Okay. Thank you. Now maybe we can dive in to that (or perhaps a new thread needs to be started?).
There's a big difference between Jesus **defeating death/sin** and Jesus eradicating sin/death. Obviously people die......and Adam and Eve didn't even die when they ate of the tree that they were instructed not to "or else you will surely die". People have been dying from the beginning......but maybe you missed the point of the Cross? It represents, in Christianity, Jesus's victory over sin and death. Jesus is King and has dominion over ALL creation. "The devil" has no power......if there's even an actual entity that exists by that name.
This is not what the scriptures says, I think the devil has a lot of power right now, but his days are numbered. The devil deceives the whole world Revelation 12:9 and can transform himself into an angel of light 2 Corinthians 11:14. The devil will deceive even the elect Matthew 24:24 if one is not carefully following the scriptures which shows us how to safeguard ourself against the devil.
Isaiah 8:20
To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word,
it is because
there is no light in them.
The devil was defeated at the cross, but only for those who believe in Jesus and repent from their sins and turn from sin to walk in Christ in obedience to Him. The free gift of salvation is an open invitation to the whole world, but sadly, not everyone accepts this free gift or the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The enemy of Jesus, the devil has watered down what that great sacrifice is about. The majority of churches teach you don’t need to obey God and can sin freely and still be saved, but thats not what the scriptures teach us.
Jesus in His own words said
Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Jesus never taught us that we could sin freely, He said the opposite.
And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you;
go and sin no more.” John 8:11
We also have this warning:
Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on
the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Sin is defined as breaking God’s law. 1 John 3:4 and the law is what points out sin so we know what not to break. Romans 3:20, Romans 7:7 and we if break one of the commandments it is like breaking them all. James 2:10-12.
The deceit that is very prevalent today being taught in the majority of churches that we do not have to keep God’s Ten Commandments which is the opposite of what Jesus taught. Matthew 19:17-19, Matthew 15:3-9, Mark 7:6-8, Matthew 5:17-30, John 15:10, John 14:15 so its important to understand the devil is not defeated just yet and every day we have the choice to follow Jesus or follow the devil. Scripture tells us that many think they are following Christ, but they aren’t and don’t even realize it.
Matthew 15:8
honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
5. Titus 1:16
They claim to know God, but they deny him by what they do.
Timothy 4:3
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
John 1:9
Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.
1 John 2:4
He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
While I don’t think anyone can fully understand the great sacrifice of Jesus at the cross right now, I know with 100% certainty that Jesus did not sacrifice Himself so we could continue living a life of sin. There would have been no point of His sacrifice if we can sin freely. Jesus died so we can be forgiven of our sins when we repent (being truly sorry and turning from sin) and can be given eternal life when we surrender ourselves to the old way of living in sin and turn from our sins to walk in the Spirit of Christ which we can gain victory over our sins through Jesus Christ. For those who want to obey, Jesus promises us the Holy Spirit to help us keep His commandments. John 14:15-18, Acts 2:28, Acts 5:32. Our Jesus is greater than our sins if we follow Him, His Word, His doctrine, His teachings and His commandments. We are not saved by keeping the commandments, it is just the fruit of a saved person. Revelation 14:12. We are saved by our faith and if you have faith, you will believe and obey Jesus.
I hope this helps a little.
God bless
