Ephesians 6:10 – “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”  NKJV

In continuing with consideration of the Infinite Victory of Christ and our Triumph I call your attention to the LORD’s description of the devil in the Gospels where, He called him “the strongman” and described the human race as the “strongman’s possession.”  The devil holds the unregenerate race in his control.  I am not saying they are demon possessed but bound.  I am describing a condition in which man who was made to walk in the Glory of God, filled with that Glory and radiate that Glory is bound by the devil.

What is the Glory?  What is it that we have come short of in our sin?  Exodus 33 & 34 informs us that the Glory of God is LOVE!  It is the love that God is.  It is the love that will not let us go.  It is the love that will die for its enemies.  It is the Agape of God.  Do you get that picture?  Man, made in the Image of God, was made to be a receiver and reflector of that Glory.  That man was made to radiate the Love of God everywhere.  He was made to be Lord over the Earth so that the whole Earth might be filled with the Glory of God.  This Earth was to be ruled by mankind who would radiate the Glory of God!  That is the plan and man blew it.

That was the Plan but there is a problem.  All have sinned and come short of the Glory of God.  But what is the definition of sin?  A super simplistic definition would be failing to love as God loves.  That would make sin Unlove!  Sin is missing the mark and the mark was obedience.  Sin is not the “acts” we so often call sin but the disobedience wherein man lost his identity (united with God) and the meaning of life (to love as God loves).  This man came out of the Garden of Eden lost.  He can no longer fulfill his purpose and he is confused, stumbling through life trying to make sense of it all.  He is living in darkness, bound by the evil one.

There is another law that I am convinced the devil didn’t know nor did man.  It was a law outside of time.  Here in time, there is “The Law” but there was “Another Law” echoed by Peter when He said, “The lamb slain BEFORE the foundation of the world.”  Before there was time, a planet, man or the devil in the heart of God there was a Royal Law that is bound up in Who God is.  It is His nature.  It is the Law that “One who is sinless can take the place and be the substitute for the sinner.”  The sinless one can lift the curse!

When God said NO to the fig leaves and clothed them with the fur of an animal the idea was there.  The animal had to die so their shame could be covered.  Then God gave the cryptic word to Adam and Eve that one day the seed of the woman would crush the head of the serpent.  See it?  Someone would come and be a deliverer!  In fact, all the sacrifices of the Old Testament are hints of this Law.  The animal dies in our place so when Jesus comes and is identified as “The Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the World” we see the Law in full effect.  The Bible calls Jesus THE LAST ADAM, not the second one.  He is the LAST because IT IS FINISHED!  The work of salvation complete!  The doorway to Eternal Salvation has been opened.

The First Adam was DISOBEDIENT the Last Adam was OBEDIENT.  Philippians 2 declares that He was obedient even to the death on the Cross.  That is the point of the temptation of Jesus.  The devil was trying to draw Him out into disobedience but Jesus obeyed.  That brought us to the Grand Finale for it is the Obedience of Jesus that broke the power of the devil.  It is that Obedience that brought forth a New Race who are ONE WITH CHRIST!  The First Adam brought forth a race and the Last Adam brings forth a race.

Obedience must be freely chosen.  It cannot be coerced or forced.  Jesus, when He went to the Cross, did so willingly and voluntarily.  He chooses to take the place of all mankind and thereby is the one who stripped the devil of his power and authority.

I know I am going long but there is a bit more I desire to share and will do so tomorrow.  Until then may the Lord bless you and keep you is my prayer!  Blessings!