THE GREAT DISARMAMENT

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. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.  Colossians 2:14–15

For all the talk of “nuclear disarmament,” are you aware that there is someone more sinister who has already been disarmed of his power over your life? The Bible says that God has “disarmed principalities and powers,” referring to Satan and his cohorts (Eph. 6:12). So the devil has already been disarmed. But do you know what weapon he was wielding before his forced disarmament?

Today’s Scripture gives us the answer clearly: the devil was armed with the “handwriting of requirements that was against us.” On Mount Sinai, God wrote the Ten Commandments on two tablets of stone. The “handwriting of requirements” was thus a reference to the law that was written by the finger of God. Let me stress that the law is holy, just, and good. It was designed by God to expose man’s weaknesses, sins, and inability to be holy, just, and good so that man would see his need for a Savior. You need to understand that no amount of keeping the law can make you holy. Only the blood of Jesus can do that.

The devil then armed himself with the law to accuse and condemn man. Now, listen carefully to this: God didn’t give the law to arm the devil, but the devil, knowing that the law was against us, took advantage of it and has been using it as his weapon to further alienate us from God. That’s why when God nailed the law to the cross, He made a public spectacle of the devil and all the powers of darkness! Once the law was nailed to the cross of Jesus, God knew that the law no longer had the power to condemn us as long as we believed on Jesus. Therefore, when you know and believe that Jesus has fulfilled completely the righteous requirements of the law on our behalf, the devil cannot use the law to condemn you every time you fail.

Today, if the enemy uses the law to point out your sins, look to the cross of Jesus and reject the condemnation. You may say, “No one can blot out God’s handwriting.” Yes, you are right. No man can, but God can! And God did it righteously. My friend, you have been redeemed from the curse of the law. The devil and his crew have been disarmed. Hallelujah!

Refuse to subject yourself any longer to the old covenant system of the law. Don’t put the weapon of the law back into the devil’s hands. Every teaching that says, “You have to keep the law to be blessed by God,” is doing just that. Reject such legalistic teachings and rest in the truth of God’s disarmament and grace. The more you believe and embrace the truth of His grace, the more you are empowered to experience victory over your failings and challenges. This is how you reign, and when you reign, the devil doesn’t!  (Article & Picture; courtesy of Joseph Prince Ministries used with kind permission).