Christus Victor: The Triumph of the Cross
Christianity is not just about personal forgiveness—it’s about cosmic victory. At the heart of the gospel is a battle, and at the centre of that battle is Christ. Christus Victor is the grand, sweeping story of how Jesus' death and resurrection were not just a means of atonement but a decisive conquest over sin, death, and the forces of evil. Originally accredited to Irenaeus (130-202 AD), this is an orthodox understanding of salvation, though often overshadowed by the idea of penal substitutionary atonement.
From the very beginning, the Bible frames salvation in terms of warfare. In Genesis 3:15, God declares that the offspring of the woman will crush the serpent’s head—the first whisper of a coming victory. Throughout Israel’s history, God is portrayed as a warrior, delivering His people from oppression. But as history unfolds, it becomes clear that the real enemy isn’t just Pharaoh, Goliath, or Babylon—it’s the spiritual forces of darkness that enslave humanity (Ephesians 6:12).
Enter Jesus. His ministry is full of moments where He asserts authority over demonic powers, sickness, and even nature itself. But the final battle is the cross. What looks like defeat—a dying Messiah, abandoned and humiliated—is actually the moment of triumph. Paul puts it bluntly: “Having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (Colossians 2:15). The enemy thought he had won, but in reality, he had just sealed his own defeat.
And then, Easter morning. The grave is empty. Death itself has lost its sting (1 Corinthians 15:55). The resurrection is not just proof of life after death; it’s the victory cry of a King who has conquered all. For “All things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together… and through him [God will] reconcile to himself all things [to himself] (Col 1:16-20)”. One day all things will glorify Christ the Victor. (Eph 1:12).
Today, and every day, is a foretaste of that day.