The Cross & Powers of Darkness

In the apostle Paul's epistle to the Ephesians (3:10) we find the calling of the Church - the Ekklesia Jesus is building: "That the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places." Scripture reveals the Cross to be God's "weapon of choice" for addressing "the rulers, the powers, the world forces of this darkness, the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. " (6:12) In his first epistle to the Corinthians (1:18-31), Paul explained that the Cross is the very wisdom and power of God. Our calling is to follow Jesus by embracing His cross - that is, denying ourselves for the glory of God. When, in demonstration of the Cross, our self-denying obedience is completed, Christ will punish all disobedience and condemn the Powers of Darkness to eternal judgment.