Before we answer this question, we need to ask another. When did the cross happen? We must answer this question from two perspectives:

1. From the perspective of eternity, the cross was a fait accompli from before the foundation of the world. Although it happened at a specific point in history, Jesus was “the Lamb slain from before the foundation of the world.” Revelation 13:8.

Although the cross took place at a point in history, it is central to history and everything, past, present and future is affected by it. Hence, in the Old Covenant, the Israelites were to put their faith, not in a slain animal, but in the Lamb, symbolised by the animal sacrifices, who was yet to come but whose blood was shed from the perspective of eternity.

1. From the perspective of time, the death of the Messiah has to take place in full view of human beings, and He had to suffer as a human being, to make His sacrifice effective for all time.

Peter explains:

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver and gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to your from you forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.” 1 Peter 1:18-20.

The Greek word proginosko, translated “chosen”, actually means “to know beforehand” or “to foresee” (Strong’s Analytical Concordance No G4267), implying that God set up the plan beforehand.

Although the cross is the central point of history, Jesus was manifested and crucified at a point in time for people to see and believe and to make effective what was already viewed as complete from eternity.

Now we must answer the first question: Did the cross work?

The Old Covenant

Assuming that the enemy of our souls is behind the evil perpetrated by men and nations, how did God teach His people to deal with him under the Old Covenant?

We have already examined some powerful examples of spiritual warfare in the Old Testament. Now the principle:

Two Scriptures in the Psalms immediately come to mind.

1. Psalm 8:2

“From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.”

Praise is the most powerful weapon in the mouths of the weakest and most vulnerable of people to shut down the enemy’s deception.

1. Psalm 149:1, 4-9.

“Praise the Lord. Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise in the assembly of the saints…for the Lord takes delight in His people; He crowns the humble with salvation. Let the saints rejoice in this honour and sing for joy on their beds. May the praise of God be in their mouths and a double-edged sword in their hands, to inflict vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, to bind their kings with fetters, their nobles with shackles of iron, to carry out the sentence written against them. This is the glory of all His saints.

God’s weapons against the enemy make His saints invincible – praise and the “double-edge sword” (Hebrews 4:12) the word of God – the weapon Jesus used to defeat the devil: “It is written…”

Truth whether it is declared or sung in praise, or spoken to unmask the enemy, is the most powerful way to empty the enemy of his power because his power over people depends on the faith they put in his lies.

There is no evidence in the Old Testament that God instructed or taught His people to engage spiritual powers or carry out any rituals apart from those He instructed them to do. Behind those instructions lay their confidence in God and their obedience and worship. His promise was consistently, “Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. The Lord will fight for you.”

The New Testament

There is no change in strategy in the New Testament except that believers now understand the reason for their confidence and have been given authority to stand in the victory Jesus won at the cross.

“The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” 1 John 3:8b.

Jesus exposed the devil’s strategy and took away his power through the cross.

“And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” Colossians 2:15.

The devil uses lies to induce people to believe that he has power over them and holds them captive through fear. Jesus unmasked him publicly, both by His words and by His death. To the religious leaders He said:

“Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father the devil and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:43, 44.

The disciples went out in the confidence of Jesus’ victory, not to deal with the opposition, but to preach the good news of the kingdom of God. Whenever they encountered direct opposition, they ordered the enemy out on the authority of Jesus’ victory. Paul’s council in the face of enemy activity was to stand in the power of the truth (Ephesians 6:10-18). James’ council was to submit to God in humility and to draw near to Him by dealing with personal sin (James 4:6-8).

The greatest problem is the enemy within – giving way to the weakness of the flesh upon which the devil preys until we fall into sin or being neutralised by believing the lies the enemy tells us about God or ourselves. This is his way of rendering God’s people powerless to be His witnesses.

John said: “…Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” 1 John 5:4, 5.

To be continued…