CHRIST HAS WON THE BATTLE FOR YOU
In recent months, I have read many sad, pitiful letters from believers who are still bound by sinful habits. Multitudes of struggling Christians write, “I can’t stop gambling…I’m in the grips of an alcohol addiction…I’m having an affair and I can’t break it off…I’m a slave to pornography.” In letter after letter, these people say the same thing: “I love Jesus and I’ve begged God to free me. I’ve prayed, wept and sought godly counsel. But I just can’t break free. What can I do?”
I’ve spent much time seeking the Lord for wisdom on how to answer these believers. I pray, “Lord, you know your children’s lives. Many are devoted, Spirit-filled saints, yet they don’t have your victory. They don’t know freedom. What’s going on?”
At one point, I studied the biblical passages containing God’s promises to his people. I was reminded that the Lord pledges to keep us from falling, to present us faultless, to justify us by faith, sanctify us by faith, keep us holy by faith. He promises that our old man is crucified by faith, and that we are translated into his kingdom by faith.
The one thing common to all of these promises is this phrase: “by faith.” Indeed, all these things are matters of faith, according to God’s Word. So I came to the only clear conclusion about these struggling Christians’ problems: somewhere at the root of their bondage is unbelief. It all boils down to a simple lack of faith.
Are you struggling to gain victory by your willpower? Are you fighting the battle in your old nature? Paul points out, “To him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Romans 4:4-5).
Your victory must come not through weeping or striving, but by faith that Jesus Christ has won the battle for you.
“But without faith it is impossible to please him” (Hebrews 11:6). Indeed, Paul says there is only one condition attached to God’s promises: “[That] ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard” (Colossians 1:23).
Christ surrendered everything to his Father, in order to be a totally obedient Son. And we are to do likewise. We are to be totally dependent on the Father, just as Christ was.
I’ve spent much time seeking the Lord for wisdom on how to answer these believers. I pray, “Lord, you know your children’s lives. Many are devoted, Spirit-filled saints, yet they don’t have your victory. They don’t know freedom. What’s going on?”
At one point, I studied the biblical passages containing God’s promises to his people. I was reminded that the Lord pledges to keep us from falling, to present us faultless, to justify us by faith, sanctify us by faith, keep us holy by faith. He promises that our old man is crucified by faith, and that we are translated into his kingdom by faith.
The one thing common to all of these promises is this phrase: “by faith.” Indeed, all these things are matters of faith, according to God’s Word. So I came to the only clear conclusion about these struggling Christians’ problems: somewhere at the root of their bondage is unbelief. It all boils down to a simple lack of faith.
Are you struggling to gain victory by your willpower? Are you fighting the battle in your old nature? Paul points out, “To him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Romans 4:4-5).
Your victory must come not through weeping or striving, but by faith that Jesus Christ has won the battle for you.
“But without faith it is impossible to please him” (Hebrews 11:6). Indeed, Paul says there is only one condition attached to God’s promises: “[That] ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard” (Colossians 1:23).
Christ surrendered everything to his Father, in order to be a totally obedient Son. And we are to do likewise. We are to be totally dependent on the Father, just as Christ was.