Few Christians seem to realize that the death of the Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross has a double message of a double deliverance. Every truly born-again Christian has accepted the first message and knows the deliverance from the guilt of sin: "Christ died for our sins" (1 Cor. 15:3), "who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the Tree" (1 Peter 2:24) clearly declare the substitutionary character of Christ's "finished" work on the Cross (John 19:30). Based upon this, the believer knows he is in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 3:24).

I trust that my reader knows deliverance from guilt. However, should he not, let me say that the Lord Jesus is still waiting to hear your prayer, such as the Publican prayed in Luke 18:13: "God be merciful to me a sinner." He will then say of you as He did of the Publican, "This man went down to his house justified"—delivered forever from all the guilt of sin!

There are many Christians, however, who do not seem to realize the second message of the Cross. It is the message of deliverance from the power of sin in one's life. There is no sin of any degree that needs to continue to hold one in its grip. Should it be the sin of complaining, worrying, envying, etc., right on down to the sins of the "gutter," not one nor all need hold one in bondage. There is victory over all! The power in the precious blood of Jesus not only gives deliverance from the guilt of sin, but deliverance from the power of sin as well. By His death, Christ broke sin's power. "That through death He might destroy him that had the power of death" (Heb. 2:14). There is no sin in the believer's life that has perhaps become habitual which cannot be instantly broken and done away with in a moment of time.

In Colossians 2:14,15, we read that the death of Jesus on the "Cross . . . having spoiled principalities and powers He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it." This message of the Cross proves entire victory over sin's power. And because the power of sin is broken by Christ's death on the Cross, the believer can have freedom—deliverance—from every form of sin. "Sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace" (Rom. 6:14).

Let me point out God's prescription for the practical experience of this deliverance as given in Romans 6:

(1) "Knowing this that our old man is crucified with Him" (Rom. 6:6). We KNOW this as a fact by faith in God's Word.
(2) "Reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom. 6:11). RECKON, (count it to be so) by love for Him who died for you and rose again.
(3) "Yield yourselves unto God as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God" (Rom. 6:13). YIELD by the power of the Holy Spirit who indwells you. He is the Power for practical deliverance.

Every Christian will realize this deliverance from sin's power as faith lays hold upon the double message of the Cross and its divine prescription for practical victory day by day.