Author, pastor to speak at First Presbyterian
II Corinthians 15:57 “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
We have studied the Word of God to better understand what it means to be “in Christ”. We will see today the victory we have over our spiritual enemy, over the world system and over our flesh, by being in Christ Jesus the Lord. But first a warning (warning advice, gentle rebuke) for those who are not living a victorious life in Christ: The church (organization) in the world today seems to be exactly that – in the world, rather than in Christ.
You can hardly tell the difference between so many who claim to be Christians and those who are not. Too many Christians, in quotes and without quotes, are still slaves to their appetites and addictions, with conversations and behaviors as if there has been no change from God in their lives. As if there had been no new spiritual birth.
Too often, “a man of God” is challenged for his deplorable affair with a woman who is not his wife. The scandal is publicized everywhere in the tabloids and on television. Even the world knows how to call him, because that makes him a hypocrite.
What the evidence shows is that either these claim Christ but are liars, or they have been washed clean by the blood of Jesus, born again by the Spirit of Christ, but have fallen back into disobedience. , defeat and shame. Romans 8:13 says, “For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if you mortify (kill) by the Spirit the deeds of the body (carnal sins), you will live. »
Those who claim Christ, but live a defeated life according to their carnal appetites, do not deny the flesh, take up their cross daily and follow Him with an obedient heart. (Luke 9:23, Rom.12:1-2) Christ came to destroy the works of the devil (I John 3:8), why would we continue to walk in this shame? If they are disobedient children of God, God will chasten and correct them. There can be no one more miserable than a Christian who is outside the will of God and under his punishment. (Hebrews 12:5-13, Lamentations 3:19-40, Psalm 51).
But that doesn’t mean it’s the end of the story, for there is great and abundant hope. Psalm 103: “God is merciful and merciful, slow to anger and full of mercy. He will not always rebuke (rebuke): he will not keep his anger forever… For as heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy to those who fear him (divine fear and reverence). As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us… the mercy of the Lord is from eternity to eternity on those who fear him…”. I John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
We all love redemption stories, especially when it’s our own story. Stories of a failure, a rebel, a drug addict, a tramp, who wastes his life, who crashes and burns; “But God” in his mercy and love, as we cry out to him for salvation, brings us back from the dead and raises us from the ashes. (Ephesians 2:4-9, I Cor. 6:9-11) We are born again, made a new creature, in His image; we go forward in Christ and in victory. Not in our own little strength that will fail us; but in Christ and in his resurrection power. II Cor.2:14, “Now thanks be to God, who always causes us to triumph in Christ”. We then became world proof; a walking, talking billboard that Jesus Christ is for real! That Jesus Christ is truly the Savior of this lost and broken world.
Consider Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God hath ordained (appointed and established) that we should do.” Take this as a matter of fact, that you and I are a work of God. We are his creation in Jesus Christ. With us in Christ and Christ in us, we will do his good works. I John 3:24, “And he who keeps his commandments dwells in him, and he in him. And by that we know that he dwells in us, by the Spirit he has given us.
Keep them close to your heart for victory, I John 2:12-17, “…I have written to you, young men (and women), because you are strong, and the word of God dwells in you, and you have overcome the wicked…” I John 4:4, “You are little children of God, and you have overcome them, for greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. 5:4-5, “For everyone born of God has overcome the world: and here is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is the one who will win?… the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
And if we truly believe that Jesus is the Son of God, sent by God to redeem us from this sinful, fallen world, and to save us from our own brokenness and failure; we will receive Him as Lord and Saviour, and live in Him as a new creature. A forgiven, purified and grateful child of our God. We will not be perfect or sinless; but we will submit to his will, confess our sins often, and turn to him often for the power of victory, day by day. I John 2:28, “And now, little children, abide in him; so that when he appears we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
Yes my brother and my sister, there is victory in Jesus.
