Living in His Triumph

Key Passage: Colossians 2:13-15

Devotional:

Colossians 2:13-15 says,

"And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him."

This passage is a powerful reminder of the triumph we have in Jesus Christ. But what does it mean to live in the triumph of Jesus Christ?

Here’s what it means:

First, we experience new life in Christ. We were once spiritually dead, but now we are alive in Christ. Our past sins no longer define us because of His resurrection power. In Ephesians 2, we are told, “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world” (v.1). It goes on to say that we were sons of disobedience and by nature, children of wrath. Thankfully it continues and explains, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ–by grace you have been saved–and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (vv.4-6).

Second, we experience total forgiveness in Christ. Every sin-past, present, and future, has been forgiven. The debt we owed has been completely erased by Jesus’ sacrifice. Paul wrote, “In him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7). By His grace all our sin is forgiven. Psalm 32:5 says, “I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the inquiry of my sin.’”

Third, we experience victory over the enemy in Christ. Jesus has disarmed and defeated the powers of darkness. Satan has no legal claim over us because of the cross. We live in freedom, not fear. Jesus proclaimed in John 12:46, “’I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.’”

Fourth, we experience walking triumphantly in Christ. Since Christ has already won the victory, we are called to live with boldness, confidence, and faith, knowing that nothing can separate us from His love. Romans 8:38-39 declares that NOTHING in heaven or earth “...will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Living in the triumph of Jesus means embracing His victory every day—rejecting condemnation, standing firm in faith, and walking in the freedom He secured for us. His triumph is our triumph!

Application Question: How do you see this victory shaping your daily life?

Further Reading: Ephesians 2

Written by Eric Heatherly