12. The Cross Brings Victory
The Cross Brings Victory
Let me say another thing, a fifth fact. The cross is the source of all victory, and there is a fivefold victory for the Christian to win. First, “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ,” victory over death (1 Corinthians 15:57). Second, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me,” victory over self (Galatians 2:20). Third, “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts,” victory over the flesh (Galatians 5:24). Fourth, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world,” victory over the world (Galatians 6:14). Fifth, “And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it,” victory over Satan (Colossians 2:15). And Satan can be defeated on no ground except that of Calvary. There on the cross the Lord Jesus Christ bruised the serpent’s head and broke the serpent’s power, and today we stand facing a conquered foe. Do not let us forget it. The cross embraces all these things, and gives to you and to me a full and complete victory.
I do not think we should ever speak of the tragedy of the cross. There was no tragedy on the cross; that was below the cross, among the people who only saw in the Son of God someone whom they wanted to put to death. Do not, I pray you, ever speak of the pathos of Christ’s death. There was no pathos in it, there was victory, glory. It was the climax of His life. It was that for which He had come. He came to go to the cross, and the devil, by every possible means in his power, tried to keep Him from the cross. If the devil can keep the cross from you and you from the cross, if he can prevent the cross from working out its purpose in you and in me, if he can make us shirk the cross, he has done his work, he needs to do nothing more. He can let us be as active as we like and as devotional as we like, and as religious as we please, but if he can keep the cross out of our lives he has done his work. He tried to do it with Christ, but Christ went to the cross and bruised the serpent’s head, and on the ground of the victory won there you and I can win victory here.