Colossians‬ ‭2:15

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

This is one of the most powerful Scripture that every Christian should not only understand, but also lived out. However, before we go deeper into this verse, I encourage you to first read Colossians 2:13 and Colossians 2:14.

When Paul says that the LORD Jesus Christ “disarmed” the principalities and powers, the Greek word he uses is apekdyomai. This word means to strip off completely, to disarm completely, or to despoil for one’s own advantage. It was commonly used to describe a defeated enemy being stripped of their weapons, armor, and authority after a decisive victory. The Word of God is not telling us that the LORD Jesus merely weakened satan’s power over us. It is declaring that the LORD Jesus Christ completely stripped the powers of satan and his minions they relied on to hold against us.

In verse 13, it describes our spiritual conditions. We were dead in our trespasses and in our dead state, satan took advantage of us. he deceived us, influenced us, and used our separation from God to make sin appear good, desirable, and harmless As it is written, “that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world” (Revelation 12:9). Sin felt pleasurable, but it was slowly destroying us and leading us toward death. At the same time, Scripture is clear that satan’s influence does not remove our responsibility. Just as a friend can influence us to make a wrong choice, we are still the ones who choose. We could say no, but often we do not, because sin appeals to our flesh. As it is written,

“Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.” James‬ ‭1:13-16‬

That is why we are accountable for our own decisions and actions before God. Scripture reminds us, “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12). Though we were deceived, we were not forced. Though influenced, the decision was still ours to make.

The first thing Jesus disarmed for all of us was the power of sin and death over our lives. When Jesus died for us on the cross, He conquered the sin that separated us from God and brought death into our lives. Scripture tells us, “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). When Jesus rose from the dead, we rose with Him. We who were once dead were made alive in Christ. As it is written, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Through His resurrection, new life was given to us.

Jesus also conquered death through His own death. Scripture says, “That through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14). Because of this victory, sin and death no longer have dominion over those who are in Christ. Their power has been stripped away. What once ruled over us no longer has dominion over us nor does it hold us in bondage.

Then in verse 14, God is holy, and His statutes and commandments stood as witnesses against us. The law exposed our sin and testified to our guilt, bringing death upon us. As Scripture says, “And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death” (Romans 7:10). But when Jesus shed His blood on the cross, everything changed. The Scripture tells us, “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22). When the LORD Jesus Christ poured out His blood, He wiped out the record of charges that stood against us.

These is the second things Jesus disarmed for us. Every accusation, every charge, every demand of the law was nailed to the cross with Him. Jesus took all of it upon Himself and fulfilled the law completely. As He Himself said, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.” (Matthew 5:17) Because of this, we now receive righteousness in Him, not by our works, but by His finished work. As it is written, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) And through Christ, we are able to enter the kingdom of God and receive the Holy Spirit.

Since the day Jesus died on the cross and rose again, everything that satan and his forces once used to stand against us and accuse us has been stripped away. The LORD Jesus did not leave them wounded or partially defeated. They walked away empty-handed. As it is written,

“So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” I Corinthians‬ ‭15:54-57‬ ‭

Their power, their authority, and their accusations were taken from them completely.

Throughout the Gospels, every time the LORD Jesus encountered evil spirits, they trembled before Him and begged Him. They recognized His authority, because He was without sin. Unlike us, He walked perfectly before God, fulfilling all the statutes and commandments of the Father. Because there was no sin in Him, the enemy had no claim on Him.

When Jesus rose from the dead and ascended back to heaven, everything changed. What was lost was restored. Victory was secured. After His resurrection, Jesus came and spoke to His disciples, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” (Matthew‬ ‭28:18)‬ ‭ Through His finished work on the cross, Jesus took back everything that gave the enemy power and triumphed over them completely. Sin was judged, death was defeated, and the powers of darkness were stripped of their authority. Then He shared that authority with us. Jesus said, “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Luke‬ ‭10:19)‬ ‭Now, Jesus has taught us that the power of darkness has no authority over any part of our lives, nor over the people we love. He has given us authority over satan and his forces, and Jesus has shown us how to walk in that authority.

Then Paul says, “made a public spectacle of them.” What appeared to be His humiliation was actually their defeat. They believed that by stripping Him of His clothes, exposing Him, and nailing His hands and feet to the cross before all people, they were triumphing over Him. The religious leaders believed that by crucifying Jesus, everything would return to the way it was before. They thought His death would silence Him and end His work. But Scripture tells us otherwise. As it is written, “Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Corinthians 2:8).

What they intended for defeat became the very means of victory. As Scripture says, “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good” (Genesis 50:20). What looked like defeat in the hands of men was always part of God’s redemptive plan. The very method they used to disgrace the LORD Jesus became the instrument through which God poured out His grace on all who believe. The cross, which appeared foolish and weak to them, became the power of God unto salvation. As it is written, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).

At the cross, sin was paid in full, death was defeated, and the powers of darkness were exposed and stripped of their authority. This is what Paul means when he says that the LORD Jesus Christ triumphed over them in it. From their generation and even to ours, what the Lord Jesus did on the cross was always mocked. They saw it as shameful, foolish, and weak. But God looked at the cross and declared victory. As it is written, “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:14).

Have you ever wondered why the apostle Paul said, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Galatians 6:14)? Paul had many things he could have boasted in. He could have boasted in his education, his background, or his ministry. Yet he chose to boast only in the cross. Paul knew that what Jesus finished on the cross disarmed all the power of satan over us. The cross stripped the enemy of his weapons which were sin, accusation, and death. What satan once used to condemn and enslave humanity was taken away completely through the LORD Jesus Christ’s sacrifice. That is why the book of Revelation declares our victory. “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony” (Revelation 12:11). Our testimony is not about ourselves or our accomplishment. Our testimony is about what Jesus declared on the cross when He said, “It is finished” (John 19:30). The work is complete. The debt is paid. The enemy is defeated. And because of the cross, we stand in victory, not in what we have done, but in what the LORD Jesus Christ has already done for all of us.

I want to remind you that the earth was never given to evil spirits or angels. It was give to us. Scripture tells us, “The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men” (Psalm 115:16,). The LORD Jesus demonstrated how we are to stand against satan and his forces. We were never meant to live under oppression or fear. They are trespassers with no rightful claim. Just as the Israelites, under God’s command, dispossessed the giants and nations from the Promised Land, we are called to dispossess the enemy from what God has given us.

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If the enemy was already disarmed two thousand years ago, why do so many Christians still live under oppression from Satan and his forces? The victory has been won, yet many believers are not walking in it.

First, many are still blinded by the pleasures of sin and the riches of this world. Scripture reminds us that the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life will all pass away. What feels satisfying for a moment slowly steals our peace and freedom.

Second, many do not pray or consistently read the Word of God. God Himself says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” When we are not rooted in the truth, we become vulnerable to lies and deception.

Third, we often focus more on ourselves than on what the Lord Jesus has already accomplished on the cross. Instead of standing in His finished work, we try to fight battles in our own strength, which only leads to exhaustion and defeat.

But this is not the end of the story. God’s mercy is new every morning. There is always an invitation to repent, to turn back to Him, and to realign our hearts with His truth. God is always willing to reach out His hands to us. He is patient, faithful, and ready to restore anyone who comes back to Him.

The victory is already won. The call now is to walk in it.