“…Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.” Luke 23:46.  It was at that moment satan knew he was defeated.  There was no war in hell for the keys to hell.  Revelations 1:18 states “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”  Satan never had the keys to hell and has never determined who entered hell.  The sacrifice Jesus made was a debt owed to God for our sins so we could be reconciled with Him.  This debt was not owed to satan.

Our victory over sin, hell and the grave was won by Jesus Christ on the Cross.  Before His crucifixion, Jesus was the only one who believed He would be resurrected.  The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is what makes the Gospel effective.  His Resurrection is our proof that our sin debt was paid in full.  The victory was gained at the Cross of Jesus; in His sacrifice.  God always looks to the sacrifice and not the sinner…praise the Lord!

When our faith lies on the resurrection of Jesus (where our proof of victory is) and not on the sacrifice of Jesus (where our victory over sin, hell and the grave is, where the power of God is and where the price was paid), our faith is shifted from the power of God to the promises of God.  “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.  While this may seem of no consequence to our salvation, it is of major consequence to those who need the power of God for healing and breaking strongholds.  I am not talking about the wooden beam where Jesus was crucified.  As horrible and grotesque as Jesus’ suffering was, I’m not talking about His suffering.  We recognize the suffering and can’t begin to comprehend the suffering Jesus endured.  To see how truly bad sin is, all we have to do is  look to the Cross of Jesus.  What I am talking about, is what Jesus accomplished for us on the Cross.  At the moment Jesus gave up the Ghost, our victory was won.   For a Christian, we celebrate His resurrection every day because we understand the effect of His death for our salvation and sanctification!  We understand we are victorious because Jesus already won and we don’t have to go around reminding ourselves we are righteous in Him because we are so thankful for His righteousness.  The only thing we have to do is remind ourselves His payment was and is in FULL and we don’t have to add to it.  Any attempt for us to please God outside of faith in Jesus’ finished work, is an insult to Jesus and in rebellion to God’s plan.

Many Christians have been desensitized to these “small” things which has lead to the church being crippled.  The power and sovereignty of God is slanted when we are taught there was a battle over the keys of hell or Jesus came to pay a debt to satan.  “For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:” Romans 6:5.  For us to truly be planted together in the likeness of His death, we must truly understand His death….then we will also be in the likeness of His resurrection.  He is Risen! Hallelujah!!  – Donna Warren