Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

The Old Testament provided many examples of Israel being miraculously victorious with the help of God, despite seemingly overwhelming or invincible forces opposing them. In fact, in some of those instances (such as that described in 2 Kings 7), Israel not only defeated its enemy, but also derived material benefit from the victory through the plundering of the enemy's assets.

By characterizing Christians as "more than conquerors", Paul was expressing the thought that, through Christ, those who place their faith in Him for salvation win overwhelming victory against the spiritual and human forces that oppose or persecute them, even though that opposition may be to the point of martyrdom.

Despite those possible hardships, no human, spiritual, or natural forces are able to separate Christians from the love of Christ, and the eternity in God's presence that He suffered and died for Christians to be able to possess (Romans 8:38-39), which is an immeasurably greater reward than any honor that this temporal world can offer a military conqueror.

September 21 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Grant Abbott Child of Father, Follower of Son, Student of Spirit

In human warfare between opposing kingdoms, there is always a series of battles, and then a final battle that determines victory and defeat. The defeated side surrenders and the victory is proclaimed.

However, in the spiritual battle of good and evil, the process is reversed. When God decided on his battle plan (the plan of salvation), he asked who would lead the charge, and Jesus said he would.

So Jesus the Son of God became a Son of Man. Through his birth, life, ministry, suffering, death, and resurrection, Jesus engaged in the one battle necessary to bring complete victory for the Kingdom of God. All the forces of sin (the desires of our flesh), death (all the fears that bind and control us) and evil (all the spiritual forces of darkness) were completely defeated by the power of the cross.

What remains is for Christians to take control of the territory, for the kingdom of God, that was occupied by our enemies. As we put off the desires of our flesh and put on the character of Christ we win that battle against sin. As we put our trust in the perfect love of God for us, all our fears are vanquished, including the fear of death. As we put on the whole armour of God, we are able to stop all the flaming arrows of the evil one. As we use the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, every evil force flees at the name of Jesus.

When human kingdoms engage in warfare, a victory in one war just leads to another conflict. Not so in the kingdom of God. Jesus victory in that one battle won the war for all time. As Christians, as long as we exercise our faith and engage in battles we face, with the wisdom and power of the Holy Spirit, we will always be victorious in overcoming sin, death and every source of evil. That makes us more than conquerors.

Hear what the apostle Paul said about the spiritual battles we engage in:

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).

When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
(1 Corinthians 15:54-58)

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
(Ephesians 6:10-13)

We are more than conquerors because; 1) Jesus already won the decisive battle and declared his victory.
2) Jesus is our commander in chief and leads us into every battle we face
3) Jesus has given us all the weapons we need, through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit living in us, to win every battle we face.

Hallelujah!

September 22 2020 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report