORD JESUS CHRIST and HIM CRUCIFIED, man of God. Get rid of Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life book as your "guide" to running your church and get in front of an old fashioned altar and pour your soul out to God until the Holy Spirit washes over you and gives you a fresh revelation of Calvary and what it means to fallen humanity. Let the Holy Ghost set you free from the bondage of false doctrine so He can put TRUTH into your heart and soul to give to those listening to you. New Age Humanism is not man's answer. Most Christians say a hearty "amen," to that not realizing that MOST of the gospel they are hearing today behind pulpits is nothing more than NEW AGE HUMANISM wrapped up in religious wrappers!

Neighbor, hear me. The powers of darkness will never be broken by man-made schemes! The alcoholic needs more than a 12-point program. The drug addict needs more than "counseling," and "addiction recovery." The one with lust needs more than just a humanistic view of his "problem." Lust is a SIN. Drug addiction is SIN. Alcoholism is a SIN. Homosexuality is a SIN. Lying is a SIN. Being unfaithful to one's wife is a SIN. Not walking in integrity and honesty in financial matters is a SIN. And when the church offers those in its care a substitute method of deliverance, neighbor we have backslid pure and simple! A.W. Tozer called it a "new cross," that "redirects" man to a "better" solution instead of the method of the old cross - KILLING THE OLD MAN TOTALLY so the NEWNESS OF THE LIFE OF CHRIST can live through Him. My Lord I want to shout right now. My Lord I feel this flowing all over me right now. Do you hear me neighbor? This is GOOD NEWS. This is the part of the gospel sorely missing today that man can be FREE through the BLOOD OF CHRIST and there is NO OTHER SUBSTITUTE or ANSWER than that!

If your faith is in anything else, you are living under "the law of sin of death," spoken of by the Holy Spirit through Paul in Romans 8:2:

Romans 8:1-2
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. [2] For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

The "law of sin and death," is one of two great laws that govern ALL of humanity - including the Christian! Those two laws are:

1. “The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus.”
2. “The law of sin and death.”

A summation of what the Holy Spirit is saying in this passage is as follows:

“For the Law (a Law devised by the God-head in eternity past) of the Spirit (Holy Spirit) of Life (all life comes from Christ through the Holy Spirit) in Christ Jesus (what Christ did for us at the Cross) has made me free (the only Law which can make one free) from the law of sin and death (the law which will definitely take effect within our lives, if we do not properly adhere to ‘the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus’).”

One may ask, "How does this Law, 'The Law of the Spirit of Life,' refer to the Cross?"

The key is found in the phrase, “In Christ Jesus.” Every time Paul uses this phrase, or one of its derivatives, which he does over a hundred times in his fourteen Epistles, he is speaking, without exception, as to what Christ has done for us at the Cross. In fact, that phrase harks back to Romans 6:3-5. The Apostle said: “Know you not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His Death?”

The way we get “into Jesus Christ” is by exhibiting Faith in Christ and what He did at the Cross, which, in the Mind of God, actually places us “in Christ,” and what He did for us at the Cross. That’s the reason the Apostle also said, “I am crucified with Christ (harking back to Romans 6:3-5): nevertheless I live (the new man lives); yet not I (not by my own efforts or ability), but Christ lives in me (the Cross makes it possible for us to be ‘in Christ,’ and for Christ to be ‘in us’): and the life which I now live in the flesh (my daily life and living) I live by the faith (Christ and Him Crucified) of the Son of God Who loved me, and gave Himself for me (the Cross)” (Gal. 2:20).

So, the only way that you as a Believer are going to have victory over the “law of sin and death” which is Satan's law, is by abiding in the “Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus.”

This process for the believer is not that hard, even though modern preachers have made it hard because they love religious formulas instead of GRACE. We are to ALWAYS understand that Christ is the Source, and the Cross is the Means. We are to understand that every single thing comes to us from God through Christ, all made possible by the Cross. Consequently, the Cross is to ever be the object of the Believer’s faith. This is what Paul taught. When he got ready to teach us how to live a victorious, overcoming Christian life, he gave us the Sixth Chapter of Romans, and took us, first of all, to the Cross (Rom. 6:3-5).

