War In Your Heart # 3

Background of Victory (continued)

Victory The Paramount Necessity of the Christian 

Now I wish to take you into my confidence and tell you the purpose and plan of this book and to ask your cooperation, both in making the truth yours as we go along together over its pages, and then as far as you possibly can to share it with others.

The Purpose

The purpose is to give a Biblical, balanced message on the pathway of victory. The theme limits the the message to one phase of God's revelation. Yet this segment of truth takes us to the very root of redemption in Christ and demands our searching into the origin of evil in God's universe, as well as in man; it compels us to face sin's terrifying trial over humanity; it reveals the only but all-sufficient way of victory, and it climaxes with the ultimate victory over all the enemies of Christ and His Church.

Signposts Along the Pathway of Victory

Jesus gave two signposts on the pathway of victory in His conversation with the Pharisees in John 8:12-59.

First Signpost: John 8:32: And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

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

He had declared to them the truth regarding Himself, but they would not believe the truth nor receive Him as the One sent from God. Jesus boldly told them hey were bondslaves to sin and to satan.

John 8:34: Everyone that committeth sin is the bondservant of sin. John 8:44: Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father it is you will to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and standeth not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father thereof.

Bondslaves to satan, the murderer, they were themselves murderers seeking to kill Jesus at satan's command. Bondslaves to satan, the liar, they were themselves liars, not only rejecting the truth but also accusing Jesus of being a liar and having a devil. They were bondslaves to sin because they were bondslaves to satan. But they would not acknowledge their bondage.

~Ruth Paxson~

(continued with # 4