Partakers in the Victory



Scripture:

1John 5:5 Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Observation:

Jesus’ life has proved to be victorious over the world. He has conquered it all in his life, death and resurrection. This is all possible because he is the Divine God-Man. He truly is God, and he truly is fully human. This is one of those mysteries about which humanity struggled for many years but accepts it as a mystery. Jesus truly was human and lived as God incarnate here on this earth. 

Therefore it’s more than just believing that he was a good man, but we are challenged to accept and to believe that “Jesus is the Son of God.” All of humanity and divinity can be found in him. It is this unique combination of the two natures dwelling within the one man that was able to conquer the world and we are invited to become partakers of the victory by believing in him.

Application:

What is your stumbling block to heaven? Could it be the things that this world has to offer? Far too often, even good people, are distracted by the things of this world. Good things can become a distraction to the relationship that is provided for us in Christ.

The world will constantly reach out to us with its temptations, desiring to draw us in a direction away from the pathway provided for us through Jesus. John the Baptist had declared that it was time to prepare the way for the one who would be coming. Jesus came and with him was revealed the highway of holiness. It is the pathway on which his people are to travel. It is the road that leads us to the destination of eternal life. This is the road of victory over the world.

This morning I was driving to a church in South Central Ohio and was using my phone to give me directions. Siri was constantly talking to me, and I needed to pay attention. The problem is that there are a lot of back roads through some of the hills leading to the Ohio River and you have to listen very carefully. It’s easy to get on the wrong road. Just a missed turn can mean that you have headed into the wrong valley and it will take quite some time to find a correction. If no correction is made, you end up at the wrong destination.

Sometimes we are distracted and we make a wrong turn spiritually. The things of this world catch our attention and they are bright and shiny and we head off in their direction. The next thing we know we are far from the destination and we may even be lost. If we are to be partakers in Christ’s victory over the world, we have to remained tuned into him. This means that we have to pray and ask him to help us keep our focus on him and away from the world’s attractions. But more than anything, we have to believe that he is the divine Son of God!

Another distraction of the world is to tell us that this faith in Jesus is irrational. I’ve had folks tell me that lately — that it’s crazy to think that Jesus is the way to God. And yet, that’s what the word of God tells us, and quite clearly here John reminds us that if we are to be partakers in Christ’s victory over this world that we must believe in the true nature of Jesus Christ. There is no salvation in simply choosing to think of him as a good man. He was a good man, but he also happened to be the Son of God. That makes a huge difference! Have you stopped and thought of the implications of this?

At first glance some may think that this sounds arrogant, partaking in Christ’s victory. It’s not arrogant and it’s not any kind of victory to lord over someone else. Instead this is a great victory over evil, sin, and death! That is amazing and when sin has you in his grasp it’s great to know that there is a Christ who has already been victorious and who wants to share his victory with all of us. Simply believe and then live into that belief, partaking of his victory day by day. In this way we, too, will be victorious over the things that try to get us down. Jesus has already conquered them all.

Prayer:

Lord, please help me to live into your victory on a daily basis. Amen.

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