“36. As it is written, For thy name’s sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.” What is a victorious Christian? He or she is not the stereotype that is usually shown in the media. “The Church Lady” who was seen on Saturday Night Live for several years, and portrayed by Dana Cawvey, is the stereotype. She was a snotty, snooty, sniffling lady who obviously looked down her nose at anyone who did not share her version of the faith. The sketches that I saw were genuinely funny, and really captured the spirit of the “church ladies” of the world. Fortunately, these “church ladies” do not represent those who are living victoriously in Christ. I think that a victorious Christian is every bit as sure of his or her faith as Cawvey’s “church lady,” but without the self-righteous attitude. A victorious Christian is sure of his or her salvation. They believe what the New Testament says about Christ, that “He came to seek and to save that which was lost.” Further, that He died on the cross, arose from the tomb and ascended to the Father in order to achieve salvation for the lost. This is the basic Christian gospel, centered in the person of Jesus Christ and on the fact that He did what needed to be done to save us. I don’t know how the world defines a victorious Christian, but the Biblical definition is that one has put his or her faith in Jesus Christ – period. Jesus is the means of salvation for everyone who claims to be a Christian. One is not saved because he or she is a Baptist, Methodist, Episcopalian, Church of God, Presbyterian or any other structure that represents Jesus on this earth. Ephesians 2:8 tells us that we are “saved by grace through faith, not of works lest anyone should boast.” We come to God by faith in Jesus Christ – period. Not because we read the right literature or say just the right things. There are other aspects to this, but this suffices to show Who gives us the victory and makes us more than conquerors. Further, I think that the victorious Christian is one who has accepted the forgiveness of Christ and has followed suit by forgiving those that he or she needs to forgive. We cannot live victoriously for Christ if we are not willing to forgive others. What I mean by that is that we really have forgiven them, and do not hold secret hostility in our hearts. We forgive others, “even as God, for Christ’s sake has forgiven us.” My idea is that if God can forgive me, I certainly have to forgive others. This is not easy, but it is Christian. Another aspect of this is the fellowship that we have with fellow Christians. I don’t understand how one can be a victorious Christian and ignore the important element of Christian fellowship. (I’m not advocating that one has to be a member of a church to be saved, but why would one want to be?) We help each other to better live the Christian life. I can understand why one would fall out with a particular church, but certainly not with the whole concept. If you are shunning fellowship with fellow Christians, you are crippling your own witness to the world. Jesus told His first disciples: “By this shall all people know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” This love reaches beyond the church into the world. A victorious Christian loves all people whether they agree with Him or her or not. I will just point out that Bible study and prayer are part of a victorious Christian’s life.This has been a weak attempt to help you see that the victorious Christian is not a sneering hypocrite, but is a loving follower of Jesus Christ. Actually, all of those who are really Christians, by faith in Christ, are victorious Christians. Go out into the world and live victoriously. Rejoice in the eternal faith!!!! Bro. Joe
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AuthorDr. Joe Beauchamp is the author of this blog and website. Categories
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