THIS IS THE FIRST OF MANY. I HOPE, INSTALLMENTS ON THE TOPIC OF “VICTORIOUS CHRISTIAN LIVING.” THIS SERIES HAS COME ABOUT BECAUSE I CAN’T RECALL ANY CHRISTIAN I KNOW SAYING-”I ENJOY BEING A DEFEATED CHRISTIAN” OR “ISN’T IT GREAT I HAVE NO VISIBLE FRUIT IN MY LIFE” OR PERHAPS THIS STATEMENT-”I AM SO GLAD SIN HAS COMPLETE CONTROL AND IT REIGNS RUTHLESSLY IN MY LIFE”. NO; MOST I KNOW SAY THINGS ALONG THESE LINES. “I PRESSING TOWARDS THE MARK”. ” I WANT MORE FRUIT IN MY LIFE.” “I WANT MY LIFE TO COUNT FOR SOMETHING IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD!”
THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER CONCERNING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE, GOD EXPECTS A VICTORIOUS CHRISTIAN LIFE IN HIS DISCIPLES. IN FACT, IN JOHN 15, THE APOSTLE QUOTES CHRIST IN THIS FASHION- “I HAVE CHOSEN YOU, YOU HAVE NOT CHOSEN ME, THAT YOU SHOULD GO FORTH AND BEAR MUCH FRUIT.” IN THE BOOK OF JOSHUA, YOU WILL SEE THIS TYPIFIED IN GOD’S COMMAND TO THE ISRAELITES- GO AND CONQUER THE LAND I HAVE GIVEN YOU. THIS IS THE PERSPECTIVE THE CHRISTIAN MUST HAVE IF HE OR SHE EXPECTS TO MAKE ANY PROGRESS IN HIS OR HER WALK WITH CHRIST. FOR THE CHRISTIAN, THE OLD LIFE HAS PASSED AWAY IN CHRIST AND A NEW LIFE, A DIFFERENT PATH IS CHARTED WITH ONE INTENT: APPREHENDING EVERYTHING THAT COMES WITH THE NEW LIFE. IN THIS NEW LIFE, DEFEAT SHOULDN’T BE ACCEPTED AS THE NORM, CONQUERING AND VICTORY IN JESUS IS.
THE MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION AT THIS POINT ON YOUR MINDS IS PROBABLY THIS- “HOW IS SUCH A LIFE OBTAINED?” “WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE IN REAL, TANGIBLE TERMS? ” THANKFULLY YOU AND I ARE NOT LEFT TO OUR OWN DEVICES TO ORCHESTRATE OUR OWN DEMISE. THERE ARE MANY PASSAGES WE COULD CHOOSE FROM. BUT FOR OUR STUDY; WE’LL USE I JOHN 5. YOU WILL SEE JOHN PROVIDING FOR YOU AND ME, THE “MAIN INGREDIENTS”, NECESSARY TO LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IN A VICTORIOUS, FRUITFUL MANNER. WE’LL LOOK AT THE FIRST ONE TODAY:
I JN. 5:1Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? IN THESE VERSES YOU SEE THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS VICTORIOUS CHRISTIAN LIVING- FAITH IN CHRIST.
A. IT ONLY STANDS TO REASON, OBVIOUSLY, IN ORDER TO BE A CHRISTIAN YOU MUST BELIEVE IN CHRIST. HE IS THE REASON FOR AND THE SOURCE OF CHRISTIANITY IN THE FIRST PLACE. TO DENY CHRIST AS YOUR NECESSARY ROOT TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN, IS TO MAKE YOU A LIAR. SEE I JN. 1:3, 2:22. THE SAME MINDSET IS IN THE APOSTLE’S GOSPEL WHEN HE WRITES IN JOHN 1:12-13- NO ONE BECOMES A CHRISTIAN, CHRIST MAKES HIM ONE.
B. VV. 4-5 4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? THE VERY TENOR OF THESE VERSES IS SIMPLY THIS- TO BE AN OVERCOMER, TO HAVE A VICTORIOUS FAITH, THE SOURCE OF VICTORY IS FOUND IN ONE PLACE, ONE PERSON ACTUALLY, JESUS CHRIST. LUKE WRITES IN ACTS 17:28- “IT’S IN HIM WE LIVE AND MOVE AND HAVE OUR BEING.” JOHN IS SIMPLY STATING IN VV 4 AND 5 THAT VICTORY IS ONLY SECURED BY BEING IN CHRIST. IN CHRIST YOU WILL OVERCOME, IN CHRIST YOU WILL BE VICTORIOUS. WHY? SIMPLY BECAUSE THE CHRISTIAN FAITH IS NOT SUBJECTIVE, BUT OBJECTIVE. IT IS THE OBJECT OF FAITH THAT FORWARD MOTION IS PROPELLED IN A BELIEVER’S LIFE. REMEMBER THE ALLUSION TO JOSHUA? HE AND CALEB KNEW WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO EXPERIENCE DEFEAT WHEN THE OBJECT OF FAITH IS FORGOTTEN. THEY RIPPED THEIR CLOTHES IN AGONY, IN NUMBERS 14:6-9, WHEN THEIR COUNTRYMEN TOOK THEIR EYES OFF THE GIVER OF VICTORY AND ON TO THEIR OWN CAPABILILTIES. WHAT DID JOSHUA AND CALEB REMIND THEIR BRETHREN? THEIR VICTORY WAS SECURED BY FAITH IN GOD’S PROMISE TO THEM- GO IN AND POSSESS THE LAND BECAUSE I HAVE GIVEN IT TO YOU.
BRINGING THIS OVER INTO THE NEW TESTAMENT, HEBREWS, CHAPTER 12:2 STATED QUITE EXPLICITLY TO ALL TO SEE- LOOKING UNTO JESUS WHO IS THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH. PAUL WRITES IN 11 CORINTHIANS 1:20- ALL THE PROMISES OF GOD AND ARE YES AND AMEN IN JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD. HEBREWS 11 IS CALLED THE HALL OF FAITH FOR THIS VERY OBVIOUS REASON- THROUGHOUT THE CHAPTER- BY FAITH IN GOD, THEY CONQUERED WHATEVER CAME THEIR WAY.
THE QUESTION THEN IS THIS ISN’T IT- IS YOUR FAITH A SUBJECTIVE ONE OR AN OBJECTIVE ONE? HOW YOU ANSWER THIS CONSTITUTES VICTORY OR DEFEAT. WHICH ONE DID YOU CHOOSE?
