The promise of victorious Christian living
For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. 1 Corinthians 15:56-58
In this section of Chapter 15 of First Corinthians, Paul introduced the idea that death results from sin. Disease, decay, violence, and other means may cause death, but these secondary causes would not exist or have power without sin as their source. He asserted that sin inflicts its sting of death through the law. With this declaration, Paul began to bring the argument to its conclusion by returning to the issue with which he had begun: the gospel. The resurrection is essential to the gospel that saves believers from their sin. If there is no resurrection, neither is sin defeated. Then Paul proceeded to a brief doxology of thanks for through the Lord’s resurrection and believers’ eventual trust and confidence in God’s sacrifice as enough to provide salvation, there is victory over sin and death. The victory comes through Jesus Christ not because He died, but because He was raised from the dead. But this victory is not an automatic inheritance. When God provides Christians abundant life it is not a continuous, unbroken chain of victories. God’s promised of strength and victory over sin are there to be claimed but we should never think of the Christian life as "instant success." Victory is also not an emotional high that we psyche up ourselves or getting in the mood till we feel it is right to act. The experience of victorious Christian living is not reserved for super saints. Every believer has the capacity to be victors for we have Christ who lives in us and He promised He will not leave us nor forsake us. Victory does not happen by being passive. It is not achieved by "sit and wait" philosophy. We have to be deliberate in achieving the goal that by His grace and the working of the Holy Spirit, we can attain godliness. We have to stand firm and hold firmly to the word God gave us for through these, our hearts are guarded so we will not easily give in to temptations.
Blessings,
Noel De Guzman
www.my-wbc.com