Christ Won Our Victory

In the last entry, we said that a believer can have no peace until he is right with God. And what keeps us from being right with God? Our sin. We are in a continual battle with our old, fallen, sinful nature (the flesh, in Scripture).

But the good news is this: The victory against sin is already won. 1st John 3:8 tells us, “He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”

Isn’t that fantastic? Jesus came to earth “that He might destroy the works of the devil.” What is the primary work of the devil? Sin!

Friend, do you still have a problem with sin? It doesn’t matter what kind: alcohol, promiscuity, drugs, bitterness, envy, laziness, dishonesty. God can rescue you from it. Jesus has already paid the price for victory – the price was His own death on the cross of Calvary.

As a result, you can win over the sin in your life. It’s not easy, nobody says it is easy. In the next couple of entries, we’ll talk about how we can achieve victory in our lives through some practical steps.

But for now, if you are a child of God, can you understand why there is inner turmoil and guilt over sin in your life? That’s God at work. And God will continue to work through your conscience until you deal with the sin in your life. Give your sin over to God. Fall on your knees before God in humble repentance. Ask Him to forgive you, and ask Him for relief from that sin.

If you are not a child of God, if you have never placed your faith in Jesus Christ, yet, you feel that torment of guilt over your sin, that’s God working in you too. He also wants to give you relief. Your answer is also repentance - turning form your sin and turning to Jesus in faith.

The victory over sin has already been won. Now, you need to learn to live in that victory.

During World War II, the Japanese were entrenched on the islands all across the Pacific. After the war was over, for months, sometimes years following the war, pockets of these Japanese soldiers were discovered. They didn’t know the war was over, so they were still fighting, still deadly, still taking casualties. It was incredibly difficult to convince them that the war was over and that they had lost.

In the great spiritual war, the victory has already been won too. Jesus Christ won the victory over Satan upon the cross of Calvary. Satan is a defeated enemy. Oh, he is still powerful, still causing casualties, but it is up to you to surrender to God.
That is the only way. Have you done that? If not, do it now.