How can I live a victorious Christian life?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The Bible presents the characteristics of a victorious Christian life. Even the Old Testament, which records events well before Christ entered human history as a man, shows faith in God as a key part of victory over circumstances. Scripture contains numerous examples of Old Testament saints whose faith in God exemplifies the type of faith we should have in Christ today. Noah (Genesis 6:9–22), Abraham (Genesis 22), Daniel (Daniel 6), and many more remained faithful to God and put their trust in Him. In fact, many of the Old Testament faithful are mentioned in Hebrews 11, which is popularly called the “Hall of Faith.” This emphasis on faith is continued in the New Testament (John 3:16; Romans 10:9–10; Ephesians 2:8–9; Hebrews 12:1; 1 John 5:4–5). Besides faith, the Bible teaches that to be victorious, Christians must love God above all else and demonstrate that love by loving others (Matthew 22:37–40; Mark 12:29–31; Luke 6:43–45). The Bible also shows that a victorious Christian life does not mean an easy Christian life. We see this through the example of the apostles' lives and the straightforward teaching of Scripture on suffering. Christians are to live crucified lives, giving up devotion to this world for the promise of the next (Luke 9:23–24; Galatians 2:20; Romans 12:1). In short, the Bible depicts the victorious Christian life as one of love for God and others, faith, and sacrifice.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Genesis 22 records Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac because he had faith and trust in the Lord. Jesus had not yet entered human history as a man, but Abraham’s faith in God is the same faith that allows Christians to live a victorious life. Genesis 22:12 records God’s commendation of Abraham for his faith: “He said, ‘Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.’” We must exhibit such faith to live a triumphant Christian life today.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Christians gain victory over the world when we follow the two greatest commandments that Jesus expressed to the Pharisees in Matthew 22:37–40: “And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.’” Everything in the Christian life falls into line when we follow those two commandments.
• The victorious Christian life is one of faith in God, as expressed in 1 John 5:4–5: “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” We overcome the persecution, lies, and wickedness of the world when we place our faith in Christ.
• Galatians 2:20 is one of many passages showing that Christians lead a crucified life. Paul wrote, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Faithful believers like Paul and Peter could find joy in their persecution because they knew it identified them with Christ, who overcame the world (2 Corinthians 12:9–10; Acts 5:41; John 16:33). Faithful Christians today can do the same.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

It's easy to think victory looks like the winning touchdown of your favorite team, the job interview you nailed, or even the five pounds you lost. But victory in the Christian life means much more. Christians are victorious when we have faith in Christ. This means trusting the Lord through our hardships. Losing a job because you won’t sign off on a dishonest deal, losing a friend because you believe in the sanctity of life in the womb, or even losing your life because you won’t profess faith in anyone other than Christ—Christians worldwide face such challenges. We can’t overcome those trials with our own strength. We rely on the Holy Spirit to give us grace in those times. We gain victory over our persecutions—even unto death—by faith in the Lord, who has promised we’ll be with Him in paradise. Our victory in Christ is rooted in our faith in Him and will involve tribulation (John 16:33). Through it all, we’re to show the love of God and the love of others. We are victorious because we are not controlled by our circumstances, but we place our faith in God, who controls all. To prepare for victory, though, we must be rooted in God’s Word, so we can know Him and how He has worked throughout history for those who follow Him. The Bible depicts the victorious Christian life as one of love for God and others, faith, and sacrifice.

UNDERSTAND

• A victorious Christian life is rooted in faith in Christ.
• A victorious Christian life looks like loving God and loving others.
• Living a victorious life involves sacrifice and a crucified life, prioritizing God's will over worldly desires.

REFLECT

• How can you deepen your faith in Christ to overcome challenges in your life?
• What challenges are you facing as you seek to live a victorious Christian life, and how can you respond to them?
• How are you being called to live a crucified life, and what sacrifices might God be asking you to make in order to prioritize His will over worldly desires?

ENGAGE

• How can we help one another grow in faith, especially during trials, temptations, and hardships?
• What are some practical ways we can show the love of God to others, even when it is difficult or when they may not reciprocate?
• How does understanding the concept of a "crucified life" change our perspective on suffering and sacrifice in the Christian walk?