This is the way SATAN IS DESTROYED! This is the way the Son of God was manifested to DESTROY the works of the enemy. My Lord, my Lord. That is why Satan convinces Christians to "dispense" with the Cross after they get saved. Neighbor when we come into salvation the battle is just beginning. The fight just gets started then!! When we were in sin there was no battle. Sin controlled us. We lived according to our own selfish desires. We didn't have conviction about what we did. We'd go drink ourselves into oblivion and not feel a thing. We'd go out and smoke dope or do drugs and that was our life. There was nothing to restrain us from doing evil. When we come to Jesus, HE set us free from those things but the enemy's work against us didn't stop! That's another part of the gospel that gets lost in today's preaching. People are told if they have any type of difficulty their faith is not right. In reality that statement is true but the issue is not "OUR" faith, it's where our faith is IN!

Col. 2:14-15
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; [15] And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

1 John 3:8
He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

When we came to Christ we put our faith IN HIM and IN THE FINISHED WORK OF THE CROSS. As stated, most Christians dispense with the Cross after they are saved. They think that it definitely plays a part in their initial Salvation experience but thereafter they see no more need of the Cross.

One of the greatest arenas where this "doctrine" is espoused is in the Word of Faith doctrine, which has influenced so many, and wrongfully, I might quickly add, teaches Believers to leave the Cross. Such teaching will cause untold difficulties in the hearts and lives of Believers, and could cause the loss of their souls. Let me ask this question: Did the Apostle Paul, or any other writer in the Word of God, teach people to leave the Cross? No, they didn’t and more particularly, Paul didn’t. And it was to Paul that the meaning of the New Covenant was given. There is no one who will honestly read the Bible and not come away with the conclusion that Paul “preached the Cross.” Listen to the Apostle:

Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the Cross of Christ should be made of none effect

The Holy Spirit also said: “For the preaching of the Cross is to them who perish foolishness; but unto us who are saved it is the Power of God” (I Cor. 1:18). He then said: “But we preach Christ crucified” (I Cor. 1:23). There is no place in the Word of God where the Message was changed, and simply because it doesn’t need to be changed. There is only one answer for the dilemma of mankind, and that is Christ and the Cross. If we preach Christ without the Cross, pure and simple, we are preaching “another Jesus, fostered by another spirit, which presents another gospel” (II Cor. 11:4).

If the Believer abides by the “Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus,” then that Believer will never have “the law of sin and death” functioning and operating within his life and Satan's power will be broken over the believer's nature! Christ does not share His house with Satan!! BOTH laws will never work at the same time. It's the CROSS, it's the Cross! As we stated in the very first sentence of this message, "the cross of Christ is the only thing that stands between lost humanity and eternal hell, and it's the only thing that stands between the church and apostasy."

2 Tim. 3:1-8
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. [2] For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, [3] Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, [4] Traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; [5] Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. [6] For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, [7] Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. [8] Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

1 Tim. 4:1-4
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; [2] Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; [3] Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. [4] For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

Man’s idea of the universe is that all kinds of forces exist within the universe. Some persons view the forces as natural energies and powers within the universe such as gravity. Other persons view the forces as living beings such as angels, among which some are good and some are bad. Men have always recognized forces, energies, powers, or principalities within the universe. Men either see natural forces or supernatural spirits behind the stars and planets and life within the universe—either natural forces or supernatural spirits that control the lives and destinies of both man and his world. Just think of the millions down through the centuries who have looked to the signs or spirits of the planets or stars in astrology and the signs of the zodiac.

The Bible declares without hesitation or equivocation that there are other forces within the universe. In fact, the Bible teaches that there is at least one other world in another dimension of being—another dimension other than the physical dimension. That world is the spiritual dimension of being. And there are living beings in that dimension, both good and bad, just as there are good and bad beings or men in this world. The glorious declaration of our text is that Christ has spoiled, or disarmed, all principalities and powers, no matter who they are or what their force or energy is. The word “spoiled” (apekdusamenos) means to disarm and strip the evil forces of all their power.

