COLOSSIANS 2: 13-15
THE CONQUERING CHRIST
Would you consider yourself a free person? On what basis would you make your evaluation? What would you say makes a free person? These questions force us to define what we mean by freedom. Truly free people have four ingredients of liberty.
1. They have dealt with the past and are free from incriminating memories of failure.
2. They have experienced forgiveness which has extricated them from self-condemnation.
3. They have been released from the bonds of compulsive patterns.
4. They have been emancipated from dependence on the opinions and criticism of people.
From these basic elements flows the freedom to accept and love ourselves, give affirmation and esteem to others, and live with confidence concerning the future. This quality of freedom comes only from fellowship with Christ. Yet I am painfully aware that there are many Christians who believe in Christ, but who are not free. How can we be free? We Christians need to experience the dynamic of the cross (CIM). Only the power of the cross can grant us our personal liberation from the failures of the past and the disturbing memories of what might have been. The power of the cross also can grant us freedom from being unsettled by the criticism of others who demand we live up to their standards. When we experience such release we are on our way to being unlocked from the prisons of the past and enabled to breathe the fresh air of our deliverance. [Oglive, Lloyd John. Colossians: Loved & Forgiven. Regal. Glendale, CA. 1977. 77-78]
Here we find that Jesus preformed three redemptive acts for us on the Cross that we might be free to experience the abundant life He alone gives.
I. JESUS ENACTED FORGIVENESS, 13.
II. JESUS CANCELED OUR INDEBTEDNESS, 14.
III. JESUS DISARMED OUR ETERNAL ENEMIES, 15.
The new life believers have in Christ is contrasted in verse 13 to the life they lived before they were baptized. Before Christ we were spiritually dead in our sin. “When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions,
The wages of sin is death; moral death and spiritual death (Rom. 6:11; Eph. 2:1,5). They were dead and helplessly gone in their condition of sinfulness. Those who are spiritually dead are dominated by the world the flesh, and the devil and do not possess eternal life. They stood in desperate need of forgiveness. Forgiveness is one of the most exciting and comforting doctrines in Scripture because it is what lost sinners need to be made right with God.
The Colossians were so dead in their sin they had not even acknowledged the existence of the One True God or they would have been circumcised under the sign of the Old Covenant. They were completely locked in sin’s grasp. They had not even responded to the spiritual light shone them.
Their hopeless story does not end there, because God is rich in mercy for any and all who would recognize and acknowledge who God is and who they are. All that here follows is because of their, because of our, union with Christ (suneksôpoiçsen- alive together; zôos,+ poieô, + sun) in His death and resurrection. When Christ died, we died with Him. When Christ rose, we rose in Him. As Christ was raised from the dead the believer (the one who is baptized by the HS into Christ) has been raised and brought into life. We who were dead in trespasses and sin are now spiritually alive, in Christ.
The enacting of forgiveness is simultaneous with being made alive. Being made alive involved the forgiveness of sin, the forgiveness of everything which once alienated, separated us from God. God forgives the sin of those who place their trust in Him, in who He is and what He has done. God’s response for all who will look to Him and turn from their sin is forgiveness and grace. [The Greek word translated forgiven [charisamenos] is built out of the Greek word for grace].
The cross and the empty tomb are God’s attitude toward us. When Christ died 2,000 years ago He atoned for all our sin past, present, and future. By the cross of Christ we can own up to what we have been and what we have done and then disown it all because of what God has done. You are freed from your past in Christ and no longer need to demean yourself or listen to Satan demeaning you. God can not undo what we have done, but by dying for our sin on the Cross He could pay the cost of our forgiveness, and blot out our sinful past. In Christ you find forgiveness and freedom from the condemnation of our sin; past, present, and future. “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace” (Eph. 1:7).
So God asserted His power and His willingness to pardon our grievous sins. His invitation is, “Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool.” What an unequal opportunity to prove our sinfulness and God’s willingness to forgive. If we acknowledge the depth of our sins-that our iniquities were like deep stains on our souls, then God in His grace will cleanse us, making us spiritually white like snow or wool.
Thus the Psalmist can promises us that, ‘As far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us’ (Ps. 103:12). Isaiah speaks of God as casting all the prophet’s sins behind his back (Isa. 38:17), and as ‘blotting out’ the people’s transgressions (Isa. 43:25; Ps. 51:1, 9). In Jeremiah 31:34 the Lord says, ‘I will remember their sin no more,’ and Micah speaks of him as casting sins ‘into the depths of the sea’ (Mic. 7:19). Such vivid language emphasizes the completeness of God’s forgiveness. When He forgives, men’s sins are dealt with thoroughly. God sees and remembers them no more. He has forgiven you. If you have believed in Jesus, your sin has been erased from the records of the past, never to be mentioned forever. Pardon is not a matter of hope but of fact.
