Notes on Christus Victor

Eschatology:  There are times of eschatology, which have distinct charactaristics.  These times wax and wane, have more indications and less.  The final consummation of these times will be “the day of the Lord”—a final realization of all eschatalogical periods.

Idolatry:  Idolatry is the worship/avowed service of a creation, rather than the creator.  Idolatry is not condemned openly until after the Exodus, and that only to the people of God.  Those whose focus revolves around money is said to have money as their “master” rather than God.  The fundamental difference between an idolator and one of the people of God is who is their “master”, who they are in servitude under.  To be enslaved to sin (Romans) is fundamentally idolatry, just as worship of an image is.  The sin of the golden calf is not the replacement of God as their god, but it was the making of an image, which one would worship—the orgy accompaning the worship is an indication that image-worshipping is inherintly connected with pagan worship practices.

Powers: These are called in the OT, gods, and gods they are in the concept of ancient mythologies.  They are also called “sons of God”, “angels”, “spirits”, “prince”, “powers”, “principalities” in various places in Scripture.  These are powers around God’s throne that are given a certain place of authority on earth—over nations, military functions, representatives of God, judgment, rivers, winds, and the Abyss.  Some powers are good (e.g. Michael), some are evil (e.g. Satan, “sons of god” in Gen 6), some seemingly neutral (angels over winds in Rev. 10)

Satan:  He is one power among many.  He is called the “ruler of this age”, the liar, the accuser of the brethern, the power of death, the tempter.  He is the great enemy of the Christ, and of humanity in general.  He is in rebellion against God, although he is still God’s servant (Job 1).  He acts as “accuser” or prosecutor of humanity, especially against those who are called “righteous”. 

Human authority: Humankind was given authority over an area, just like the other powers.  Their authority is over the creatures that live in the realms of the waters, air and land.  And possibly over the vegitation that grows in these realms.  However, mankind openly rebelled against God, and God has chosen to redeem mankind, instead of utterly destroying him.  God’s choice of salvation is to choose and purify a remnant—beginning with Abraham, down to those who are the remant of Israel through Christ—while judging the rest of mankind.  That process of redemption is still in process.

Israel: Israel is a nation—not entirely ethnic, although it focuses on the physical children of Abraham,  not entirely religious, although it centers around the cult of Yahweh.  It is the focus of God’s plan of redemption.  Not all Israel will be in God’s final redemption, for many of them are corrupt—but it is within Israel that the righteousness of God is kept, and it is within Israel that the chosen remnant of God are. The people of the Christ are the remnant of Israel, even if they are only known to Israel through the Christ.

Jesus, the Christ:  Jesus was a power, one of the great powers associated with the creation of the earth, in the form of God himself.  Jesus lays aside all of his spiritual powers and greatness and instead is born as a simple human.  He does good and enacts righteousness, quietly, without fanfare.  God proclaims him as his Son, although not publically.   Jesus directly attacks the realm of Satan through healings, exorcisms and proclamation of the “kingdom of God” the end of the rule of Satan.  Jesus did not directly attack earthly structures, although he did prophecy against them as they clearly did wrong.

Christ’s victory:   Because of his attack against Satan’s realm, Satan returns attack .  Through temptation—trying to get him to stop the strategy he is using; trying to discredit him; trying to attack through a mob.  Finally Satan attacks through the earthly powers, over which he has control—the Roman govt and the priests and elders. They arrest, condemn and kill Jesus, although all Jesus did was righteousness.  Jesus submits to judment and death—Why?  1. It exposes Satan as unjust as one who judges the innocent.  2. It exposes Satan as the enemy of God, for he killed the one whom God had chosen.  3. It exposed the earthly powers as Satanic powers.  4. It acts as Jesus’ plea for God to vindicate him—thus to take divine action against the Satanic realm and the earthly powers.

God vindicates Jesus by:  Raising Jesus from the dead; dethroning Satan from his place before God; placing Jesus at this right hand over every authority and power; destroying the earthly powers of Israel when they rejected the risen Christ.

The Church’s strategy against Satan: Be lowly; Do works of righteousness; Attack Satan’s evil works directly; remain in submission to earthly powers, even if they attack God’s people, for it exposes who they are.  Pray for God’s vindication.   Proclaim the evil actions of the earthly powers.