MONDAY March 21, 2022

Christ’s Triumphs

And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
Colossians 2:13-15

Paul dealt with heresy that had crept into the Colossian church. False teachers tried to deceive believers into thinking they had to be circumcised to be saved––not so. Circumcision was the tradition of men––Judaizers. Salvation is a free gift of God; it is all of grace, through faith. A person does not have to work for their salvation. Paul gave a simple explanation: For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation (Galatians 6:15).

In Christ, we have become a new creation: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). Through the work of Christ, the shedding of His blood on the Cross, regeneration has taken place––a spiritual rebirth. Christians gain salvation, receive forgiveness, and can have victory over sin. Jesus sanctifies us until we are glorified in eternity.

The handwriting of requirements against us was the Law. We have all broken God’s Law––His Commandments. The Law condemned us, but it has also caused us to run to Jesus. Thank God for the Law because it became as a schoolmaster or tutor to point us to Christ––to a place of conviction. Christ nailed the requirements of the Law to the Cross. When Jesus rose on the third day, He set us free from death and sin and disarmed principalities and powers.

Anyone can call upon Jesus’ name to save them. When they do, He will dwell in their hearts––right in the midst of them.

Sin was conquered on the Cross. Christ’s death is the foundation of our hope, the promise of our triumph.
~Billy Graham~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!