The preachers quoted here say victory is a necessary part of the Christian life and within every believer's reach, because it is Christ himself living within. They describe an overcomer as one who goes through difficulty and not around it, with a personal history with God, and say victory is kept by continual practice.
Christian victory is first of all Christ's. On the cross, "having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it" (Colossians 2:15). He told his disciples, "be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). The verb is nikao, to conquer.1
Believers share it as a gift. "Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57). "In all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us" (Romans 8:37). "Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4).
It is received by faith. "Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith" (1 John 5:4). With respect to sin, Paul's argument is that the believer has died and risen with Christ, and so, "reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God"; "sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace" (Romans 6:11, 14). The daily means is the Spirit: "Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16).
Victory does not mean the absence of conflict. J. C. Ryle wrote, "Habitual lively faith in Christ's presence and readiness to help is the secret of the Christian soldier fighting successfully."2 Nor does it mean sinless perfection: "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves" (1 John 1:8). Early in the twentieth century the "victorious life" teaching associated with Keswick stressed resting in Christ's indwelling life instead of struggling. Critics said it promised too much too easily. Both sides agreed that defeat is not the normal Christian life.
The letters to the seven churches each end with a promise "to him that overcometh", the last being, "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame" (Revelation 3:21). The martyrs "overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death" (12:11). In Revelation victory often looks like faithful endurance, even to death.
The final word is inheritance: "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son" (Revelation 21:7).
- Strong's Greek 3528, nikáō: "to subdue (literally or figuratively)".
- J.C. Ryle, Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties and Roots, "Chapter 6".
In their own words
Each line below is quoted exactly from a sermon on this site. Follow the link to hear or read it where it was said.
Victory is a necessary experience of the Christian life.
Watchman Nee
in Crushing Satan
Read in context
Victory is a man who lives on the inside of you.
Chip Brogden
in The Strength of Seeing
Listen at 23:40
Victory is within the reach of each and every one of us.
Oswald J. Smith
in A Victorious Christian Life
Listen at 1:36
Victory is the only satisfactory evidence that you have a saving religion.
J.C. Ryle
in The Great Battle
Read in context
An overcomer is one that comes over and not around the difficulty.
John Follette
in Overcoming
Read in context
An Overcomer is one who has a personal history with God in these matters.
T. Austin-Sparks
in Overcomer Testimony
Read in context
But victory is only achieved by continual practice.
Basilea Schlink
in Overcoming the Future
Listen at 2:36
Victory is having it said of you what is written about you.
Manley Beasley
in Victory
Listen at 17:18
What Scripture says
- 1 Corinthians 15:57 thanks be to God, who gives us the victory
- Romans 8:37 more than conquerors through him that loved us
- 1 John 5:4 this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith
- Romans 6:14 sin shall not have dominion over you
- Revelation 3:21 to him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne
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