[Charles Haddon Spurgeon: “All our transgressions are swept away at once, carried off as by a flood and so completely removed that no guilty trace of them remains. They are all gone! O believers, think of this, for the all is no little thing: sins against a holy God, sins against His loving Son, sins against gospel as well as against law, sins against man as well as against God, sins of the body as well as sins of the mind, sins as numerous as the sands on the seashore, and as great as the sea itself: all, all are removed from us as far as the east is from the west. All this evil was rolled into one great mass, and laid upon Jesus, and having borne it all He has made an end of it forever. When the Lord forgave us, He forgave us the whole debt. He did not take the bill and say, “I strike out this item and that,” but the pen went through it all;—PAID. It was a receipt in full of all demands. Jesus took the handwriting that was against us and nailed it to His Cross, to show before the entire universe that its power to condemn us had ceased forever. We have in Him a full forgiveness.]
II. JESUS CANCELED OUR INDEBTEDNESS, 14.
In verse 14 we find that on the cross Jesus canceled out our sin debt. “having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
It was customary in Roman judicial system that when a man was judged guilty, condemned for a crime and put in prison, to have a certificate nailed to the prison door. It was called a CERTIFICATE OF DEBT. On that certificate of debt would be written the crime for which the man was guilty, the number of days, months or years that he would stay in prison. Then, when he had fulfilled his duty to the law, his certificate of debt was marked paid in full. It was taken, given to the judge, who would have it notarized; and, the freed man would carry it with him. And, if anybody were to accuse him of that crime again, he could pull out the certificate of debt, and say, “Yes, I may have been guilty, but I have paid in full. You’re not going to bring me into double jeopardy; I’ve already paid for that crime.”
Now, what happened to a man who was guilty of a capital offense? They would take the offense that he’d done, and they would nail it to his cross above his head. That’s the reason that Pilate nailed above the head of the Lord Jesus, “This is Jesus,” or, “Jesus Christ, the King of the Jews”—it was sarcasm. Here was a man who made Himself King; and, that’s why Pilate allowed Him to be crucified—because it was insurrection against Caesar; it was a crime worthy of death. The Romans would put on that cross the certificate of whatever that individual had done. And, they crucified people openly, in public. They wanted people to see a man die in agony, and pain, and blood, and anguish upon the cross. And, up there, on that cross, would be what that man had done. And, every citizen who walked by would say, “I’ll never do that—no sir, I will not buy me one of those crucifixions. Whatever it is on that cross, whatever that person did, I will never do, because I don’t want to end up there.” You understand? So, that was what they did in Rome, so long ago.
Now, from God’s point of view, there was something else that was nailed to that cross, and that was God’s holy law. It’s called the handwriting of ordinances here in the Scripture that I read to you. Do you see it here, in verse 14? It says He was “blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us” [From Adrian Rogers Legacy Collection. © 2010. www.ARLC.org Col. 2:8-15]
Since people cannot keep the Law, it is like a bill of indebtedness. So people, unable to pay the debt, are criminals, law breakers before God. But Jesus took away these criminal charges, this certificate of indebtedness, by His death. It is as if it was nailing it to the cross with Him, showing He paid the debt. He wiped the slate clean.
“Christ Jesus set me free from the law of sin and death” (Rom. 8:2). “He who did not spare his own Son but gave Him up for us all” (Rom. 8:32, rsv). God forgives us, justifies us, makes us as though we were without sin.
Friend, you are justified by the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, because your sins were nailed to the cross. God has given you a certificate of debt; and, on that certificate of debt is written, in the crimson blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, “Paid in full”—“Paid in full.”
That doesn’t mean that, if you sin, God’s going to overlook your sin. No, He’ll carry you to the woodshed. Your daddy ever carry you to the woodshed? We didn’t have a woodshed; we had a garage—did just as well. I went out there on more occasions than I want to rehearse right now, but I was still my father’s son. My father would never condemn me; he would chastise me. But, there’s no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.
The sins that have plagued you are written on a list. Santa Claus makes a list and checks it twice in order to find out who’s naughty and nice. Our Father, on the other hand, makes a list and checks it once. Then He nailed it to the Cross, where the blood of His Son covers it completely. The list of our sins, shortcomings, and stupidities is blotted out in totality by the blood of the Son of God.
The law establishes an code of conduct and we have failed to live up to it’s holy standard. Have you ever thought of making a list of you sins, or the charges against you, and then nailing them to the cross? By writing a list you come to realize how much you have been forgive, and he who is forgiven much loves much. A good exercise is to acknowledge all the thoughts, words, actions that we have done or all thoughts, words, actions that we have not done for Christ and placed that list at the foot of the cross?
