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The Triumph of Christ Over Satan – Colossians 2:15 and Related Scriptures

by Jamie Pantastico | Mar 9, 2023 | Daily Encouragement | 0 comments

‘Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.’

Colossians 2:15

Colossians 2:15 speaks of how Jesus, through His work on the cross, openly defeated the principalities and powers that are under Satan’s rule. This victory is rooted in the promise of a coming Redeemer in the Seed of the woman, made by God immediately after the fall of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3:15. God promised that the Seed of the woman, who is Christ according to Galatians 4:4, would crush the head of Satan embodied in a serpent.

‘And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”’

Genesis 3:15

The victory of Christ is further explained in Romans 8, where it is shown that everything in creation has been living in hope of the redemption accomplished at the cross when the Seed of the woman became the victorious One over Satan and his minions. Creation itself will be delivered from the curse into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Believers also groan within themselves, waiting for the redemption of their bodies and to be totally in union with Christ in their resurrected state.

‘For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. ‘

Romans 8:20-23

Hebrews 2:14 supports the statement that Christ triumphed over the principalities and powers of Satan and the demonic world. Jesus took on flesh and blood and defeated the devil through His death, burial, and resurrection. Satan was utterly defeated and operationally destroyed when Christ arose victoriously over sin and death on the resurrection morning.

‘Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,’

Hebrews 2:14

In Colossians 2, it is emphasized that Christ did not just undergo another crucifixion or death but that He defeated all the satanic powers and dominions that are under Satan’s rule. The Law has been crucified and nailed to His cross, and believers are now set totally at liberty and free (Galatians 5:1). This freedom is not a license to sin but empowerment to fulfill the law through love, as love is the foundation for godly behavior and obedience to God’s will.

Takeaway

Through the finished work of the cross, believers have triumphed over sin, the curse of the law, Satan, and the very sting of death, securing an incomparable victory that can only be attained through the redeeming love and mercy of Jesus Christ.

Amen!

There is no list of fruits for keeping the law – Only Death

by Jamie Pantastico | Mar 9, 2023 | Daily Encouragement | 0 comments

‘Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.’

Romans 13:8

There is no list of fruits for keeping the law only death. The demands of the law were fulfilled by God’s great love for humanity demonstrated, by the cross.

Romans 13:8 states, “Owe (or defraud) no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.” The pinnacle of the work of the cross is love, and it was Christ’s great love (Ephesians 2:4) for humanity that led Him to the cross. Therefore, love is the ultimate fulfillment and culmination of the law. Take a look at Ephesians 2:4;

‘But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, ‘

Under grace and with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, it is love that fulfills the demands of the law in this age of grace. When you truly love someone, you won’t want to commit adultery, steal, kill, bear false witness, or covet. If you love your neighbor, you won’t steal from them. If you love your wife, you won’t cheat on her. Love is the foundation for godly behavior and obedience to God’s commandments. Read Galatians 5:13-14;

‘For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”’

While the Ten Commandments are still the criteria for behavior for the unsaved world (because without the power of condemnation that the law brings this world would be in utter chaos), they mean nothing for believers because the Law has been crucified (Colossians 2:14; Romans 8:3-5; Romans 6:14). This doesn’t mean that believers can do as they please, for Grace is not a license to sin. But instead of having the heavy hand and constant condemnation of the Law keeping them from sin, believers have the indwelling Holy Spirit (Read Galatians 5:22-25 below), who will never tell them to break one of the commandments and Who will empower us to fulfill the law through love.

‘But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such, there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. ‘

Galatians 5:22-25

In summary, love fulfills the law under grace, and when you love someone, you will not break any of God’s commandments. Love is the foundation for godly behavior and obedience to God’s will.

Additional Reading:

‘But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ‘

Romans 8:9-16

The Handwriting of Ordinances ‘the Law’ Nailed to His Cross

by Jamie Pantastico | Mar 8, 2023 | Daily Encouragement | 0 comments

‘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. ‘

Colossians 2:13-14

In Colossians 2:13-14, Paul reminds the Gentile believers that they were once dead in their sins and uncircumcision of the flesh, but have now been made alive through Christ Jesus. This is the concept of identification that is woven throughout Scripture. As Jesus died, was buried, and rose again, believers have died to their old selves (our Adamic nature), been buried with Christ, and are now raised to new life through faith in Him (Read Romans 6:1-10, for a clear explanation of our identification with Christ).