Barclay describes the scene well:

“[The evil forces] were hostile, malicious, malignant to men. Jesus conquered them for ever. He stripped them: the word that is used is the word for stripping the weapons and the armour from a defeated foe. Once and for all Jesus broke their power. He put them to open shame and led them captive in His triumphant train. The picture is the picture of the triumph of a Roman general. When a Roman general had won a really notable triumph, he was allowed to march his victorious armies through the streets of Rome, and behind him there followed the wretched company of the kings and the leaders and the peoples he had vanquished and conquered. They were openly branded as his victims and his spoils. Paul thinks of Jesus as a triumphant conqueror, enjoying a kind of cosmic triumph; and in His triumphal procession are the powers of evil, beaten for ever, for every one to see” (The Letters to the Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians, p.172).

Wuest gives an additional picture of the scene:

“Our Lord, after His death on the Cross, needed to present Himself at the heavenly Mercy Seat...as the great High Priest, thus completing the atonement....In order to do this, our Lord had to pass through the kingdoms stripping them off and away from Himself...displayed them boldly...leading them in triumph in it” (Ephesians and Colossians, Vol.1, p.209).

The point of this verse is to declare that Christ has defeated Satan and his evil spirits—all the forces and energies, power and principalities of the universe. Christ has triumphed over Satan and his evil forces, broken their power and destroyed their works. Christ did not just disarm them He also made a public spectacle of them! He exposed them to public disgrace by exhibiting them to the universe as his captives. The added words, "triumphing over them BY THE CROSS," paints a picture quite similar to that of the Roman World in that of a triumphant General leading a parade of victory. The conqueror, riding at the front in his chariot, leads his troops through the streets of the city. Behind them trails a wretched company of vanquished kings, officers and soldiers- the spoils of battle. Christ, in this picture is the Conquering General; the powers and authorities are the vanquished enemy displayed as the spoils of battle before the entire universe.

To the casual and unwise observer, the Cross appears to be only an instrument of death and defeat. Paul represents it as Christ's chariot of victory over Satan!!!! He didn't go to the cross in defeat, He went to the cross in VICTORY! He didn't come down a defeated foe, He arose VICTORIOUS with a shout of victory over His foes - and the foes of all HUMANITY - the devil and the demons of hell. And if man will but place His faith in CHRIST man will be set free from His sin and bondage. Man will be changed, born again and saved from the powers of hell itself. The cross, neighbor, is the ONLY THING standing between man and hell itself at this very moment; and it's the only thing standing between a backslidden church and outright apostasy at this very moment.

The phrase "having spoiled principalities and powers," presents the same as in Ephesians 6:12. These are ruling potentates under Satan in the atmosphere of this Earth. They are, no doubt, of higher rank than mere demons, most likely, powerful fallen angels. "Spoiled," in the Greek is "apekduomai," and means to "strip the clothes off of another or to put off." The word goes back to Jesus statements in the gospels where He declared that "or else how can one enter into a strong man's house (referring here to Satan and his kingdom of darkness), and spoil his goods (which Jesus DID AT THE CROSS), except He first bind the strong man? And then He will spoil his house (the spoiling of Satan's house was done at the Cross, and it continues unto this house, with Believers having the use of the Name of Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit."

Hear me friend. When Adam and Eve fell in the Garden and in doing do brought all humanity under sin's curse, Satan legally had a claim on the entirety of the human race. As the seed of ALL humanity was in Adam's loins, consequently, his sin passed on to all, which means that every baby born thereafter would be born "in sin." Sin being the legal claim that Satan had and has upon humanity, until that individual soul places its faith in Christ and what Christ did at the Cross. God's greatest creation, originally even created higher than the Angels is now infested with a Satanic nature, which is the very opposite of the God-consciousness which man enjoyed before the Fall, and was intended to enjoy forever.

Satan now rules, along with all his demon spirits and fallen angels. He holds man in captivity in totality, hence making this world which God intended to be a paradise into a veritable Hell, filled with murder, hate, covetousness, greed, selfishness, immorality of every stripe, envy, jealousy and the like. God is ALMIGHTY, with Satan far, far less, so many people question God many times seeing these things around wandering why God did not and does not stop this?

Satan's hold on humanity is a LEGAL one in that man has sinned. God, Who made the Laws in the beginning, could not violate His Own Statutes. As long as sin remained in man, Satan had a right to do what he was doing - and he has a right today as well as long as that individual is in darkness and not light - INCLUDING THE BELIEVER, which I will get to more in a minute.

