What does it mean to have Victory in Jesus?
Victory belongs to Christ! Because Jesus Christ resurrected from death, we have a living hope in this life. We must remember that Christ has overcome! There is Victory in Jesus!
Our family loves to play the games CATAN and Risk, and we joke about who claims victory in world domination. Usually, my son wins CATAN, and my husband wins Risk. Leanna and I occasionally win.
Sometimes you know in the first few minutes that you will lose one of these strategy games. Knowing that you will lose the game puts you in a position to either enjoy the game or be miserable. If you choose to be miserable, then you make everyone else miserable playing the game.
We recently played CATAN, and, within minutes, my husband announced that there was no way he could win the game. The funny thing is that he almost did win the game, and he would have won if I had not made a great trade with my world-dominating son.
It amazes me that so many Christians look at their current circumstances only to forget that Jesus Christ has already won. Victory belongs to Christ! Because Jesus Christ resurrected from death, we have a living hope in this life. There is victory in Jesus!
What does it mean to have victory in Jesus?
We are going to share Christ’s victory through a promised inheritance. Just like the Israelites journeyed into the land that was their promised inheritance, we also will make our journey through this life to an inheritance that the Bible says can “never perish, spoil, or fade.” (1 Peter 1:4 NIV)
1 Peter 1:3-4 NIV says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you.”
Before we receive that promised inheritance, we must finish the work that God has called us to complete. To finish this work, we must keep our focus on Christ’s resurrection and not on our circumstances. When we begin to look at our circumstances, two things happen.
We Must Focus on Jesus:
Our circumstances make us think that we will lose the game of life, so we must keep our focus on Jesus Christ.
When it looks like our marriage is falling apart, our adult children are not walking with the Lord, financial troubles are overtaking our lives, our loved ones are sick, and civil injustice and unrest are destroying our nation, we must remember that Christ is victorious!
John 16:33 NIV says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
We Put on the Full Armor of God:
We also forget that it is not going to be easy for us to win the game. We will suffer, so we must put on the full armor of God to stand in strength and victory in Jesus Christ.
When we start to feel good about the outcome, our circumstances trick our brain into thinking that the circumstance is about us and our emotions move into self-pity. The battle through physical and emotional suffering is not easy. It is an uncomfortable battle.
We are blessed that God provides us with the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the sword of the spirit, the shield of faith, and feet fitted with readiness and peace so that we may stand firm during our suffering and battle the enemy’s tactics against us.
Ephesians 6:11 NIV commands us to, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”
Three obstacles to overcome for Victory in Christ:
We must remember that Christ is victorious! God is going to fight our battles, but we must overcome three obstacles.
Know Your Enemy:
Victory in Christ is a key theme in the Bible, showing us how to overcome spiritual challenges. However, achieving this victory involves facing certain obstacles. Ephesians 6:12 tells us our real fight is against evil forces, not other people. This means our struggles are often with things we can’t see, making it important to understand that these spiritual battles are part of the journey to victory. Oftentimes, people do not know that evil forces are real, and we must firmly stand in Christ Jesus. Knowing your enemy is real is an important piece of putting on the full armor of God.
Resist Temptation:
The Bible also talks about the importance of staying strong and resisting temptation. James 4:7 advises us to resist the devil, promising he will then flee from us. This shows the power of staying firm in our faith to beat temptations that can throw us off track. 1 Peter 5:8 warns us to stay alert because the devil is always looking to cause trouble, much like a lion looking for its next meal. It’s a reminder that being watchful and prepared is crucial in maintaining our spiritual path.
Confess Sins:
Lastly, Hebrews 12:1 encourages us to let go of sins and anything that slows us down, urging us to keep pushing forward like runners in a race. This verse highlights the need to stay focused and avoid getting tangled up in things that can stop us from achieving spiritual success. Together, these parts of the Bible guide us in facing down the things that hold us back, showing how to stay on track towards victory in Christ with determination, alertness, and a willingness to let go of what weighs us down.
Deuteronomy 20:4 NIV says, “For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”
Victory belongs to Christ! Because Jesus Christ was resurrected from death, we have a living hope in this life. We must remember that Christ has overcome the world! Our job is to put on the full armor of God now to complete the work that God has instructed. We can rejoice now that the battle is won!
Victory in Christ Verses:
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