And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

– Colossians 2:13-15

God is the winner. Always.

What an amazing passage this is! Notice the deliberateness of the text, the matter-of-fact record of the victory of God.

We were dead. God made us alive.

Alive together with Him.

He has forgiven (past tense) all our trespasses.

He has cancelled the record of debt that stood against us. The unbearable burden of our sin, subject to the exacting legal demands of justice, He bore in His own flesh.

That record of our debt? Yes, cancelled. But not just cancelled. Set aside and nailed to the cross.

And the rulers and authorities? Those unseen powers of wickedness running rampant on the earth? Disarmed! Put to open shame! God has triumphed over them!

And notice that there’s truly no room for anyone else to take the credit. There isn’t much passive voice in this passage. God did it.

I wonder if I’ve ever truly grasped the victory of God. It goes far beyond just my personal salvation – it’s the disarming of all His enemies and the triumph of His majestic redemption.

May I grasp this just a bit more and bow deeper in praise to my Lord.

My Lord, who always wins.