Sin, being an infraction of God's Law, left unchecked will destroy the entirety of God's creation. It cannot be ignored. Sin constitutes a debt and that debt had to be paid. To portray even in glaring detail what this debt meant, God gave the Law of Moses to Israel, which in stark clarity defined what this debt actually was, which was addressed in the Colossians 2:14 as "the handwriting of ordinances."

Col. 2:13-15
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; [14] Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; [15] And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

The Law was against US! Sinful humanity stood GUILTY before God and His Law which was perfect. But a perfect Law given to a sinful people will never change the sinfulness of that people! I want to say it again. No matter how perfect the law of God was or is (which it is friend), the law given to a sinful race can never change the heart of that sinful race. AND ALL SIN COMES FROM THE HEART AND SOUL OF MAN!

Man owes a debt of sin to God of such magnitude that Satan revels today in knowing and thinking even that he has won in his revolution against God through the rebellion of God's most precious creation and prize - man. Man is helpless to address this situation today. Man cannot save himself and neither can man keep himself saved. The believer today must never get to the place or reach a point where we think that somehow we have gained such a place in where we can live this Christian life on our own - we can't!

Man's helplessness comes from the fact that nothing can both satisfy God's justice and deliver man from this evil nature that is within as a result of one man's disobedience (ADAM). Man's sin debt could never be paid back through silver and gold for now, even that was corrupted because of the Fall. When Adam fell, it was not just humanity that fell but the entire creation is now under the curse. NOTHING from this earth can be accepted by God because it is all corrupted.

Genesis 1:28
And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

Psalm 8:3-6
When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; [4] What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? [5] For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. [6] Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

Romans 8:22
For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

God was not caught off guard at Adam's fall. Through foreknowledge, He had always known this would happen, and as well knew the REMEDY!

1 Peter 1:18-20
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; [19] But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: [20] Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

God would have to do SOMETHING that was not of this world, but yet was. He would have to stay within the limits of the dominion originally given to Adam before the Fall. This meant that no Angel could redeem humanity, or any other of the great Spirit Beings created by God. Consequently, this blew to pieces the contention of false teachers known as Gnostics as it regarded many layers of Angels between God and man, with all of these serving as mediators. To solve this terrible problem, God would become man, the SECOND MAN (Second Adam) would purchase back the dominion which had been forfeited by the first Adam. To carry this out, He would be born of a VIRGIN, which would bypass original sin, but at the same time, would not spoil the type! Adam was originally created by God, which means he was not born in sin. In the Incarnation, God becoming man, He would likewise be conceived by special decree:

Luke 1:26-35
And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, [27] To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. [28] And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. [29] And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. [30] And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. [31] And, behold, thou shall conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. [32] He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: [33] And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. [34] Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? [35] And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

As a Man, while never ceasing to be God, but not able to use His Powers of Deity, He must live a perfect life, not failing in even one point or at any one time, with only the HOLY SPIRIT to help Him, which Born-Again Believers have presently! In rendering a life of perfect obedience, which was demanded by the LAW, He would do the opposite of the original Adam regarding his disobedience. As well, He would seek only the Will of the Father, whereas the first Adam ignored God's will, opting for his own will instead. Jesus would not use His power to turn the stones to bread in order to satisfy His hunger, whereas the first Adam did eat of the bread, i.e. "of the forbidden fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil."

However, even though these things were all necessary, NONE of this addressed the problem of sin, the debt that needed to be paid and the power that sin held over man! This means that none of the things Jesus did as it regards His perfect Life, even considering His miracles, etc. would at all redeem fallen Humanity. While, as stated, they were necessary they did not address the real issue.

