War In The Heart # 6

Background of Victory (continued)

Signposts Along the Pathway of Victory (continued)

Hudson Taylor gave this testimony: "I have seen it long enough in the Bible. Now I believe it to be a living reality. God has made me a new man." Oh! dear reader, have you seen this truth in God's Word? Has it become a reality to you? Has God made you a new man? The one purpose of this book is to make known this truth that it may set free those in defeat. "Th Word of truth never leaves us where it finds us."

The Second Signpost: John 8:36: If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.  If the Son ... shall make you "free."

Jesus had told them the truth regarding themselves as sinners, and of Himself as their Saviour. He had revealed fully their need for freedom and His ability and willingness to set them free.

The Plan

The plan of the book is fourfold:

First - The Background of Victory.
Second - the Biblical Scope of Victory
Third - Victory the Essence of the Christ-life.
Fourth - The Lord Jesus Christ the Victor

The Background of Victory

By knowing the cause and the consequences of defeat we shall better understand the necessity and the nature of victory. To do this we will face the fact of defeat, personal and collective, in and through the first Adam. Then we will face the fact of victory, personal and collective, in and through the Last Adam. Such a study will disclose the unchanging and unchangeable principles underlying defeat and victory all down through the ages.

The Biblical Scope of Victory

Because both the inworking and the outreach of victory in Christian experience have been so greatly limited, the teaching on this subject has failed to unveil its marvelous privileges and potentialities and so to incite desire for it. Such teaching has also failed to warn of the perils and losses of defeat, and so has robbed of incentive. The months spent on this study have given me a new revelation of the compass and comprehensiveness of this matchless truth, and a new conception of the primary place God has given to it in His plan of redemption

Too frequently the scope of victory has been limited by relating it only to the past tense of redemption, that of deliverance from the sphere over which satan is sovereign and in which sin rules. But victory has its past, present and future tense, even as salvation has (Titus 2:11-14). To truly apprehend this truth is one of the greatest incentives to live victoriously. May I state it scripturally - we are redeemed to reign. Redeemed - The past tense of victory - deliverance from the sphere of satan's dominion and bondslavery into the sphere of Christ's dominion and bondslavery.

Colossians 1:13, 14: Who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love; in whom we have our redemption.

Redeemed to Reign in Life - The present tense of victory - deliverance from the bondage to sin and self into the glorious liberty of the Son through the Spirit.

Romans 5:17: Much more shall they that receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, even Jesus Christ.

Redeemed to Reign on Earth - The future tense of victory, the  overcomer receiving his regal reward, reigning with the Overcomer.

Revelation 5:9-10: For thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy  blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: ans we shall reign on the earth.

Revelation 3:21: To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Oh! Doesn't it thrill you? Here and now are are a people in whom there is regal blood; sons of God, heirs to the throne; now sharing with the Son the throne of His Father; one day to sit with Him on His own throne. Oh! What an incentive to live as the Victor lives!

~Ruth Paxson~

(continued with # 7)