In verse 13, Paul also reminds us that all of our sins have been forgiven through Christ’s work on the cross. He paid the debt for every sin, no matter how great or small, committed by every person who has ever lived. However, many fail to appropriate this forgiveness by faith. Even the most notorious sinners in history could have been forgiven, but they never believed it.

Verse 14 goes on to describe the Law as “the handwriting of ordinances” that was against us and contrary to us. The Law had no power to save keep it, and could only point the finger of condemnation. But through His work on the cross, Jesus did away with the Law by nailing it to the cross. The Law was perfect and the very mind of God, but it was not a means of salvation or sanctification.

As believers, we are now under grace, not the Law. This can be a difficult concept for some to grasp, as many believe that keeping the Commandments or doing their best is enough to earn God’s acceptance. But the truth is that salvation and eternal life are obtained only through faith in Christ’s death and resurrection (the gospel).

Remember, as Paul says in Colossians 2:13, we have been made alive and brought out of our spiritual deadness through Christ (the death, burial, and resurrection). So let us rest in the amazing grace of God and live in the freedom that Christ alone has done all that God the Father required for our salvation.

Amen.

Good and Faithful Servant? Labor for the Lord

by Jamie Pantastico | Mar 7, 2023 | Daily Encouragement | 0 comments

‘Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.’

I Corinthians 15:58

In 1 Corinthians 15:58, the apostle Paul encourages believers to stand firm and be steadfast in their faith, always giving themselves fully to the work of the Lord. He reminds us that our labor is not in vain because God is keeping a record of our earthly activities and we will be rewarded in glory.

It’s important to note that being a believer does not guarantee a life of material wealth and comfort. However, we can take comfort in the fact that our earthly labor is not wasted, and we will one day be rewarded for our faithful service to God. We should all desire to hear the Lord say “Well done, good and faithful servant” Matthew 25:21.

‘His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ ‘

Matthew 25:21

So, let us be steadfast in our faith, unmovable in our dedication to the Lord, and always abound in His work. Our labor may not be immediately rewarded in this life, but we can have the assurance that our efforts will be rewarded in the life to come. Let us run the race for rewards and be encouraged by Paul’s teaching.

Justification: What it means and why it matters

by Jamie Pantastico | Mar 6, 2023 | Daily Encouragement | 0 comments

When we talk about the Doctrine of Justification, we’re talking about something fundamental to the Christian faith. At its core, justification is God’s act of declaring a person “justified,” or just as if they had never sinned. This happens the moment God sees a sinner believe by faith alone in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

In other words, when God looks at a person who has put their faith in Jesus Christ and the finished work of the cross, He sees them as righteous, not because of anything they have done, but because of what Christ did on the cross. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, our sins are paid for in full, and we are reconciled to God.

This is the message of Romans 3:24: “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” And in Romans 3:28, we read, “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.”

It’s important to understand that this is a legal term, a judicial act by which God declares us “justified.” This means that no matter what sins we may have committed in the past or may commit in the future, we are still justified in God’s eyes.

This is not something we can earn through our own good works or efforts. Galatians 2:16 makes it clear that “a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ.” When we put our faith in Christ, His righteousness is imputed to us, and we are declared “justified” by God.

This is an immediate process that happens the moment we put our faith in Christ. It’s beautifully explained in 2 Corinthians 5:21: “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

It’s amazing to think that Christ suffered so much on our behalf, even though we were living in sin (Romans 5:8) and completely undeserving of anything from God. But because of God’s great love and mercy, He poured out His grace on all of us.

As believers, it’s important to study this doctrine, not just for the highly educated or seminary grad, but for all of us. It is a truth that can help build and strengthen our faith. And as we dig into the Doctrine of Justification, we will better understand what it really means to be justified by a Holy God.

So let us praise God for His amazing grace and mercy, and for the Doctrine of Justification that reminds us of His incredible love for us.

Bible Reading:

Romans 3:24

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Romans 3:28

‘Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.‘

Galatians 2:16

yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

Romans 5:1

‘Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:’

‘For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.’

II Corinthians 5:21

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