To present Christ as a great Teacher, which He was, or even as the great Miracle Worker, if the Cross is disbelieved or even ignored, no Redemption for mankind can be effected. The intellectual Jesus will not suffice and neither will the Miracle Working Jesus. Friend, demons believe in that Jesus and tremble! You get the point I'm trying to make? The answer to Satan's power needed more than that - it had to be dealt with in BLOOD. That's why the HOLY GHOST cried through Paul:

1 Cor. 2:2
For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

The debt that was owed, was not owed to Satan, but rather to GOD; consequently, the CROSS, while it defeated Satan and all the powers of darkness, was not actually instituted to address the problem according to Satan, but rather according to GOD! As stated, this debt was owed to God, and it was to God that this debt must be paid. As the Life of God imparted to man had been forfeited, a life must be given in return as payment, but it must be a perfect life containing no sin, housed in a perfect body which had never sinned. There was no way that God could accept anything sinful as a Sacrifice. That's why man could not and CANNOT redeem Himself! As well, it had to be of this EARTH, because EARTH was a part of the dominion given to Adam. The blood of earthly animals under the Mosaic Covenant, as needed as they were in Israel's day to push back sin, could not set one single person free of the sin nature within them, thus allowing Satan great sway in the lives of all humanity.

Hebrews 10:5
Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:

As a perfect Sacrifice, a Sacrifice which God could accept as payment, a Perfect Body was to be offered up, a Body which was of this world because He was born of woman, which would house a perfect Life, which would be poured out on the Cross in the shedding of His BLOOD, because LIFE is in the blood.

Leviticus 17:11
For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

This perfect Life, given, freely offered up, would suffice as payment for the life that had been forfeited and thereby lost. In doing of this, the offering up of Himself on the Cross, CHRIST satisfied the entirety of the sin debt for ALL humanity, and for all time. This satisfied the demands of the LAW as well as its penalty, which satisfied the Righteousness of God.

And not only was sin's debt paid, but when Jesus poured out His life on the Cross by the shedding of His own Precious Blood, He atoned for all sin, because HIS SACRIFICE, God could accept it in payment, which He did. This is what defeated Satan and all of his powers of darkness. The payment of the sin debt, "removed all sin." It not only did this, but Jesus satisfying the penalty of the broken Law (God's Law), caused not only the penalty of the Law to be satisfied, but, as well, even removed the Law itself, since He kept all its precepts. Satan's legal claim is now gone, which means he has no more hold over humanity, at least for those who will accept God's solution of the Cross, which means he is TOTALLY defeated. It is through the CROSS that the powers of hell itself are destroyed!

Col. 2:14-15
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; [15] And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

Through His precious sacrifice, Christ abolished and cancelled the law's ordinances against us by:

1. Justify (Acts 13:38-39; Galatians 2:16)
2. Free from sin and death (Romans 8:2)
3. Free from condemnation (Romans 8:1-4)
4. Redeem (Romans 3:24-31; Galatians 3:13-14)
5. Give inheritance (Romans 4:13-14)
6. Bring righteousness (Romans 8:4)
7. Impart Holy Spirit (Galatians 3:2)
8. Perform miracles (Galatians 3:5)
9. Free from the curse (Galatians 3:10-14)
10. Impart faith (Galatians 3:12)
11. Impart grace (Galatians 5:4)
12. Make perfect (Hebrews 7:19)
13. Control sin in man (Romans 7:7-23; Romans 8:2)
14. Keep man from sin (Romans 7:7-23; Romans 8:7)
15. Enable a man to obey (Hebrews 7:18)

That's why Israel failed so miserably. A perfect Law can never save an imperfect people! The problem is never with the Law, it's with the carnal, sinful heart of man. Man's heart must be changed FIRST. This change is called the born again experience that takes place when one places their faith in the Cross. That's why we call it "GRACE!" Law cannot save, impart faith, make perfect, perform miracles, bring righteousness or control sin in man. As the Holy Spirit says it in 1 Corinthians the law gives sin it's greatest strength!

1 Cor. 15:56-58 - The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. [57] But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. [58] Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

In addition to meeting this obligation, Christ defeated the executor of the law - Satan - by:

(3) Triumphing over them in the very cross that they thought was a triumph over Him (Col. 2:15; Acts 2:23-36; Acts 3:13-18; 1 Cor. 1:18-24; Ephes. 2:16; Col. 1:20-22)

As stated earlier, the word "spoiled," comes from the Greek: apekduomai (GSN-554), which means "to strip off clothes of another." Other times this word is found in the New Covenant, it is translated "spoil" (Col. 2:15), and "put off" (Col. 3:9). Man cannot do this. Only CHRIST has and can spoil and put off the powers of Satan from humanity. This is Satan's greatest deception today. Millions of Christians walk around in false authority claiming "their" victory over the enemy. Friend, hear me.

