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TRIUMPHS OF THE CROSS
THERE is one great mystery spoken of throughout the Scriptures, connected indeed with innumerable other truths, but itself the centre and substance of them all: this mystery is Christ crucified. St. Paul in particular insists upon it in all his epistles; he declares that it was the one only thing which he deemed necessary for him to preach, or for his people to be acquainted with. He takes every occasion of magnifying its importance, and of urging his converts to maintain the strictest regard to it. This appears remarkably in the preceding context [Note: See Col_1:27-28; Col_2:1-4; Col_2:6-7.]; wherein not only the mystery itself is stated, but the rich benefits arising from it are largely recited. Having in general terms said, “We are complete in Christ,” he enters more minutely into the subject, and declares that we have communion with him in the whole of his humiliation and exaltation, being “circumcised in him, and buried with him, and risen with him,” and, in short, partakers of all his victories and triumphs.
In the text, three benefits are enumerated as conferred by him upon his believing people, and which we propose for our present consideration. If we were to adhere strictly to the order of time in which these benefits were procured for us and imparted to us, we must take the latter clauses of the text first: but, as this is not necessary, we shall rather notice them as they stand; and observe,
I. He has “quickened us when dead”—
The state of the Gentile world fitly represents the state of every unregenerate man—
[We are dead before God, and doomed to everlasting death, on account of our sins [Note: Gal_3:10.] — — — We are also under the habitual influence of the most corrupt desires, the mortifying of which was signified by the rite of circumcision, and the indulgence of which characterizes those who are uncircumcised in heart [Note: Tit_3:3. Eph_2:3.] — — — We have no spiritual life whatever; nor are we even conscious of our own guilt and corruption; so justly may we be said to be altogether “dead in our sins.”]
But God has quickened us with, and by, his Son—
[There is a federal relation subsisting between Christ and his people; so that when he was circumcised, they were circumcised; when he died, they died; when he rose, they rose. In all that he did and suffered, he was their representative, and they had communion with him as members with their head.
But besides this, they have a vital union with him, so as actually to receive life and vigour from him, whereby they rise to newness of life [Note: Gal_2:20.] — — — In this restoration to life they are conformed to his likeness; they come forth from the grave of sin and corruption, and soar in their affections to the highest heavens, where from thenceforth their conversation is, and where they shall have their everlasting abode.]
In addition to this benefit,
II. He has cancelled our obligation to punishment—
This he has done in reference to,
1. Past sins—
[The trespasses which we commit in our unregenerate state are as numerous as the sands upon the sea shore: yet, on our believing in Christ, they are all forgiven. Whether they have been more or less heinous, they are all pardoned. This is not spoken of as a blessing that shall be enjoyed in the eternal world, but as actually possessed at this time. God has “cast our sins behind him into the very depths of the sea [Note: Mic_7:19.]” — — —]
2. Present infirmities—
[We must not be understood to say that believers have obtained a licence to commit sin with impunity; for nothing can be more contrary to truth: this would make “Christ himself a minister of sin.” But our meaning is this: the moral law denounces a curse against every one that transgresses it even in the smallest point. The ceremonial law illustrates and confirms those penal sanctions. The very sacrifices which were the appointed means of expiating sin, declared that the offerer deserved to die, and that he could not be saved but by the sufferings and death of an innocent victim. From hence it appears, that “the hand-writing of ordinances,” which, in its external obligation, related only to the Jews, did, in its spiritual and more enlarged sense, declare the state of all mankind, whether Jews or Gentiles: and in this view it was equally “against us, and contrary to us.”
Now this hand-writing Christ has “blotted out,” and, by “nailing it to his cross,” has “taken it out of the way.” There were different ways of cancelling a bond: sometimes it was blotted out; and sometimes it was pierced with a nail, and rendered thereby of no effect. Both these ways, if we may so speak, has Christ adopted, that we might have the fullest security that we shall never be dealt with according to the rigour of the law; and that the debt we owe on account of our unhallowed infirmities shall never be required at our hands.]
