The Significance Of The Cross Series

"Enforcing the Victory, Part 1: The Significance of the Cross"

Introduction to the Series:

A Tale of Two Victories

Sun Tzu, the renowned Chinese military strategist, once taught his troops the art of enforcing victory. "A victory," he said, "is not merely the winning of a battle, but the securing of its fruits. A general must not only defeat his enemy but also ensure that he cannot rise again. He must occupy the enemy's territory, dismantle his defenses, and sow discord among his ranks."

Sun Tzu’s words resonate with the eternal battle between light and darkness, between good and evil. In the greatest battle ever fought, Jesus Christ, the ultimate commander, delivered a decisive blow to sin and death on the cross. His victory was not just a temporary triumph but an eternal defeat of the forces of darkness.

However, unlike a traditional military leader, Jesus didn’t leave His followers to fend for themselves against a still-dangerous enemy. Instead, He gave them a battle plan—a strategy for continuing the spiritual warfare until He returns. Just as Sun Tzu advised his troops, Jesus commanded His Church to:

Occupy the enemy's territory: Spread the Gospel to all nations, bringing the good news of salvation to a lost and broken world.

Dismantle the enemy's defenses: Expose the lies of Satan, break the chains of sin, and set captives free through the truth.

Sow discord among the enemy's ranks: Divide the forces of darkness by turning hearts away from sin and toward the light of Christ.

Like skilled generals in a spiritual battle, we, the Church, are called to enforce the victory of Christ. We are to secure the spiritual territory He has won, dismantle the strongholds of sin, and proclaim His Kingdom until He returns.

As we launch into this new series, "Enforcing the Victory," let us take up our roles with courage and determination, knowing that the victory has already been won. Our task is to enforce it in every area of our lives and our world. Let’s fight the good fight, confident that, in the end, victory is ours through Christ Jesus.

Here's what we will cover in the coming weeks:

Part 1: The Significance of the Cross – Today, we will explore the cross as the ultimate battleground where Jesus won the decisive victory over sin, death, and Satan. We will discuss what Jesus' declaration "It is finished" means and how it impacts our daily lives.

Part 2: The Finality of the Victory – Next week, we will examine the completeness and sufficiency of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and what it means to live in the assurance of a finished work.

Part 3: The Power of the Resurrection – In week three, we will focus on the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the ultimate proof of His victory, and explore how the same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us.

Part 4: Living as More Than Conquerors – Finally, we will learn what it means to live as “more than conquerors” through Christ, fully equipped to enforce His victory in every aspect of life.

Today, as we begin with Part 1: The Significance of the Cross, I want to take us back to the very foundation of our faith—the cross of Jesus Christ. The cross is where the greatest battle was fought and won, and it is the place where our journey of enforcing Christ's victory begins.

I. The Cross: The Ultimate Battleground

Scripture: Isaiah 53:5, John 19:30, Colossians 2:13-15

The cross is more than a symbol; it is the ultimate battleground where the forces of good and evil collided, and Jesus, the Son of God, achieved the greatest victory in history. It was on the cross that Jesus dealt a decisive blow to Satan, sin, and death. Let’s unpack this victory and understand its significance.

The Power of Substitution:

Isaiah 53:5 says, “But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds, we are healed.”

Jesus' death on the cross was a substitutionary sacrifice. He took our place, bore the punishment that we deserved, and provided a way for us to be reconciled to God.

This act of substitution was not just about paying for our sins; it was about breaking the power of sin itself. Jesus’ blood was shed to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and to give us a new identity as children of God.

The Defeat of Satan’s Power:

Colossians 2:13-15 tells us, “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; He has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”