Defeat at the cross...

Defeat at the cross...

It seems evident that when Satan caused our first parents to sin in the Garden of Eden, he wrested from them the authority with which God had intended them to rule over His dominions. From that day to this, Satan has been the prince of this world. Both the physical world and mankind have been under his control. This is revealed in the temptation of the Lord (Matt. 4:8,9).

Satan showed Christ the kingdoms of the world in panorama. He offered to give Christ those kingdoms if He would but fall down and worship him. This offer of Satan seems a hollow boast until we realize that he did ruthlessly seize control of the earth from Adam. So his proposition to Christ was a bona fide one.

One of the reasons our Lord came into this world was to regain from Satan the authority which he wrongfully possessed. God's method of doing this was to deal completely with the matter of sin.

It is the fact of sin which gives power to Satan. When sin entered the human picture, Adam and Eve became slaves to it. Satan, who had brought about their temptation, assumed control over the physical world and the world of human beings.

Yet, God ultimately holds control, and no one is more aware of this than Satan. The earth, its physical forces, and its human life, are intrinsically God's. It has pleased Lord to refrain from instant (BAM!) destruction of Satan, in order to bring about a complete and final reckoning with sin. Essentially, Satan is the evil person he became because of his sin. In like manner, human beings are lost, sinful creatures because of their sin.

The Lord Jesus Christ came into the world to deal with sin once and for all. He is in Himself God's complete answer to this question. Whereas, the penalty of sin is death, the death of Christ fully paid the penalty. Sin was thus acknowledged to be what God says it is. But the penalty of this virulent thing is overcome. The price is paid. Death for the sinner is accomplished in the death of the sinner's substitute (Rom. 5:6-8).

In His death, Christ also destroyed or nullified the authority of Satan ( I John 3:8; Heb. 2:14). It is by the cross that the false claims of Satan were invalidated. The cross, in all its horror, was a mighty victory for God and righteousness. It was the declaration of deliverance and liberty for all those enslaved by Satan.

As of that moment, Satan's defeat, which had been prophesied, was demonstrated. "And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it [ the cross]" (Col.2:15).