Colossians 2:14-15
“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross: and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”

Matthew 13:10-11, 13-15
“And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.”

God placed curses upon all those involved in the fall, but He also made a way of escape for the seed of the woman through the cross of His Son. Through the cross, the consequences of man’s fall could be dealt with and the way of restoration opened. The serpent, however, remained under the judgment pronounced upon him, condemned to continue under the curse.

God cursed the ground for man’s sake because he hearkened to the voice of his wife instead of obeying the commandment of God.

Yet, through the blood of Christ, provision was made for the atonement of the sins of humanity. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ addressed the curse brought about by sin and opened the way for man to be reconciled to God. What Adam lost through disobedience, Christ came to restore through His sacrifice.

The curse issued against man could be averted through redemption, but the judgment pronounced upon the serpent remains established. What God declared concerning him is final.

Even when the seed of rebellion appears among humanity, they are identified by their refusal to hear, understand, repent, and receive healing. They see, yet do not perceive; they hear, yet do not understand. Their resistance to truth keeps them from conversion and restoration.

The kingdom of God was established on earth so that the children of God could exercise divine authority and dominion. It was established to confront and overcome the kingdom of darkness that seeks to dominate the earth.

Those who belong to the kingdom of God have no portion in the curse of Adam. They have been translated from darkness into the light of God. Their cursed life is destroyed at the foot of the cross, and they now live in Christ under divine authority.

The same cross where the judgment against humanity was dealt with is the place where principalities and powers were openly disgraced. At the cross, Christ blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that stood against humanity and triumphed over the powers of darkness.

The judgment upon the serpent continues through every generation that walks in rebellion. Satan rebelled against God in heaven and was cast down to the earth. Having lost his position, he sought to exercise dominion over the children of men.

However, the authority of the earth was given to man. Man was given dominion over the land, the sea, and the atmosphere. Created in the image of God, man was appointed to rule as God’s representative and ambassador, exercising authority over all that God placed under his dominion.

Satan was not pleased with this divine arrangement. He came in the form of the serpent to deceive Eve, intending through her to gain access to man.

Eve fell with her husband beside her, and through their disobedience, authority was surrendered to the devil. The enemy then began to exercise dominion and plant his influence among the children of men.

Jesus illustrated this mystery when He said that while men slept, the enemy came, planted tares among the wheat, and went his way.

Since then, the seed of rebellion has existed alongside the seed of the woman. The separation cannot be fully accomplished by human ability. They must grow together until the time of harvest, when Christ will come to separate the wheat from the tares, gather the wheat into His garner, and cast the tares into unquenchable fire.

The seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman were both dead on arrival. But when the deep called unto the deep, the seed of the woman heard the voice of the Resurrection and the Life and came out of the grave. Those who refuse to hear that voice will remain perpetually in the grave.

With the level of deception prevailing in the world, God is still able to identify His children and call them out of darkness into the marvellous light of His Son. His sheep know His voice and follow Him, and the voice of strangers they will not obey.

If someone professes Christ yet continually follows strange doctrines, it reveals a serious spiritual problem. The sheep of Christ are identified by their response to His voice. Those who truly belong to Him will not willingly abandon His voice to follow strangers.

Christ called His people out of darkness to destroy the curse and bring them under the blessing of Abraham through faith.

He made provision through the cross of His Son, so that whoever looks unto the One who was hanged on the tree shall be saved.

Through the rebellion of man, Satan found an opportunity to spread his influence in the world. But the one created in the image of God is expected to produce the fruit worthy of repentance, not the fruit of rebellion.

God, in His infinite wisdom, brought the cross as the place of separation. The cross exposes the difference between those who surrender to Christ and those who continually resist His authority. The seed of rebellion will never willingly surrender to the power of the cross.

Through the cross, God blotted out every handwriting of ordinances that stood against humanity and against their eternal and physical well-being. He took them out of the way and nailed them to the cross… to be continued

Prayer: Father, take me to Calvary and have my sins and their consequences wiped out by the blood of Jesus Christ, in Jesus’ name, amen.