How can I have victory in Christ?
"Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." —1 Corinthians 15:57
Victory in Christ is what believers experience at the moment of salvation when they receive the forgiveness of their sins and the promise of eternal life through Jesus alone (John 3:16-18; John 14:6). Our flesh is crucified "with its passions and desires" (Galatians 5:24). Yet, despite our Christ-given victory, we still have our sinful tendencies to wage war against (Romans 7:15-20).
The good news is that, while we DO still experience temptation, we DON'T have any temptation that can overpower us. We're not battling temptations in vain, because God is with us, and the victory over our sin is already ours through Christ's.
"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." —1 Corinthians 10:13
The Gift of Christ's Victory
It's important to note that victory is something we're given—not something we achieve through doing all the "right" things. Jesus is the one who conquered the power of Satan (John 14:30; Luke 4:33-36), and by HIS shared victory, we can freely "walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit" (Romans 8:1-4).
Too often, we fall into the trap of believing that WE can be strong enough or have enough willpower or strategies to reject temptation on our own. Such a belief is based on pride. Proverbs 16:18 says that "pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."
If we want to say "no" to the temptation to sin, we would be wise to humble ourselves and ask for God's wisdom as we rely on HIS power instead of our own.
"If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking." —James 1:5 (NLT)
Reflecting Our Christ-Given Victory
We are indwelt by the Holy Spirit.
"So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves." —Galatians 5:16 (NLT)
Those who have accepted Christ must strive to walk the ways of the Holy Spirit. Following the Spirit can result in thankfulness, singing, and true joy in our lives (Ephesians 5:18-20; Colossians 3:16).
As we learn more and more from God's Word and obey Him (Colossians 3:16; 2 Timothy 3:16), our sinful appetites have less and less power over us.
Our identity is in Christ—not our sin.
"Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" —2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)
Once we receive the gift of God's salvation, we are a member of God's family (Galatians 2:20; 2 Corinthians 5:17). This should encourage us when we encounter temptations by our enemy (1 Peter 5:8), because we know that our Heavenly Father is on our side.
We're forever set free from the fear that Satan attempts to terrorize us with (Romans 8:15-17). As new creations in Christ, we're unshackled from the past bondage of our sin and can remind ourselves of our new identity when we come face-to face with temptation.
Ultimately, our victory has been won BY Christ and gifted to us IN Christ. We can neither win it nor earn it. What we must now focus on is obedience and submission to God's lordship every day.
Draw near to Him by reading His Word, talking to Him (Hebrews 10:19-23), and being an active part of a community of other believers who can encourage you in your journey with Him (Hebrews 10:24-25). Christ's victory and God's forgiveness allow us to walk beside Him as we seek to do His work in the world (1 Corinthians 15:57-58).
ALSO SEE:
- What is salvation?
- How can I receive forgiveness from God?
- What does it mean that a Christian is a new creation?
- What is my identity in Christ?
- How can I stop feeling guilty?
- Is God mad at me?
- If all my sins are forgiven, why not continue to sin?
- If I ask forgiveness ahead of time, is it OK to sin?
- Is temptation a sin?
- How can I overcome temptation?
- How can I overcome the fear of death?
TL;DR
Victory in Christ is what believers experience at the moment of salvation when they receive the forgiveness of their sins and the promise of eternal life through Jesus alone (John 3:16-18; John 14:6). Our lives should therefore reflect our Christ-given victory and freedom from sin by walking in the ways of the Holy Spirit, embracing our new identity in Christ, and drawing near to God through an intimate relationship with Him and His family of believers.
Writer: Grace Murphy
Grace is a passionate writer and musician who desires to radiate Christ's light in a generation of teens and young adults navigating their life in a world of spiritual darkness. Recent founder of Christian rock band Lighthouse Saints, she desires to spread the message of God’s truth and love through her songwriting and voice! Grace is also an aspiring freelancer who has worked professionally in writing, editing, and social media content creation. In her free time, Grace enjoys meeting new people, reading lots of books, jamming out with her friends, and writing (sometimes overly dramatic) poetry.
