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So, what is victory? Victory is Jesus. It’s a Person. It’s
the Lord Himself. He has overcome the world. He has
overcome the world of sinners. He’s overcome the world of all
the vanity in the world. He’s overcome all the methods that the
world uses. All that is in the world that stands between you and
the will of God, He has already overcome. There’s only one
Person who has lived the Christian life. His name is Jesus. And
there is only one Person who can ever live it again. It’s not you.
It’s Jesus. That’s why He lives in you and me, to share His
victory. If you look for your own victory you will be sadly
disappointed.
Some people read Romans 7, the great struggle, and they
think that’s Paul’s testimony and every Christian will struggle
until he gets to heaven. That’s not what Romans 7 is about.
The Apostle Paul went further in the flesh than any person that
has ever lived. He tried to live the Christian life on his own.
He went further than you or I ever tried. When he was all done
he said, “I love God and I love His will. I hate sin and I can’t
perform.” Imagine loving God, hating sin and not being able to
perform. He gave his testimony and said, “Don’t go there. That
won’t work.”
Romans 7 is not how to live the Christian life. Romans
8 is how to live the Christian life. If you try, you’ll get to
Romans 7:24, “Wretched man that I man. Who is going to
deliver me?” How do you get out of Romans 7 and get into
Romans 8? Romans 7:25, “Thanks be to God through Jesus
Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my
mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh
the law of sin.” How do I get out of Romans 7 and into Romans
8? I say, “Thank You.” That’s it; you just say, “Thank You.”
He’s done it all! He’s the overcomer! He has overcome
everything between you and the will of God.
To enjoy victory is to enjoy Jesus. Now, that’s the
theology. Let me give you an illustration from the Old
Testament. I’ll set it up with a verse from the New Testament,
Colossians 1:13, “For He delivered us from the domain of
darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved
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