Our victory over the enemy is a result of Christ's VICTORY over Lucifer at the CROSS! The Holy Spirit through Paul says here in Colossians that Satan and his forces were stripped of their power to condemn and kill the race. The law was blotted out and they had no further claim to hold man in sin and bondage, as they did by means of the law (Romans 7:5-25; see Fifteen Things the Law Could Not Do)

The interesting part of this event concerning the public defeat of Satan is that the demon powers themselves thought that the cross would be the place where they defeated Christ and put an end to His work on the earth. Their inspiration of the religious Leaders of Israel made those responsible for the crucifixion believe they had put an end to Christ's "new religion." But the Cross turned out to be their public defeat and shame, not the other way around. I want to say that again. You say, "why?" Because there is a large element of the church that looks at the Cross as the greatest "defeat" in all of history.

Their view denigrates the finished work of Christ and looks at it as the defeat of Christ. Not to be ugly about this but if we are to believe this then we are to believe that Satan had a part in our redemption by "tormenting" Jesus in the pit of hell until He was 'born again' there and return in 3 days to life. Satan didn't have ANYTHING to do with our redemption. Jesus said before He went to the Cross that the prince of this world is judged AND HE HATH NO PART IN ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! According to the Word of Faith camps though Satan had to torment Christ for our redemption to be complete. Imbeciles. How stupid can one get in spiritual matters??? This is not coming from young Christians who don't know any better. This is coming from preachers of the gospel with millions of people under their influence.

The Cross WAS a place of defeat, but it was not a place of defeat for CHRIST - it was a place of PUBLIC INFAMY AND SHAME FOR SATAN! It was Christ's public demonstration of His power over ALL the power of the devil! Satan and his human agents may thought they made a public shame out of Christ by crucifying Him, but when He cried "IT IS FINISHED," and shook hell's foundations with the power of His blood, all of heaven rejoiced knowing that man's salvation, redemption, sanctification and glorification were paid for all eternity through the LAMB OF GOD!

1 Cor. 2:8
Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Col. 1:20-22
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. [21] And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled [22] In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

Acts 2:23
Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

Acts 3:13-18
The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. [14] But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; [15] And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. [16] And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. [17] And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. [18] But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.

Acts 5:28
Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.

1 John 3:8
He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

Christ has triumphed over Satan and the powers of darkness. Jesus saves! What am I telling you friend? I'm saying you can be free today. I'm saying alcholic you can be free from the bondage of the drink that drives you to hate, anger and wrath and is destrying you and your family by the second. I'm saying drug addict you can be free today. You don't have to jab a needle up your arm to get a high. I'm saying to those bound by pornogrpahy and lust that they don't have to be bound by sinful wicked desires any longer and their minds can be pure as a baby's skin and white as the driven snow. Christ came to DESTROY the works of Satan and destroy those works He has done!! You can be free. All is takes is FAITH and FAITH in the CROSS OF CHRIST and what He accomplished for us through His blood!

1. He conquered evil spirits and forces by never giving in to the devil’s temptations (Matthew 4:1-11) and by never sinning (2 Cor. 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 1:19; 1 Peter 2:22).

Christ lived a perfect life; he was perfectly righteous. Therefore, He became the Perfect Man, the Ideal Man, the Ideal Righteousness...

Hebrews 4:15
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Hebrews 7:26
For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

1 Peter 1:19
But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

1 Peter 1:22
Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

Satan was defeated in that an Ideal Righteousness was now provided for man. Man could now become acceptable to God by putting on the righteousness of Christ through faith (2 Cor. 5:21; Ephes. 4:23-24.) He who KNEW NO SIN, because a SIN OFFERING for us, that we made be made the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN CHRIST! This is the great doctrine of Justification.

2 Cor. 5:21
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Ephes. 4:23-24
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; [24] And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

2. He conquered evil spirits and forces by dying for man, bearing all of man’s guilt and punishment for sin. In behalf of man, Christ took all of man’s sins upon Himself and bore the judgment of God against sin.

