Victory in Christ

Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ. —2 Corinthians 2: 14

The word triumph is a word that presupposes conflict. As children of God, we are in constant conflict. Basically, three forces battle our Christian experience: the world (the world system that is in rebellion against God), our flesh (this corrupt, fallen nature, biological drives that control a person’s life), and the Devil.

*** Victory comes as we learn to abide in Christ.

Why is it so hard to live a life of victory in Christ? Well, some just don’t put up much of a fight. The Scriptures say, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4: 7). But whenever Satan comes around, some Christians just sort of give up without a fight. They yield without any resistance. Jesus said if you wanted to come after Him you had to deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Him. But, the flesh doesn’t like that. It doesn’t like to be denied. So some of us don’t deny it at all.

Victory comes as we learn to trust in Christ to help us handle the temptations the enemy may throw at us. Victory comes when we ask Him for the strength that we don’t have within ourselves, power beyond our own capacities. As Jesus told us, we need to abide in Him and continue abiding in Him, for apart from Him we can do nothing. As we abide in Jesus Christ, and He abides in us, that indwelling presence of His Holy Spirit becomes the secret to constant victory.

Father, how grateful we are for the victory that we have in Christ—for the power You’ve given us to overcome the world, the flesh, and the Devil. In Jesus’ name, amen.