Bible Ballistics: Vol. 12 No.21 ‘How We’ve Overcome’???

 

My title comes from an old hymn written by Charles Albert Tindley, “We’ll Understand It Better By And By”, a beautiful song that I have played and sung many times, but there was one particular time that will ever stand out in my mind, and that’s what I want us to share today. We were part of a small church start many years ago and I had a friend who came to that church—a precious, godly, woman who loved Jesus and made no pretense in her living for Him. I noticed during one service where we were singing and I was playing and could see her in her spot and I noticed that she wasn’t singing this particular song and thought it strange, as she always sang from her heart. After the service I asked her if there was a reason that she wasn’t singing this song, she answered that she couldn’t sing about “overcoming” when she had not “overcome” in so many ways, and so she couldn’t “tell the story how we’ve overcome” for she had nothing to tell.

Well, I smiled and shared with her how I could sing that song with confidence and joy—because “how we’ve overcome” is only through the blood of JESUS, just like her! Our ‘story’ is in relating how HE is the only reason that “we’ve overcome” in any way, yet in that day when we stand before Him and with Him for all eternity, “we’ll understand it better by and by”, for we’ll see HIS hand in all that we’ve been through! It’s all about Jesus—not me!

“O the depth of the riches

both of the wisdom

and knowledge

of God!

how unsearchable

are his judgments,

and his ways

past finding out!

34 For who

hath known the mind

of the Lord?

or who hath been

his counsellor?

35 Or who hath first

given to him,

and it shall be recompensed

unto him again?

36 For of him,                      (Jesus)

and through him,         (Jesus)

and to him,           (Jesus)

are all things:

to whom be glory for ever. (Jesus)

Amen.” Romans 11:33-36

The smile that spread across my friends face said it all. I never saw her ‘not’ sing this song again—for now she could truly sing it of and to her Lord! So how do we ‘overcome’? By knowing The Lord Jesus in saving faith, receiving His Spirit, His presence and His power as enough to make us overcomers.

“Being confident of this very thing,

that he which hath begun

a good work

in you

will perform it

until the day of Jesus Christ:”    Philippians 1:6

It is the blood that Jesus shed at Calvary that bought our salvation, and makes us overcomers in HIM!

“Neither pray I for these alone,

but for them also which shall believe

on me

through their word;

21 That they all may be one;

as thou, Father,

art in me,

and I

in thee,

that they also may be one

in us:

that the world may believe

that thou hast sent me.

22 And the glory which thou gavest me

I have given them;

that they may be one,

even as we are one:

23 I in them,

and thou in me,

that they may be made perfect

in one;

and that the world may know

that thou hast sent me,

and hast loved them,

as thou hast loved me.

24 Father, I will that they also,

whom thou hast given me,

be with me

where I am;

that they may behold my glory,

which thou hast given me:

for thou lovedst me

before the foundation

of the world.

25 O righteous Father,

the world hath not known thee:

but I have known thee,

and these have known

that thou hast sent me.”   John 17:20-25

We are made One in Jesus (see verses 21 & 23 above) because HE paid our sin debt at the cross, making us accepted before God IN Him!

“To the praise of the glory

of his grace,

wherein he hath made us

accepted in the beloved.”   Ephesians 1:6

Sin made us enemies of God, but IN Jesus we are restored to fellowship with God, peace from God, as well as the peace ‘of’ God!

“Therefore being justified

by faith,

we have peace

with God

through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access

by faith into this grace

wherein we stand,

and rejoice in hope

of the glory of God.

3 And not only so,

but we glory in tribulations also:

knowing that tribulation

worketh patience;

4 And patience,

experience;

and experience,

hope:

5 And hope

maketh not ashamed;

because the love of God

is shed abroad

in our hearts

by the Holy Ghost

which is given unto us.

6 For when we were yet

without strength,

in due time

Christ died for the ungodly.

7 For scarcely for a righteous man

will one die:

yet peradventure for a good man

some would even dare to die.

8 But God commendeth his love

toward us,

in that,

while we were yet sinners,

Christ died for us.”   Romans 5:1-8

When Jesus saves us, we are “translated” into His kingdom, and into Himself by His Spirit!

