The Triumph of the Cross is the central theme of the Word of God.   If there were only one sermon that I could ever give, then let it be this, on the Triumph of the Cross. Paul states, (1 Corinthians 2:2 NKJV)  “For I am  determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”   

When you preach the message of the cross it is a message of repentance and reconciliation to God.  It is the one message that will bring revival to America, restoration and healing, joy unspeakable, the peace that surpasses understanding and the blessed assurance that Jesus is ours and we are his.  We’re not going to get there with a pop psychology.  We’re only going to get there with the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

The purpose of the cross is one word, victory! Say that word with me, “victory”.  Say it again, “victory”.   Poetically, one can say that against the Devil, there is no victory without a fight, there is no dawning without a night, there is no crown without a cross, and there is no triumph without a trial.   Paul said (Ephesians 6:11),  “Put on the whole armor of God.” and  (1 Timothy 6:12 KJV)  “Fight the good fight of faith.”  The Bible says (1 John 3:8 NKJV), “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”  Jesus didn’t come to join the club.   Jesus didn’t come here to go along, and be along.   Jesus didn’t come here to be correct.  What Jesus said is that there is no substitute for victory over the world, the flesh, and the devil. James said, (James 4:4 KJV) “A friend of the world is the enemy of God.”  Moses asks a question that every Christian must answer, (Exodus 32:26 KJV) “Who is on the Lord’s side?”   We are not here to be approved of the world.  We are here to be approved by God the Father.  

Jesus victory was total.   Shaq and Kobby did not have to come in off the bench to win a squeakier 98 to 97.  No!   Jesus Christ humiliated Satan 200 to 0.   Satan was on the floor, but he never scored once.    Hear this demons of hell, you are defeated by Calvary.   Tremble when the righteous use His name, for every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that “Jesus is Lord”.   Hear it powers and principalities, you are defeated.  Hear this Satan, Father of Lies, accuser of the brethren, prince of the power of the air.  Hear this roaring lion, you are forever defeated.   Jesus has washed us, and redeemed us, by His precious blood.

Paul writes (Colossians 2:15 NIV),  “And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.“  Paul was speaking to a world under Roman control. They knew what Paul was describing.   When a Roman general had defeated a foreign power his highest form of reward was the day the Roman Senate decreed a triumphal procession through the streets of Rome.   Paul was describing Christ’s victory at Calvary in these terms.

Paul was saying that Calvary was a battlefield in which the Prince of Peace and the Prince of Darkness climbed to the summit and battled for your soul.   For six hours Jesus Christ waged war for the eternal soul of humanity.  When Jesus cried, “It is finished”, the victory was complete.   Sins were forgiven.  The stench and stain of sin was forever taken from us.   You became royalty, an heir, and a joint heir with Jesus Christ. 

We are free from the guilt of the past.  We are free of the guilt of tomorrow.   We free from the powers and principalities of darkness.  Whom the son sets free is free indeed.   Christ gave us a commandment, (1John 3:14) “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.”   Now he gave us an example.  For in torment and dying instead of thinking of himself and cursing all of us who placed Him on that cross, Christ pleads for us with our God, (Luke 23:34 KJV)  “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”   Here is victory.   Here is triumph:  A living example of love.

Angelic squadrons stood in the balconies of heaven in absolute silence listening and watching our Savior on the cross.  Upon the cross, (Matthew 27:46) “Jesus cried out with a loud voice, … ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’   Not “My Father”.  This is the only time in scripture when Jesus said, “My God” rather than “My Father.”  Why not?   Because he had now become sin for us, and sin could not call God “the Father of sin”.  Instead he call,  “My God, why have you forsaken me?”   Here is victory, for He became sin for us.

Jesus died.  (1 Corinthians 15:4 KJV)  “And … he was buried, and … he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”   Some argue that (1 Corinthians 15:12-20 NIV)  “there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching…”  and our faith is futile; and we are still in our sins.  But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.   Here is victory.   Here is triumph.

Some argue what was Jesus’ greatest miracle.   Was it raising Lazarus from the dead?   A great miracle, yes.   Feeding the 5000?  A great miracle undoubtedly.  Even feeding all of you today could be said to be somewhat of a miracle.   How about opening the eyes of the blind or turning water into wine?  What was the greatest miracle?  I will tell you.   It was the Triumph of the Cross, when Jesus Christ gave you and you and you eternal life for his; when He made it possible for your names to be written in the Book of Life.

We will all see the fruit of Christ’s triumph in New Jerusalem.   See that city now: (Revelation 21:21-27 NIV) ”The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass.   I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.”    And Lord Jesus has given us this promise, (Revelation 22:7) "Behold, I am coming soon!”  

And here is the Triumph of the Cross, (Revelation 22:20 NIV),  five little words, “Yes, I am coming soon.”   Amen. 

Beloved, will you bow your heads, close your eyes, and repeat after me,  “Lord Jesus, we salute you as the victor of the cross. We await your return as our redeemer.   Forgive me my sins. Come into my life. I believe you are the Son of God, and that You died on the cross for me.  I repent of all the works of the Devil.  Cover me with your blood.  Create by God’s Holy Spirit a clean heart, and the strength to reject Satan’s world.   Heal me and renew my spirit so that I can hear Your voice, and be used by you as your child to bring many to salvation.   I accept you as my Savior!   Your are my Lord!  Amen!”   

God bless you.   Thank you for listening.