3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

4 that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

— 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in Him.

— Colossians 2:15

I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!

— John 16:33

Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.

— Luke 10:19

And they have conquered him [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

— Revelation 12:11

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, salvation and joy from Jesus Christ to you.

The spiritual battle behind the scenes of human history and in our world and lives today can be simultaneously obvious and challenging to grasp. Evidence of sin’s grip on humanity and Satan’s war against God is all around us, but the enemy’s strategies range from subtle to stark. We all have experienced Satan’s attacks and temptation one way or another. The reality of Satan’s toxic web in this world should drive us to the only source of hope and triumph. Jesus has conquered Satan, our worst and strongest enemy. God and His purposes are unstoppable.

Christ’s victory directly caused Satan’s defeat. The centrality of Christ’s sacrifice is the key to every aspect of our victory. Each spiritual benefit we believers experience has its root in Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death and victorious resurrection. We experience peace because Christ triumphed. We overcome sin because Hw broke sin’s power over us. We can confidently face our trials and future because the most important battle has already been won. As we walk with Christ, the richness and multiple facets of Christ’s sacrifice grow more evident. The depth of suffering and heights of victory connected to Jesus’s triumph have become our spiritual inheritance.