A popular monk in THE MIDDLE AGES announced that in the cathedral that evening he would preach a sermon on the love of God. The people gathered and stood in silence waiting for the service while the sunlight streamed through the beautiful windows. When the last glint of color had faded from the windows, the old monk took a candle from the altar. Walking to the life size figure of Christ on the Cross, he held the light beneath the wounds of the feet, then His hands, then His side. Still without a word, he let the light shine on the thorn-crowned brow.
That was his sermon. The people stood in silence and wept. They knew they were at the center of mystery beyond their knowing, that they were looking at the love of God, the image of the invisible God, giving Himself for us—a love so deep, so inclusive, so expansive, so powerful, so complete the mind could not comprehend nor measure it, or words express it.
The Bible recognize that fact too. So it comes back again and again to the purpose and power of the Cross. It took the sacrificial love of Jesus, fully expressed on the Cross, to bring the change necessary for persons to “come back” to God. The love of Christ on the Cross has the power to turn man’s sin to repentance, man’s rebellion to surrender, man’s hostility against God into love. The very essence of Christianity is the restoration of our lost relationship with God through forgiveness. The purpose and power of the Cross was the offering of that forgiveness and restoration. [Dunnam, Maxie. The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol 31: Galatians / Ephesians / Philippians / Colossians / Philemon. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1982, S. 363].
III. JESUS DISARMED OUR ETERNAL ENEMIES, 15.
Jesus nailed our sins on the Cross. But not only did He cancel our sin debt, we learn in verse 15 that on the cross He disarmed principalities and powers. “When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.”
We do not have to be the puppets or the victims of Satan or any evil spirits working upon us. Nor do we have to achieve our own salvation, or be intimidated by those who seek to impose religious or other rules and regulations. On the cross Jesus delivered believers are from these evil powers which inspire legalistic rules [Walvoord, John; The Bible Knowledge Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1983, S. 678]
Now, the devil thought he was destroying Jesus on the cross, but Jesus was destroying the devil. Hebrews 2:14, “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself”—that’s Jesus—“…took part of the same;”—He became flesh and blood. Now, watch this—“that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.” When Jesus died on the cross, that devil said, “Ha! He’s finished!” But, Jesus said, “Satan, you’re finished.” “Now is the prince of this world cast out” (John 12:31). “He, through death, destroyed him that hath the power of death, that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14).
Satan himself is defeated because of that cross. His back is broken because of the cross of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus defeated him on the cross. The Greek word translated defeated means “to make of no effect.” It doesn’t mean he’s obliterated; it means he’s stripped of His authority and power. You don’t have to obey the devil anymore. “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 12:11)— thank God for that!
The hold a demon has on someone is his sin. But if the sin has been washed away by the blood of the Son, the demon has nothing upon which to cling. Once forgiveness is understood and blood is appropriated, the powers of darkness are rendered as powerless as a troop of chained and conquered soldiers. That’s why Peter tells us that when Jesus died, He went into the lower parts of the earth and told the demonic spirits they no longer had authority over us (1 Peter 3:19).
If I understand and rejoice in the blood of Christ, demonic beings are powerless, here and now by the power of the cross and resurrection. The thing about demonic powers is that they are squatters. They won’t leave until I say, “I’m not going to listen to this depression you’re whispering in my ear this morning. I’m not going to buy it because of the blood of Jesus Christ.”
That’s what is meant by pleading the blood. It’s not a phrase you use; it’s an understanding you have. Wherever I plead the blood of Christ, Satan doesn’t have influence over me. Let this sink in, gang, and you will really be set free. [Courson, Jon: Jon Courson’s Application Commentary. Nashville, TN : Thomas Nelson, 2003, S. 1315.]
IN CONCLUSION
Now, what does that mean for me? Friend, I don’t have to be a slave to sin. I don’t have to be condemned by the law. I don’t have to be conformed by this world. I don’t have to be motivated by the flesh. I don’t have to be bullied by the devil, and I don’t have to be intimidated by death, because of Jesus.
Now, let me ask you a question: Is there some sin that is haunting you? You’ve already asked God to forgive you, but you still have the ghost of guilt? Is there some law that is condemning you, & you’re saying, “Oh, I’m just not living up to the holy law?” Is there some worldly attraction that’s pulling at you? Is there some fleshly lust that’s working on you? Is there some devilish power that is controlling you? Is there some fear of death that is bothering you?
