DCLM Daily Manna 2024: DCLM Daily Manna 24 November 2024: Victory Through The Cross
Text: Colossians 2:12-23 (KJV)
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly*, triumphing over them in it.
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
KEY VERSE: Colossians 2:13
“And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses.”
John Stott in his book, The Cross of Christ, recounted that Roman citizens were exempted from crucifixion, except in extreme cases of treason. In one of his speeches, Cicero condemned it as “a most cruel and disgusting punishment.” A little later he declared, “To bind a Roman citizen is a crime, to flog him is an abomination, to kill him is almost an act of murder: to crucify him is – What? There is no fitting word that can possibly describe so horrible a deed.”
If the Romans regarded crucifixion with horror, so did the Jews, although for a different reason. They made no distinction between a ‘tree’ and a ‘cross’, likewise between a hanging and a crucifixion. They, therefore, automatically applied to crucified criminals the terrible statement of the law that, “for he that is hanged is accursed of God…Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree” (Deuteronomy 21:23; Galatians 3:13). The cross, however, holds an entirely different meaning to believers. It is the place our victory was purchased.
This despicable type of death was chosen by God, for Christ, to redeem mankind. Only the crucifixion of Jesus Christ could deliver human race from eternal damnation. Thus, the Scriptures say, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).
It is gladdening, therefore, to know that all who would believe this Scripture will enjoy the fullness of the unsearchable riches of Christ. Would you not rather join the innumerable wise people who are discovering the power and provisions through the cross today?
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
The cross provides comprehensive redemption for all.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Ecclesiastes 1-3
Daily Manna 24 November 2024
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