CHRISTIAN VICTORY

Guest Writer: Eddie R. Littrell

o indicate to us the reason the commandments of God “are not grievous” (1 John 5:3), the apostle directs our attention to the final goal and the means by which we may attain it. "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the vic­tory that has overcome the world—our faith~ (v. 4).

e argues that the commandments are not weighty, galling, or burdensome for, despite the difficulties, hardships, and tribulations we necessarily suffer as Christians, all such will eventually result in victory. Those who triumph over all such things con­quer the world. Hence, we need not fear failure nor contemplate defeat. Those who are begotten of God—who do not keep on willfully sinning—will be victorious in this life and in the life to come.

e see here, as elsewhere in the scriptures, evidence of the conquering power of faith. It enables us to “flee fornication,” to flee “youthful lusts,” to “resist the devil,” and to yield ourselves servants of “obedience unto righteousness.” It enables us to avoid the entanglements of the world—to “come out from among them, and be separate” (2 Cor. 6:17). It enables us to reject false teachers and their doctrines (Matt. 15:9). It enabled our forefathers who possessed it, and will enable us, to triumph over the seductions of Satan, who “Walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). It filled them, and it will fill us, with the deter­mination to serve God no matter what difficulties, obstacles, and impediments Satan puts in our way. Isaiah sings to God, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in YAH, the Lord, is everlasting strength.” (Isa. 26:3-4).

aul encourages us to see the worthiness of our steadfastness and perseverance, “knowing that [our] labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58). And he shows that with determination of faith, nothing “shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:31-39).

he great examples of faith, in Heb. 11:4-40, remind us of the effectiveness of undy­ing faith and tremendous courage. These overcame the world by their faith. The reason is clear­ly stated by the writer: they desired “a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them” (Heb. 11:16). It was because of this hope that they endured the hardships of life knowing that ultimate victory was to be found in God.

e must, however, realize that the victory over sin, through faith, is not just a one-time victory. There must be constant victory because there is continuous struggle. The faithful individual continues to “over­come the world” because God’s seed continues to abide in the faithful individual (1 John 3:9; see also Luke 8:11).

e need to be mindful of the fact that, even though our lives have their ups and downs, no matter what comes our way, we too, can have the victory found in Jesus Christ.

THE WORD “FAITH”

Bob Myhan

ecause there is so much confusion and disagreement in the religious world on the subject of faith, there is a need, from time to time, for a consideration of the various uses of the word “faith” in the Bible, and the nature of what we might call “saving faith.”

ook up almost any English word in a dictionary and you will find that it does not always mean exactly the same thing every time it is used. This was also true of the Koine [common] Greek language, in which the New Testament was originally written. In fact, this writer ventures to say that, in every language, there are a variety of applications of nearly every word, but a basic idea common to every application. The failure to recognize this fact has led many to misunderstand much of what is said about “faith,” and its corresponding verb, ”believe,” in the New Testament.

ommon to every application of the word “faith” is the basic idea of the acceptance of testimony. For example, you do not really know the identity of your birth parents. Unless told otherwise, you long ago accepted the testimony of a certain couple that you were born to them, but there is no way you could know the truth of their claim. Many individuals have discovered as adults that they were adopted, and have sought out their birth parents. Also, many couples have gone home from the hospital believing (and having every reason to believe) that the baby they took home was their own, only to find out later that there was a mix-up.

hen Jacob accepted the implied testimony of his sons that Joseph was dead [implied by the contrived evidence that they presented to him], he “rent his clothes, put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days” (Genesis 37:31-34). Jacob’s reaction was exactly the same as if he had known Joseph was dead. He believed so strongly that his favorite son had been killed that he initially refused to believe, years later, that Joseph was still alive (Gen. 45:25,26).

he only way we can know anything is through the exercise of our physical senses: sight, smell, taste, touch and hearing. For example, we cannot know what a rose smells like except by smelling it, or what a pudding tastes like except by tasting it. Likewise, Jacob could only know Joseph was dead by seeing his lifeless body. But all he saw was the bloody coat that he had given him. And, assuming the blood to be Joseph’s, he believed (erroneously) that his favorite son was dead.

(To be continued next week)

“TAKE THE HELMET OF SALVATION”

Guest Writer: Eddie R. Littrell

he helmet was a cap made of thick leather or brass, fitted to the head, and usually crowned with a plume or crest as an emblem and ornament. It was designed to guard the head from a blow by a sword, war-club, or battle-axe. The hel­met defended the head—a most vital part.  Along with the other pieces of the armor, it was necessary to complete the “whole armor” of the warrior.

aul employed this figure in a parallel passage, (1 Thess. 5:8). He said, “But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and as a helmet the hope of salvation.” As the head is vital to the physical body, so is the mind of the spiritual warrior. The idea is that a well-founded hope of salvation will preserve us in the days of spiritual battle. It will guard us from the blows that the enemy will strike. It will defend the soul.

 military soldier will not fight well when there is no hope of victory. Likewise, a Christian could not contend with the trials, tribulations, persecutions, and temptations of this life if there were no hope of final salvation. But sustained by this, there is nothing to dread. Peter says that in spite of the “trial of your faith” you can still receive “the end of your faith—the salvation of your soul” (1 Peter 1:7-9).

aving the assurance of salvation, the Christian can engage in the spiritual battle, for he knows that “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

very Christian soldier should have the same confidence as Paul, who wrote, “nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day”   (2 Tim. 1:12). After all, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world -- our faith” (1 John 5:4).

[Next Week: ”Take…the Sword”]