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Because the cross so represented death and defeat in the first century, early Christians were mocked for worshiping a crucified Saviour. Who would be so foolish as to worship a God crucified on a cross! From an earthly perspective, the cross was defeat and foolishness. And yet, the early Christians boasted in the crucifixion of Christ.

We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 1 Corinthians 1:23-24, ESV

We’re currently in a study series called, ‘Paradox: Embracing The Mystery of God’. We’re going to give some thought today to a great theological paradox at the core of the Christian faith, that being victory that looks like defeat.

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. Colossians 2:13-15, NIV

1. Identification: Who were defeated by the cross of Christ?

Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:10-12, ESV

This passage speaks of a great spiritual victory over the devil and his demonic forces.

2. Operation: How does the cross of Christ conquer?

In our Colossians 2 text, Paul claims that the victim was really the victor, that the crucified was in fact the conqueror, and he uses two vivid images from warfare to communicate this to us.

However, to truly understand the paradox that the cross of Christ was not only a scaffold of sorrow, but also a chariot of conquest we need to move from the battlefield to the courtroom. On the cross Christ takes your place and bears the just punishment for your sins, and in doing so all that God could ever charge you with was nailed to the cross with his Son.

3. Application: What difference can Christ’s victory through the cross make in our lives today?

Because the cross of Christ conquers, we who have placed our faith in Jesus for salvation no longer need to live under the tyranny of guilt. You no longer need to buy into Satan's lie that your sins condemn you to a permanent place on the spiritual sidelines of the Christian life, for God says in his word that, "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."