Jesus Christ is victorious

Sunday September 12, 2021

Jesus Christ is victorious

"My brothers and sisters, be strong in the Lord and in his almighty strength." Ephesians 6. 10

The Christian must wage a spiritual warfare. He must therefore be aware of the power of the enemy and the difficulty of winning, but also think about the strategy to be employed and the armor to put on. It is indeed important to prepare for combat. But do we really believe that the devil, active as he is to bring us down, is already defeated ? By his death, Jesus rendered "impotent" (inactive) the one who had the power of death, that is to say the devil "(Hebrews 2:14,15). His power is limited and so we can him resist (James 4. 7) What good news ! After the resurrection, Jesus affirms : "All authority was given to me in heaven and on earth" (Matthew 28:18), so that the devil should have no more but he continues, by lying, to make people believe that he has rights over us.

Spiritual warfare is very real, but let us always remember that the fight against Satan has already been won by Jesus on the cross. It is essential to believe that at conversion we have been freed from his power and that the victorious Christ lives in us.

The first step to benefit from victory is to trust ourselves in our Lord : "Be strong in the Lord" ; but the second step leads us to seek the source of the force which makes us victorious concretely : "Strengthen yourselves... in the power of his force".

The Bible states that on the cross Jesus won a great victory (Colossians 2:15) :

- He stripped power and authorities. He completely unmasked and disarmed Satan and his army as he announced in Matthew 12.28,29.

- He put them on show. Formerly, after a victory, the leader of the victorious army exhibited the captives with their weapons and the spoils acquired during the war on foreign soil. Likewise Christ publicly demonstrated the defeat of the enemy.

- He triumphed over them on the cross. By his death, Jesus rendered powerless the one who had the power of death, that is, the devil (Hebrews 2:14). The word triumph was used to describe the parade of a Roman general returning from war after winning a resounding victory. Isn't it so with our Lord ?

- Finally, he is resuscitated, absolute proof of his victory.

It is by the same power that we are assured of victory in our daily life (1 Corinthians 15:57), but for that to happen Christ must live in us.

Source (Pleasing the Lord)