"Thine O Lord is the...victory." Victory, like salvation, is not something to be earned, but something that is given. "The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." Notice, you could interchange "eternal life" and "victory" in each verse without changing its truth or meaning. Victory, then, like salvation, is a present possession. But, just as one can be saved and not enjoy the benefits, so it is with victory.
A believer is given the victory as well as eternal life at his conversion, by receiving the mighty Victor as his Savior. But we must appropriate this given victory. We have to cash in on it, so to speak, to reap its benefits. The old timers expressed this blessed truth when they would say, "When you fall, shout the victory." There is never a time in the Christian's life that he or she does not have the victory, though they may at times not enjoy it because of not applying it by faith.
In the Olympics, one wins the victory, but his countrymen are the recipients. So it is with Christ and His elect.
No comments:
Post a Comment