“Giving thanks unto the Father,

which hath made us meet to be partakers

of the inheritance of the saints in light:

13 Who hath delivered us

from the power of darkness,

and hath translated us

into the kingdom of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

even the forgiveness of sins:”   Colossians 1:12-14

“9 Much more then,

being now justified

by his blood,

we shall be saved from wrath

through him.

10 For if,

when we were enemies,

we were reconciled to God

by the death of his Son,

much more,

being reconciled,

we shall be saved by his life.”    Romans 5:9-11

We are reconciled by Jesus’ sacrifice, receiving overcoming grace through HIS finished work on Calvary!

“And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven,

Now is come salvation,

and strength,

and the kingdom

of our God,

and the power

of his Christ:

for the accuser of our brethren

is cast down,

which accused them before our God

day and night.

11 And they overcame him

by the blood of the Lamb,

and by the word of their testimony;

and they loved not their lives

unto the death.” Revelation 12:10-11

Even though contextually, this is referring to those who will be alive in the last days, it’s as true for us as for them, even as the song talks about “how we’ve overcome”; and the power of our overcoming is the “blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony”! For our testimony is:

“We love him,

because he first

loved us.” 1 John 4:19

HE “first loved us”, can we do less than gratefully give our all to/for HIM — “they loved not their lives unto the death”, because they loved HIM more!!! His love goes beyond earthly death!

“Jesus said unto her,

I am the resurrection,

and the life:

he that believeth in me,

though he were dead,

yet shall he live:

26 And whosoever liveth

and believeth in me

shall never die.

Believest thou this?” John 11:25-26

We receive eternal life from the creator—who IS life Himself– and by His power recreates us “in Christ” by being born again!

“Therefore if any man be in Christ,

he is a new creature:

old things are passed away;

behold, all things are become new.”   2 Corinthians 5:17

God sent Him to die for us, for His death, burial and resurrection make us new, receiving HIS righteousness through which we truly ‘overcome’!

“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ,

as though God did beseech you

by us:

we pray you in Christ’s stead,

be ye reconciled

to God.

21 For he hath made him

to be sin for us,

who knew no sin;

that we might be made

the righteousness of God

in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:20-21

Once again, we find that powerful little phrase “in Him” (Jesus). I often encourage people, as the New Year begins, to take a notebook and record each time you read that little phrase. You will be amazed at all that you will learn about Jesus! He truly is our ‘all in all’!

“And have put on the new man,

which is renewed in knowledge

after the image of him

that created him:

11 Where there is neither

Greek nor Jew,

circumcision nor uncircumcision,

Barbarian, Scythian,

bond nor free:

but Christ is all,

and in all.

12 Put on therefore,

as the elect of God,

holy and beloved,

bowels of mercies,

kindness,

humbleness of mind,

meekness,

longsuffering;

13 Forbearing one another,

and forgiving one another,

if any man have a quarrel against any:

even as Christ

forgave you,

so also do ye.” Colossians 3:10-13

Jesus truly is “how we’ve overcome”, for receiving HIS Spirit enables us to truly “walk in the Spirit”! Paul speaking of Jesus reminds us of what we have in HIM!

“In whom ye also trusted,

after that ye heard the word of truth,

the gospel of your salvation:

in whom also

after that ye believed,

ye were sealed

with that holy Spirit

of promise,

14 Which is the earnest

of our inheritance

until the redemption

of the purchased possession,

unto the praise

of his glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14

So in closing, I hope that you will spend some time this week (and on into the year) thinking on all that you have, all that you are, and all that you can be/do because Jesus is our “hope of glory”, when HE is IN us, and we are IN Him!

“To whom God would make known

what is the riches

of the glory of this mystery

among the Gentiles;

which is Christ in you,

the hope of glory:” Colossians 1:27

May we truly seek the face and the will of the ONE who is “in you, the hope of glory”!

“I can do

all things

through Christ

which strengtheneth me.”   Philippians 4:13

Amen and Amen!!!   Even so Lord Jesus!