11. In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, 12. having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. 13. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. 15. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
Christ there is complete forgiveness therefore we have hope in the complete victory of Christ over Satan.
culture has changed dramatically in the last few years. With many other cultures coming into our country, there are many non-Christian religions - Buddhist, Muslims, Hindus, as well as the influence of New Age beliefs. The thing that is lacking in non-Christian religions is eternal hope. All other religions are man's way of getting to God. The Bible shows that salvation comes through Christ’s works on the cross as God comes down to man to seek and save the lost. It is not by our striving, but by our faith in accepting the gift provided by our Lord.
believe some cosmic force or gods will determine if their works were good enough.
Paul gives us confident hope because Jesus took on the very battle against Satan himself. Jesus went to the cross in order that our sins can be canceled and forgiven. By the power of the Almighty, Jesus was able to have Satan play right into His hands, for the grave could not hold Him. Now no grave of a believer can hold them either.
Jesus stripped Satan of his power over our lives. v. 15 says He disarmed them. We have the power of God to withstand the fiery darts of the evil one. The true Christian has been made complete in what Christ has done for us.
This hope is explained in this passage in three ways.
It is a resurrection from the dead. Christ comes and makes one alive to God.
It is the figurative expression of canceling the written code. It is paying the debt. By nailing our debt to the cross we have been purchased by our Lord.
It is like a military victory or triumph over the enemy. Jesus won the war over our soul and over Satan's power over us
Today declare this truth out loud - Christ was complete in His victory and that hope is available to all who believe and receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior. I am complete “in Christ”.
Father, thank you that I can know that I am alive in Christ. The grave could not holt him and cannot hold me. Thank you that I have resurrection life in Christ.
