Re: Preaching of the Cross was Central to Paul

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#4 – THE CROSS TEACHES CHRIST’S VICTORY OVER SATAN

The fourth lesson the cross teaches us is that Jesus Christ’s death has liberated us from satanic bondage.
When Jesus walked among men, He healed the sick and cast out unclean spirits from them who were bound by the Evil One. The Bible says, “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and power who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil.” (Acts 10:38)
The literal greek states that Jesus healed all who “were under the domination or lordship of Satan.”
Again Jesus testified, “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth; It is expedient (necessary, advantageous) for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter (Divine Helper) will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you.”
“And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on Me; Of righteousness because I go to My Father, and ye see Me no more;”
“Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.” (John 16:7-11) The Amplified Bible states that Satan, the prince of this world is already judged and the Holy Spirit has come to “demonstrate to the world, Christ’s victory over Satan.”
What a great truth – The Holy Spirit has been sent to “DEMONSTRATE TO THE WORLD, CHRIST’S VICTORY OVER SATAN”
When Jesus died on Calvary’s cross, He defeated Satan totally, and the Holy Spirit’s major task is to demonstrate to the world, Christ’s victory over Satan.
How does He do that? By empowering Christ’s body – the Church – to do the same works which Jesus did before His death and glorious resurrection.
When souls are saved because of our preaching and the Holy Spirit’s convicting power, He is demonstrating to the world, ‘Christ’s Victory over Satan’.
When the sick and diseased are healed miraculously by the Word of God in the Name of Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit raises them up to health and strength, He is demonstrating to the world, ‘Christ’s Victory over Satan.”
When unclean spirits are discerned and cast out of the “tormented ones” in Jesus’ all powerful Name, the Holy Spirit is “demonstrating to the world, Christ’s victory over Satan”!
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT ?
Christ’s victory and Satan’s defeat has to be heralded in all three worlds so that EVERY ANGELIC BEING, SATANIC FORCE & HUMAN BEING will know that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
St. Paul wrote, “And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knees should bow, of things in heaven and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:8-11)
To the Colossians he wrote, “And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” (Col. 2:14)
During that era, when a king returned from a great victory, his subjects would line the streets of their capital city to shout his praises and welcome him and his fighting legions home.
As the CONQUERING KING drove his chariot down the main street, the defeated enemy king would be paraded before the people, chained, stripped of his armor and running behind the chariot.
The defeated king’s armor and crown were placed in the triumphant king’s chariot and often displayed for the people to see. It was a glorious moment for the conqueror but one of humiliation for the loser.
St. Paul draws this analogy. Jesus, the conquering king has defeated Satan, stripped him of all his weapons and power and rendered him ineffective in chains.
The Norwegian Bible says, that Jesus has disarmed him and the literal Greek gives us the inference that “he is naked.” Jesus made a show of them (all demon powers) openly.
What does that mean? Satan has been defeated by Jesus Christ for everyone to behold, in three worlds. The host of Heaven saw it, the demonic powers of Hell witnessed Christ’s victory and the Holy Spirit has been sent to demonstrate to the world (so every human being might know) that Satan is defeated.
TETELESTAI: IT IS FINISHED
“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, It is finished: and He bowed His head and gave up the ghost.” (John 19:30)
When Jesus cried “IT IS FINISHED”, He was declaring our Liberty. He had purchased our complete salvation by His suffering and death on Calvary! Jesus spoke in Greek when He made that statement.
The words, “IT IS FINISHED” in the Greek is “tetelestai”, taken from the verb “teleo”, have 3 essential meanings:
“To bring to an end, finish or complete something”. Jesus had finished His work, having met the demands of divine justice.”
He had completed His mission. Redemption was now a reality.
He had also brought to an end the ‘devil’s dynasty of terror’. He had shed His precious blood for the sins of the world. A fountain of blood had been opened “for sin and uncleanness.” (Zach. 13:1) Jesus had broken Satan’s strangle-hold upon the human race.
St. John wrote, “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”
(I John 3:8)
The Bible declares, “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; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Hebrews 2:14-15)
Through His vicarious death on the cross, Jesus destroyed Satan and his evil power over humanity. That spells:
CHRIST’S VICTORY, SATAN’S DEFEAT AND OUR LIBERTY
2. “To carry out, accomplish, perform, fulfill.” Salvation is now complete; nothing needs to be added: “For by grace are ye saved through faith.” (Eph. 2:8-10) He was saying, “My blood is flowing, sins can now be washed away and sicknesses healed…because God’s great salvation is now optional.”
Jesus fulfilled 332 prophetic scriptures referring to the ‘Coming Messiah’. Among these were 61 major prophecies, and Jesus fulfilled them all.
According to the scientific – Law of Probabilities – Dr. Peter Stoner has proven conclusively that, for any other man to fulfill just 8 of the major prophecies which Jesus fulfilled, he would have only one chance in 10 to the 17th power~ That is 10 with 17 zeros after it. (1,000,000,000,000,000,000)
In order for us to understand the magnitude of that figure, Dr. Stoner calculated that it would be necessary to cover the face of Texas with American silver dollars two feet deep. Out of those millions of silver dollars, only one would be marked with an X. All would then be vigorously stirred together.
A man would be blind folded and told, “You may walk across the State and dig as much as you like, but the first silver dollar you pick up must have the X on it.”