Now, here’s what we’re going to do: TAKE OUT THE PIECE OF PAPER you found in your bulletin. I want you to think what some of these things here, and I want you to look up there [lists of sins on screens]. And, maybe there’s a sin up there; maybe there is a power of Satan up there, or the flesh, or the world. And, you’ve been wrestling with these things, and you say, “Very frankly, Pastor, there are some things I’d like to put in the grave of God’s forgetfulness. Because Jesus nailed these things to the cross, I want to nail them to the cross.” And, what I’d like to do— we’re going to spend some time just thinking. And, by the way, I’m going to do this. I don’t want anybody to think, “Well, you know, if I do this, they’ll think I’m an evil sinner.” Well, then, you might think your pastor’s an evil sinner.
But, I want you to write some things that you’d just like to nail to the cross. I mean, is there something you want to say to, “I’m finished with that; I’m confessing that sin; I’m putting it under the blood; I’m no longer going to be intimidated by a guilty conscience because of one of the commandments that I’ve failed to keep; I’m not going to let the devil push me around about this thing anymore; or, I’m not going to give into the flesh”? Now, I’m not talking about amp-ing [amplifying] up your willpower; [this same chapter talks about that, and says how terrible that is]. But, through the power of the cross, I am telling you, my precious friend, when you depend upon what Jesus did upon that cross, you’re going to find incredible power surging through you to live His way.
Now, we’re going to take just a few moments, and I want you to get out a pen. I don’t want you to sign your name to it. It’s none of my business; it’s none of anybody’s business. But, I want you to just write some things down there. If you’re embarrassed to write them down, don’t even write them. Write them in invisible ink—God knows your heart. We’re not trying to get some record here. This is between you and God—that’s the reason why I made this thing—we made it—where you can just fold it.
And, here’s what we’re going to do: Listen, we’re going to write some things that we’re are effecting us. By putting these things down we’re acknowledging things that are nailed to His cross. And then, we’re going to fold them—nobody’s going to sign them— and you’re going to get up, as you wish, and come down here, and just lay them on the platform; and, we’re going to pick them up, and nail them to the cross, and just say whack! That’s it. Praise God! That’s it. I mean, devil—whack!—that’s it. World— whack!—that’s it. Whatever it is that’s pulling at you, working at you. Not a one of us here, not a one, especially the guy speaking, who doesn’t need a fresh start. Something we’re going to nail to this cross. And, the only reason we can do it is because He’s already done it. All we’re doing is just saying amen.
Now, does everybody have to come forward? Certainly not. You may not want to. Nobody’s going to look at you, and say, “Why didn’t you do it?” But, I believe many of us are going to, and after the invitation we’re just going to leave this building with these things nailed to the cross.
All right? So, let’s just take a few moments; and, you, in your own privacy, do as you wish. Jot something down. If you don’t want to jot it down, but just say, “Lord, You know”—you’re afraid your neighbor’s going to look over on your page… “I don’t want him to see what I’m writing down here. I don’t want her to see. I sure don’t want my wife to see”—oh, you’re missing the spirit of this whole thing! Just each person keep your eyes on your own notes, but just write down something; and, I’m going to write down something. You say, “Pastor, I sure would like to know what you’re writing down.” I’m not going to tell you; Jesus knows. But, thank God, it’s nailed to His cross. [The conclusion of this message is adapted from Adrian Rogers Legacy Collection. © 2010. www.ARLC.org/ Col 2:8-15]
For those washed in the blood of the Lamb the accounting pages of our lifes will be free from sin, our transgressions blotted out, forgotten. 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (NASB). This is the assurance we have from our God.
It is the nature of our loving God to forgive and He has made it possible by the shed blood of His Son for our sins to be washed away. The cross meets our deepest needs: life with hope and meaning, forgiveness, and victory over destructive forces.
INVITATION
Is this assurance of hope yours today? You come to the front as we sing and symbolically place your sin at the foot of the cross and have your sin nailed to the cross. If you still feel guilty over confessed sin, you come and we’ll nail it to the cross and ask God to allow you to know His cleansing, to experience the power of His blood and enjoy His forgiveness. You don’t need to hold on to your sin, to your guilt, come lay it at the foot of the cross. As we stand & sing #
PRAYER: Father, give us courage to confess do dare to see ourselves as we truly are or as we would have been. We can bare our sinful heart to You because we know also that You have taken the sponge of Your grace, filled with the blood of the cross and blotted out all Your charges against us. By the blood of Jesus You have cleansed away the list of all our incriminating short coming.
Thank You that our slate is clean and that we are completely exonerated. Allow the full-impact of that to pervade and penetrate our mind, heart, and soul. As far as You are concerned, for those of us hidden in Christ, it is as if we are without sin. Thank You that You not only forgive, You forget [Isa 65:16-17]. You have no more memory of the sin that has been put under the blood of Jesus. For You have nailed it to the Cross and Jesus paid it in full and removed it [into the deepest part of the sea of eternity]. Be blessed and praised forever and ever, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
