Bible Study
To live victoriously is to always overcome, to always conquer, to always prevail, to triumph always, to win all the time. Every Christian should live a life of perpetual victory because of the finished work of Christ (1 John 5:4,2 Corinthians 2:14, Romans 8:37).
In Part 1 of this study, we discussed the requirement for living a victorious Christian life- you must be born of God.
Today, we consider the scope of the Christian victory.
The Scope Of The Christian Victory
Everyone likes to win. You want to win in your relationships (with your spouse, children, extended family, friends, church members, colleagues, schoolmates, etc). Strained and difficult relationships can lead to severe emotional and health problems and nobody wants that. You also want to win over obsessions, addictions or bad habits; to become a better version of yourself. You want to stand out in your career or profession. So any of these can be the scope of victory for someone. But what does the Bible say about the scope of the Christian victory?
Philippians 2:9-11 says..
“Therefore [because He stooped so low] God has highly exalted Him and has freely bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, That in (at) the name of Jesus every knee should (must) bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth”
Philippians 2:9-10 AMPC
This speaks of victory over the 3 worlds; heaven, earth, under the earth.
Reading this, it might be tempting to think, ‘well that speaks of Jesus‘. Well see verses 10-11, Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 16:17-18..
“that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.“
Philippians 2:10-11 NKJV
“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.“
Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV
“And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Mark 16:17-18 NKJV
Summarily, Jesus delegated authority to His disciples. Christians have authority over the 3 worlds in the name of Jesus.. ..in heaven, on earth, under the earth. This authority is exercised through the Name of Jesus. And if we have the authority, we should also have the victory. Halleluyah!
So the scope of a Christian’s victory covers….
1. Over the world
1 John 5:4 says whatever that is born of God overcomes the world..
“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”
I John 5:4 NKJV
What constitutes the world?
A Place: The Universe (1 Timothy 6:7, Acts 17:4, Matthew 24:14, Hebrews 9:26).
People: unbelievers with unrecreated human spirits. People without a sin consciousness or fear of God. People who are sold out to Satan (John 15, John 3:17, John 6:33, James 4:4, John 1:29, 1 Timothy 5:16).
As a place, Christians live in the world but are not a part of its evil (John 17:16)
The god of this world: Satan.
A system of governance (Luke 4:5).
Forces of darkness (Revelations 16:14).
2. Over the spirit of the antichrist operating in agents of darkness
1 John 4:4 says we have overcome them (false prophets operating under the influence of the spirit of the antichrist), as well as he who is in the world (the devil)….
“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”
I John 4:4 NKJV
3. Over Tribulations, Trials and Temptations
Romans 8:37 says we are more than conquerors in all these things (referring to tribulations, persecutions, distress, famine, perils, nakedness, sword)…
“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors and gain an overwhelming victory through Him who loved us [so much that He died for us].”
Romans 8:37 AMP
4. Over Principalities and Powers (Ephesians 6:12)
Colossians 2:13-15 lists quite a number of things Christ has delivered us from and given us victory over- spiritual death resulting from sin, unrighteousness, principalities and powers….
“And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”
Colossians 2:13-15 NKJV
Ephesians 1:21 says Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father far above principalities, power, dominion, might, every name that is named or yet to be named…
“which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.“
Oh! But Christ is not seated alone, we are seated with Him (Ephesians 2:6), meaning that we are also seated far above all the Satanic forces listed above…
Halleluyah!
We have victory over sin, sickness and death, over the world and the devil, over all agents of darkness, over principalities, powers, dominion, might, names, persecutions, unrighteousness, sin, tribulations, distress, famine, perils, nakedness, sword, and indeed every attack of the devil.
Thank You Jesus.