Jesus performed and executed to the letter every demand of the law. He fulfilled every messianic prophecy. No other person could come close to doing that. He stated, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” (Matthew 5:17)
3. “To pay what is owed.” We were guilty of sin. Our future was doomed for “the scripture hath concluded all under sin.” (Gal. 3:22) The Bible says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
God’s Word declared, “For the wages of sin is death; But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
No wonder the apostle states, “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.” (2 Cor. 9:15)
Jesus paid the awful cost of redemption. The Bible says, “How much more shall the blood of Christ, Who through the Eternal Spirit offered Himself to God, purge your conscience from dead works.” (Hebrews 9:14)
“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; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” (I Peter 1:18-19)
St. Paul declared, “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (I Cor. 6:20)
The Bible says, “The Blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin.” (I John 1:7)
“That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” (Gal. 3:13-14)
“And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses. Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross.” (Col. 2:13-14)
The statement of guilt, shame and debt has been removed by the victorious death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Norwegian Bible states, “The letter of debt” was nailed to His cross.
The statement that declared me bankrupt, guilty, doomed to sinful behavior, sickness, fear, death and eternal damnation has been laid on Jesus Christ and nailed to his cross. I am now free, Hallelujah!
“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:” (Gal. 3:13)
“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.” (I John 3:8)
No. 5 THE CROSS TEACHES US THE VALUE OF AN ETERNAL SOUL
Jesus stated, “What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36-37)
Our Lord declared, “For the Son of man is come to SEEK and to SAVE that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10)
Jesus portrayed Himself as the “GOOD SHEPHERD” who left the 99 sheep – who were safe – and went out into the dark night to rescue the ONE LOST SHEEP.
He declared that He was the “GOOD SHEPHERD” who would give His life for his sheep! “Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before Me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
JESUS IS THE GOOD SHEPHERD
Our Lord stated, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”
“But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine. As the Father knoweth Me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.”
“Therefore doth My Father love Me, because I lay down My life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have poewr to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of My Father.” (John 10:7-18)
The Bible says, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)
Jesus laid down His life for us and the cross teaches us how much value God puts upon one individual soul. He loves us and gave Himself for us individually. We are worth more to Him than ‘all the riches and wealth of this world.’
Don’t forget it my friend…Your soul is priceless in the sight of God. That is why Jesus gave his life for you and me. And thats what the cross teaches us.
During his European crusades, Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte gathered his leading generals and officers into his war room. Spreading out the map of Europe, Napoleon pointed toward the British Isles – which were colored in red – and stated emphatically, “If it wasn’t for that little red spot I could rule the world.”
The British Isles stood in the way of Napoleon’s dream of conquering Europe and the world. He was conquered by the British at the ‘Battle of Waterloo.’ The little red spot, the British Isles had defeated Napoleon Bonaparte.
It is not unreasonable to think that one day Satan gathered all of his leading demons into his war room and spreading out the map of the world and pointing to Golgotha exclaimed, “If it wasn’t for this little red spot, I could rule the world.”
The blood of Jesus Christ, shed on Golgotha’s Hill – effectively crippled Satan and took from him the power and ability to run roughshod over God’s people.
He no longer has any jurisdiction over those who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and trust in his precious blood for eternal life. What a marvelous fact.
The blood of Jesus Christ, shed for us all on Golgotha, has purchased our eternal salvation.
#1 WE RECEIVE FORGIVENESS of OUR SINS THROUGH HIS BLOOD
“In Whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”
#2 WE RECEIVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD
“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;
“But the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” (I Peter 1:18-19)
“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with His own blood.” (Acts 20:28)
#3 WE RECEIVE CLEANSING FROM SIN THROUGH THE BLOOD
“But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, And the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sins.” (I John 1:7)
#4 WE ARE LOOSED FROM OUR SINS THROUGH HIS BLOOD
“And from Jesus Christ, Who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood.” (Rev. 1:5)
#5 WE ARE JUSTIFIED THROUGH HIS BLOOD
“Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” (Rom. 5:9)
“Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through Faith in His blood, to declare the righteousness for the remission of sins, that are passed, through the forbearance of God.” (Rom. 3:24-25)
#6 WE RECEIVE PEACE THROUGH HIS BLOOD
“And having made peace through the death of His cross, by Him to receive all things unto himself;” (Col. 1:20)
#7 WE RECEIVE ACCESS TO THE FATHER THROUGH HIS BLOOD
“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us through the veil, that is to say, His flesh;” (Heb. 10:19-20)
#8 WE RECEIVE DIVINE HEALING THROUGH HIS BLOOD
“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.” (Is. 53:5)
“Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by Whose stripes ye are healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)
#9 WE RECEIVE VICTORY OVER THE DEVIL THROUGH HIS BLOOD
“And they overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” (Rev. 12:11)
#10 WE ARE SANCTIFIED THROUGH HIS BLOOD
“Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify His people with His own blood, suffered without the gate.” (Hebrews 13:12)
#11 WE RECEIVE A CLEAR (PURGED) CONSCIENCE THROUGH HIS BLOOD
“How much more shall the blood of Christ, Who through the Eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience (mind) from dead works, to serve the Living God?” (Hebrews 9:14)
#12 WE RECEIVE ETERNAL GLORY THROUGH HIS BLOOD
“These are they which came out of great tribulation, and hav washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the Throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple; and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them…
“For the Lamb Which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of water: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.”
(Rev. 7:14-17)