VICTORY

Col. 2:15 is probably one of the most significant and powerful verses in the Bible because it sums up the extent of the victory that Christ achieved on the cross.

It says that “having spoiled principalities and powers, he openly made a show of them, triumphing over them in the cross.”

I like the Good News Bible rendering…

“He made a public spectacle of them by leading them as captives in his victory procession.”

When I read this, I conjure up the picture of a Roman army that has been in battle and won and is marching back to Rome and has their enemy captives in chains, eventually to become slaves.

In war, you are not victorious until your enemy is conquered. Once that happens, you have to do something with them. Either kill them, imprison them or make them slaves. You don’t release them to fight again.

Jesus took the enemies of God (principalities and powers) captive through the cross and he hasn’t released them again. He made an open show of them the same as a conquering army will parade their captives before the people.

Through Christ we are a conquering army. We are not just trying to conquer the enemy because he is already conquered and has been made an open show of. Another way of putting it is that he has been made a fool of.

What we are called to do is find out from our General, Jesus, what we have to do to take action to make our victory a reality. Romans 8:37 tells that we are more than conquerors because whatever Satan and his minions throw at us we cannot be defeated as he has no real power.

We do not have anything to fear from Satan. What is a greater problem is our own complacency and our unwillingness to read the bible and follow what it says. For most churches, they prefer denominational tradition and non-biblical activity.

What we need now is for churches to be re-ignited by the power of the Holy Spirit not the powerlessness of more programmes and good ideas.