TEXT: Colossians 1:20, Colossians 2:15, Romans 6:6
INTRODUCTION
Crucifixion on across was a gruesome way of killing criminals and slaves, Device by the Romans. It entailed a slow and painful death watched by all who cared. It was a shameful way of dying men to serve as a deterrent to other criminals and usually left a stigma on the family of the crucified. It was on one of such crosses that the Lord Jesus died and over the centuries, the cross has emerged as a symbol of Christianity; not loyalty or affluence, frugality or poverty.
LESSON OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this study are:
- To see how Christ death on the cross Reconciled men to God.
- Understand how Christ’s death on the cross affected the devil’s power over man.
- To understand what it means for the ” old self” to be crucified.
BIBLE TRUTH
Q1. HOW DID CHRIST RECONCILE MEN TO GOD BY THE CROSS?
The Scriptures clearly teach that all men have sinned and the wages of sin is death: eternal separation from God. On the cross, our sins were put on Him and He experience spiritual death when God forsook Him hence He cried “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken Me?” He tasted death for everyone (Hebrews 2:9) i.e. He died physically. He cried”… into Thy hands I commend my Spirit” and gave up the ghost (Luke 23: 46).
When He paid the price for sin, peace was established between God and man and numerous
blessings have followed this: our sins are forgiven when we repent and accept His finish work on the cross; we become God’s children and our names are written in the book of life. We become free and have continues access to God as long as we keep from sin and are encouraged to “approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” Hebrew 4:16 (NIV). All these have been made possible because of the cross of Jesus.
Q2. HOW DID CHRIT’S DEATH ON THE CROSS AFFECT THE DEVIL?
In Luke 1: 67-75, Zechariah spoke about the implications of Christ’s coming under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Among others it included “salvation from our enemies and from the hand of those who hate us… to enable us to serve Him without fear in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days”.
The devil holds the world in bondage through this year of death. The fear of lack, failure, physical death, disease etc., makes people get involved in all kinds of the evil to avert their fears. Much of present-day religious activities is driven by fear. The fear of witches drives many from one breakthrough seminar to the next anointing service or deliverance program but the Scripture declare, “Since the children had flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death–that is the devil and free those who all their lives where held in slavery by the fear of death” (Hebrew 2: 14-15).
We are not to live in fear but facing life with boldness. We are no longer at the mercy of our enemy. Jesus crushed him on the cross, we are to enforce His victory in every area of our lives. Colossians 2:15 declares “… and having this on the powers and authorities, He (Jesus) made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (NIV).
Q3. WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR “ OUR OLD MAN” TO BE CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST? Galatians 2:20
The term “Old Man” or “Old Self” (NIV) thanks for the nature of sin inherited from Adam. It is in slavery to sin a desire to please itself and not God. Many religions have tried to reform the Adamic nature by strict discipline and adherence to strict principles, with continual failure. It cannot be reformed and must be put to death.
When Jesus died on the cross our old man was crucified with Him. He broke the hold of sin over man. Hence the scripture states that “we were bruised with Christ through baptism into death in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life”. Romans 6:4.
The only way to overcome sin is to realize that in Christ we are dead to sin and the power of sin over us is broken. Therefore, daily I count myself as a dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
DAILY LIVING APPLICATION.
Christ has established peace between man and God. We should daily approach God with boldness to obtain help as the need arises. Fear is a tool of the enemy, we must never give in to fear and must refuse to yield our bodies as instruments of sin. The first step into enjoying this relationship with God is to believe that Christ’s death was for you and gave your life to Him.
MEMEORY VERSE
Colossians 2: 15 – “And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (NIV).