The centrality of the cross (The place of the overthrow of Satan)

Col 2:15 "He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him."

The word disarm is a military word which means stripping off of the enemies’ armor after defeating him in battle. When a soldier is disarmed, it means his gun is taken away, the knife is taken, his protected jackets removed and so he no longer has powers. Through the cross, Jesus stripped Satan of his powers. What the world saw as the public humiliation of Jesus on the cross outside Jerusalem was actually the humiliation of Satan in the spiritual realm. Satan now has no power over those who determine to walk in the light (1 John 1:6-9, Rev 20:1-6).

Are you afraid of Death? Jesus disarmed Satan and his agents of the power of sin and death. Jesus freed those in slavery to the fear of death. Heb 2:14-15"Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery."

Heb 10:9,20 :

“Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second.

vs 20: "by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,"

Jesus says He has come to do God’s will. To set away the old and bring a new way to go to God. The old ways was through sacrifices but the new way is through the body of Christ that was crucified. You can see why Jesus said break this temple and I will build it in 3 days. His body which is the temple, the new way to God. Verse 20 says the new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, His body.

·         The cross is the gateway to the heavenliest

·         Jesus is lifted up and he will draw sinners to the cross just as the bronze snake was lifted up for the sick.

Heb 9:27-28 “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”

Are you ready for His coming?

Shalom!