He is the Ideal Man, so His death becomes the Ideal Death. Just as His Ideal Righteousness stands for and covers every man, so His Ideal Death stands for and covers every man. Thus, the penalty and punishment for sins has now been paid. Man no longer has to die and be separated from God (see Deeper Study #1, Death—Hebrews 9:27). The way to live forever in the presence of God is now open. Satan’s power is broken and destroyed.

Hebrews 2:14-15
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 that had the power of death, that is, the devil; [15] And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

John 12:31-33
Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. [32] And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. [33] This he said, signifying what death he should die.

Col. 1:13-14
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: [14] In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

John 14:30
Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.

John 14:28-31
Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. [29] And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. [30] Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. [31] But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.

John 16:11
Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

3. He conquered evil spirits and forces by being raised from the dead.

Again, as the Ideal Man, Christ’s resurrection becomes the Ideal Resurrection. His resurrection stands for and covers every man. Note two facts.

a. It was the perfect spirit of holiness (perfect righteousness) that raised Christ from the dead. Death could not hold perfection, for death is the result of sin. Christ, being perfect, was bound to arise.
b. When Christ arose, He triumphed over Satan, openly showing that death is the work of Satan. Death is not to be the natural experience of man. Death was never the purpose of God; life is the purpose of God. The resurrection of Christ openly shows this.

“God, who hath raised him from the dead..and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it” (Col. 2:12, 15).

4. He conquered evil spirits and forces by being revealed as the Son of God through being the Son of Man and shedding BLOOD.

Think about it: the fact that the Son of God came into the world destroys the works of the devil. As soon as the Son of God appeared on the scene, His coming meant that the works of the devil were to be destroyed. He has come and the works of Satan are destroyed. We don't have to live in fear of the enemy today. His defeat is certain - as long as we have our FAITH in the right place and follow God's prescribed order of victory through the Cross.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

1 John 3:8
He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

As I close this message, let me leave you with a warning. Satan loves pride and he loves blinding people to his true power. This is not an issue of his power being anywhere remotely the same as God's - it's not. God is ALL powerful and Lucifer's creator. God didn't create Lucifer with the thought of him becoming Satan through pride. But that is what happened. God was not caught off guard with this either. The issue I want to address is this. Satan doesn't have any power over the child of God - AS LONG AS THE CHILD OF GOD HAS HIS/HER FAITH IN CHRIST! Many find out the hard way that if we do not go God's way and live this Christian life through law, self-righteousness or have pride in ourselves, then Satan has TREMENDOUS power over us! Satan's legal parameters are outlined by God Himself. There are areas of darkness that Satan is still allowed to move in - even in the life of a believer. Don't get me wrong - I'm not remotely saying a believer can be possessed - but if a believer stops believing in the CROSS and tries to "move on" to other things and loosens the anchor of his faith and places it in something else- that believer is headed for shipwreck! I pray better things accompany your salvation today. I pray you have made Jesus Lord and you have your faith anchored SOLELY in what He did for us at Calvary. Paul called it a "GREAT SALVATION," and a "GREAT SALVATION," it is.

I can barely hold back the tears right now as I write this. I feel the anointing of the Holy Ghost all over me right now. Neighbor, it's getting late. You better be sure where your name's written down. You better make your calling and election sure. You better be washed and have your sins under the blood of Christ.

I heard a beautiful song the other day by the late Vestal Goodman called, "God's Chariot Comes." One of the lines in the song, was "friend, what will be your doom?" I ask that question to you today. What will be your fate for eternity? Do you know the Lamb of Glory and has He taken up residence in your heart by the power of the Holy Ghost? I pray He has today. He reaches out to you through the words of this message today. We love you in Christ and that is why we humbly write these messages. We don't have a regular pulpit right now - one day soon that will change we hope and pray. For now, THIS IS OUR PULPIT and we never cease to take the chance to preach Christ Crucified which we have anchored our faith in like a little child grabbing their mom's coat for safety - we CLING to the OLD RUGGED CROSS TODAY!

Blessings, Grace and love. Praise God. Praise God. It's getting late neighbor, it's getting late. Shalom.