Strategy 1 – The Cross

In the first session regarding our Strategy, we considered that God’s primary strategy was the Cross of Christ. Predicted in Gen. 3:15 just as the human race decided to pursue its own way rather that God’s, prefigured in all the Old Testament sacrifices and rituals, and perfectly consummated on a hill outside Jerusalem circa 30 AD, the once-for-all sacrifice of the Son of God on the Cross has provided the perfect (and only) solution for salvation of men and women, and for the restoration of the whole of Creation to God’s original purpose and design.

We considered this under the following headings:

The Cross is the Wisdom of God 1 Cor. 1:18

• One Problem
  • From Genesis to Revelation – since the dawn of time to the end of time! Rom. 5:12-21
• One Solution
  • From Genesis to Revelation – before time began 1 Pet. 1:18-20
• One application
  • Positional 2 Cor. 5:21
  • Practical 1 Pet. 2:24
  • Universal Col. 1:20

But the Cross is not just a once-for-all event that occurred 2000 years ago! The principle of victory through seeming defeat runs through the whole Christian life. Paul tells us that it’s in our weakness that the power of Christ is perfected in us (2 Cor. 12:9-10)

In fact, our identification with the death of Christ both for salvation and sanctification, is the key strategy we can use against the enemy and all his tactics. The enemy understands pride but he has no radar that can detect humility, which is why the Cross of Christ was such a shock defeat for him! And as we consider Spiritual Warfare, we do well to follow the example of our Commanding Officer. What does our God require of us? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8)

The Cross is the end of :

• The devil Luke 11:21-22; Heb. 2:14-18
• The World Gal. 6:14; 1 Cor. 1:18-25
• The Flesh Gal. 2:20; Rom. 6:3-7

The recording of the session can be found here