A further obligation he has conferred upon us, in that,
III. He has defeated all our spiritual enemies—
Satan and all his hosts are combined against us—
[They have usurped a power over us, and governed us with most despotic sway [Note: Eph_2:2 and 2Ti_2:26.] — — —]
But Christ has completely triumphed over them upon his cross—
[As a conqueror, he invaded the empire of Satan, and rescued millions of the human race from his dominion. He “spoiled the principalities and powers” of hell, and seized as his prey the souls of which they had so long held an undisturbed possession [Note: Luk_11:22. Isa_53:12.]. It was upon his cross that he effected this: for there it was that he satisfied divine justice; there it was he fulfilled and cancelled the obligations of the law; there it was that he paid the price of our salvation. “He redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us [Note: Gal_3:13.].” His triumph was then complete. Like a victorious general leading in chains the distinguished personages whom the chance of war had put into his hands, our blessed Lord exhibited, as it were, to the view of God, of angels, and of his believing people, the vanquished powers of darkness: “he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them upon his cross.” He did not indeed, like earthly conquerors, exult in victories gained by the sword of others, and at the expense of their blood: his triumphs were gained by no sword but his, and with the loss of no blood but his: “His own arm brought salvation; and he trod the wine-press of God’s wrath alone [Note: Isa_63:3; Isa_63:5.].”]
Infer—
1. What a wonderful sight is the cross of Christ!
[The eye of sense can behold nothing in it but an instrument of punishment, and a person suffering upon it as a malefactor. But what will the eye of faith behold? It will discern, not a sufferer, but a conqueror; not one raised on an accursed tree, but exalted on a triumphant car: not one crowned with thorns, but wearing a wreath of victory: not one nailed and bleeding, but one blotting out with blood, and cancelling with nails, the bonds that were against his chosen people: not one himself a spectacle, but exhibiting to view his vanquished enemies: not the despised Nazarene, but “the Lord of glory.” Strange as it may sound, we affirm, that it was not Jesus, but the prince of this world that was then judged [Note: Joh_16:11.], cast out [Note: Joh_12:31.], destroyed [Note: Heb_2:14.]: for it was then that Jesus “bruised the serpent’s head [Note: Gen_3:15.]:” “by death he destroyed him that had the power of death, that is, the devil, and delivered them who till that hour had been all their life-time subject to bondage [Note: Heb_2:14 and Psa_68:18.].” Prostrate before him lay the principalities and powers of hell. Yes, Satan, it was thy power that was then broken, thy shame that was then exposed, thy doom that was then irrevocably sealed. Thou art now an object of our contempt; and the weakest amongst us will set his feet upon thy neck, and tremble at thee no more [Note: Jos_10:24.]. “Thou art fallen, O Lucifer, son of the morning;” “thou art fallen from heaven like lightning;” and lower still shalt thou fall; for we thy once infatuated vassals can triumph over thee now; and thou shalt “ere long be bruised under our feet [Note: Rom_16:20.].”
Beloved brethren, “turn aside and see this great sight,”—your triumphing Lord, and your despoiled enemies! Nor cease to contemplate it, till you are filled with admiration, and gratitude, and joy.]
2. What folly is it to suffer ourselves to be diverted from it!
[This is the particular improvement which the Apostle himself makes of the passage. He had guarded the Colossians against the sceptical pride of philosophers [Note: ver. 8.]; and he proceeds to guard them against the self-justifying pride of Judaizing teachers [Note: ver. 16.]. To the one of these the cross of Christ was a stumbling-block, and to the other foolishness; but to those who viewed it aright, it was “the power of God and the wisdom of God [Note: 1Co_1:23-24.].” Thus at this time we are particularly in danger of being led away from the simplicity of the Gospel, either by the conceits of philosophy, falsely so called, or by the observance of a formal round of duties. But let nothing draw your attention from the cross of Christ. It is by that only that you can be quickened: by that only you can be forgiven: by that only you can obtain deliverance from the penal sanction of the law, or victory over the enemies of your salvation. When you can find another object, or other principles, that can effect these things, then we consent that you shall disregard the cross of Christ. But till then, determine to know nothing [Note: 1Co_2:2.], trust in nothing [Note: Php_3:9.], glory in nothing [Note: Gal_6:14.], but Christ, and him crucified.]