Triumph in Christ
By Apostle Aje Pelser
Preached at Harvester Reformational Church, Cape Town. 16th October 2016

Col 2:6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,
Col 2:7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
Col 2:8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
Col 2:9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;
Col 2:10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
Col 2:11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,
Col 2:12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,
Col 2:14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
Col 2:15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

Here are some instances of triumph in Christ Jesus. We find this is a letter of Apostle Paul to the Colossian’s who had to triumph over false teachings and beliefs in a hostile environment.

1. Col. 2:9 – We find the fullness of God in Jesus
That fullness of God dwells bodily in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. However, since Jesus is currently seated at the right hand of God, we experience his fullness in His Body the Church of whom He is the Head. We learn to triumph by accessing God’s fullness through a many membered body the Church.

2. Col: 2:10 – We triumph in being completed in him. Jesus is the Head of all principalities and powers and He is the Author and Finisher of our faith. He authorizes our faith and develops it to its completion. See also Heb 12:2
“looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

3. Col: 2:11-13 – We triumph over our old sinful nature through baptism. When we are baptized we cut off the old and allow God’s new creation within us to commence – the born again experience. That force of resurrection life makes all things new and brings out the best in us – like God planned all along. The losing of the old nature is not a loss but again!

4. Col. 2:14 – He wipes out the handwriting of requirements against us! A Triumph is to overcome accusation and incriminating requirements from the Old Covenant that will condemn all who have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. Jesus signed off on the Old Covenant on the Cross and undersigned our freedom form sin and death, even though we deserved the righteous punishment due by law. Our accuser is cast down because we access His Blood, and our testimony is proof of His ransom in our lives, and we are not scared of dying anymore – not loving our lives unto death.

5. Jesus disarmed our enemy and made a public procession of his Triumph! In Roman times the victorious Caesar would parade his spoils and prisoners with his armies on his return to Rome so the people could celebrate. A triumphal arch would be constructed in memory of the victories and be carved in stone for future generations to fear and honour the king. The Church is Jesus’ triumph – it is a constant reminder to the devil of his defeat in the past, present and future! Our lives are living stones that commemorate every healing, deliverance, salvation and show off Jesus’ triumph. When we shout and praise the Lord the triumphal procession is complete!

The triumphal arch was a type of Roman architectural monument built all over the empire to commemorate military triumphs and other significant events such as the accession of a new emperor. Arches were often erected over major thoroughfares and as the structure had no practical function as a building it was often richly decorated with architectural details, sculpture and commemorative inscriptions (often using bronze letters). Celebrated surviving examples of triumphal arches include the Arch of Constantine and the Arch of Septimius Severus, both in Rome. Quote from article by MARK CARTWRIGHT

http://www.ancient.eu/Triumphal_Arch/