(by pastor Norman)

In the beginning Adam and Eve were deceived by the devil into disobeying God by eating an apple from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen 2:17; 3:1-17). This brought sin (Rom 5:12), spiritual death (Eph 2:1; Col 2:13) and separation from God on all mankind (1 John 1:6-7). In Old Testament times yearly animal sacrifices were made for the forgiveness of sins by God’s people Israel (Lev 16). Christ died on a cross as a sacrifice to deal with sin (Heb 9:26), a perfect sacrifice to wash our minds from sinful ways (Heb 9:14). This opened the way for God’s forgiveness, salvation and restored fellowship with God (Rom 10:9-10; AMP; 1 John 1:7-9). Jesus by His sacrifice, His death and resurrection, defeated satan and stripped him of all power and authority. “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it” (Col 2:15; NKJV). “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8; NKJV; see also Heb 2:14). We must believe that Christ won victory for us (1 Cor 15:57). Satan will try to bring sin into our lives and attack us using people, situations and circumstances; however, Jesus brings us victory over all tribulations (John 16:33). If we have Christ in our lives, we are more than conquerors (1 John 5:4; Rom 8:37), God leads us in triumph (2 Cor 2:14) and we have authority over the works of satan (Luke 10:19). We walk in Christ’s victory by using our faith (1 John 5:4b).