HOW TO DEAL WITH THE CHRISTIAN’S THREE PERSISTENT ENEMIES.....
JESUS CHRIST is the believer’s victory over sin, death and hell! In its entirety this victory belongs to the believer at the point of salvation. We should think of it this way: JUDICIALLY SPEAKING (that is, before God the Righteous Judge) at salvation, we are cleared of our sin(s), death becomes a doorway to heaven, and hell is replaced by the eternal hope of heaven. The work of Jesus fully satisfies the Father's demand for perfection. "Christ died for OUR sins." And so, the believer says, "I am saved." On the other hand, PRACTICALLY SPEAKING, in the believer’s day by day living, three enemies continually war against the soul: THE WORLD, THE FLESH AND THE DEVIL. Hour by hour and ever so determinedly, by God’s enabling grace, the Christian can get the victory desired. However, we must read His Word, the Bible, and learn the HOW of it!
For this fight the Scriptures give us three important watchwords, namely FAITH, FLEE AND Fight. These pinpoint the HOW of experiencing triumph.
Many Christians have not learned that the Christian life is a warfare. This is why we are told to put on the entire armour of God described in Ephesians chapter six. These enemies "war against the soul" (1 Peter 2:11). As we battle against them we declare, "I am being saved." We ARE saved from the GUILT and PENALTY of sin at the moment we believe in Jesus as personal Lord and Savior, but, we ARE Being saved from sin's POWER as we employ the means clearly set forth. When a believer sees Jesus, either at the rapture or one's personal death, he or she will be instantly perfect and free from sin's power. In the meantime we must fight the fight according to how the Scriptures teach us.
1. VICTORY OVER THE WORLD ( or WORLDLINESS) COMES BY FAITH.....
"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:4-5)
Faith ever looks to the Lord ("looking unto Jesus"). The old hymn puts it this way: "Turn your eyes upon Jesus; Look full in His wonderful face; And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace."
BIBLICAL ILLUSTRATION: The Apostle Paul instructs us to seek that which is only seen by faith. “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:1-2) AND, WHAT ARE THOSE “THINGS”? VV. 12-14 tell us: “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, tender mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.”
By faith, the Christian needs to major in the things that matter. He must seek the things that are above. One's flesh and blood existence, while enjoying the good things of this life, must at the same time pay special attention to eternal matters, directives assigned to the Church and to a Christ-like life.
2. VICTORY OVER THE FLESH COMES WHEN WE FLEE.....
“Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.” (1 Corinthians 6:18)
“Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:22)
The "flesh" is the sinful self. It is the sin principle within. We are born with it. Paul said, "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh), dwelleth no good thing..." (Romans 7:18). ME=MY FLESH
BIBLICAL ILLUSTRATION: When Joseph fled from his alluring master’s wife: "And she caught him by his garment, saying, 'Lie with me': and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out. And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth...." (Genesis 39:12-13). Even though Joseph fled, as God would have him, he got in trouble with his master, but was at peace with his God, who then proceeded to exonerate him.
3. VICTORY OVER THE DEVIL NECESSITATES A FIGHT
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” (James 4:7-8)
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” (1 Peter 5:8-9)
"THE FAITH = "...the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3). It is that body of truth that constitutes Christianity. We must study to show ourselves approved and learned in our doctrines, let alone the Holy Scriptures, to be able to ward off the attacks of the Devil and all antagonists.
BIBLICAL ILLUSTRATION: When Jesus, being tempted, turned away the Devil, by use of Scripture: “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:1-4, cf vv. 7, 10).
- dick christen
"God has not called us to fumble through life.” – Stephen Olford
“There can be no victory where there is no combat.” – Richard Sibbes
“The more anyone excels in grace, the more he ought to be afraid of falling.” – John Calvin
“God wants us to be victors, not victims; to grow, not grovel; to soar, not sink; to overcome, not be overwhelmed.” – William A. Ward
JESUS CHRIST is the believer’s victory over sin, death and hell! In its entirety this victory belongs to the believer at the point of salvation. We should think of it this way: JUDICIALLY SPEAKING (that is, before God the Righteous Judge) at salvation, we are cleared of our sin(s), death becomes a doorway to heaven, and hell is replaced by the eternal hope of heaven. The work of Jesus fully satisfies the Father's demand for perfection. "Christ died for OUR sins." And so, the believer says, "I am saved." On the other hand, PRACTICALLY SPEAKING, in the believer’s day by day living, three enemies continually war against the soul: THE WORLD, THE FLESH AND THE DEVIL. Hour by hour and ever so determinedly, by God’s enabling grace, the Christian can get the victory desired. However, we must read His Word, the Bible, and learn the HOW of it!
For this fight the Scriptures give us three important watchwords, namely FAITH, FLEE AND Fight. These pinpoint the HOW of experiencing triumph.
Many Christians have not learned that the Christian life is a warfare. This is why we are told to put on the entire armour of God described in Ephesians chapter six. These enemies "war against the soul" (1 Peter 2:11). As we battle against them we declare, "I am being saved." We ARE saved from the GUILT and PENALTY of sin at the moment we believe in Jesus as personal Lord and Savior, but, we ARE Being saved from sin's POWER as we employ the means clearly set forth. When a believer sees Jesus, either at the rapture or one's personal death, he or she will be instantly perfect and free from sin's power. In the meantime we must fight the fight according to how the Scriptures teach us.
1. VICTORY OVER THE WORLD ( or WORLDLINESS) COMES BY FAITH.....
"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:4-5)
Faith ever looks to the Lord ("looking unto Jesus"). The old hymn puts it this way: "Turn your eyes upon Jesus; Look full in His wonderful face; And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace."
BIBLICAL ILLUSTRATION: The Apostle Paul instructs us to seek that which is only seen by faith. “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:1-2) AND, WHAT ARE THOSE “THINGS”? VV. 12-14 tell us: “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, tender mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.”
By faith, the Christian needs to major in the things that matter. He must seek the things that are above. One's flesh and blood existence, while enjoying the good things of this life, must at the same time pay special attention to eternal matters, directives assigned to the Church and to a Christ-like life.
2. VICTORY OVER THE FLESH COMES WHEN WE FLEE.....
“Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.” (1 Corinthians 6:18)
“Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:22)
The "flesh" is the sinful self. It is the sin principle within. We are born with it. Paul said, "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh), dwelleth no good thing..." (Romans 7:18). ME=MY FLESH
BIBLICAL ILLUSTRATION: When Joseph fled from his alluring master’s wife: "And she caught him by his garment, saying, 'Lie with me': and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out. And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth...." (Genesis 39:12-13). Even though Joseph fled, as God would have him, he got in trouble with his master, but was at peace with his God, who then proceeded to exonerate him.
3. VICTORY OVER THE DEVIL NECESSITATES A FIGHT
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” (James 4:7-8)
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” (1 Peter 5:8-9)
"THE FAITH = "...the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3). It is that body of truth that constitutes Christianity. We must study to show ourselves approved and learned in our doctrines, let alone the Holy Scriptures, to be able to ward off the attacks of the Devil and all antagonists.
BIBLICAL ILLUSTRATION: When Jesus, being tempted, turned away the Devil, by use of Scripture: “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:1-4, cf vv. 7, 10).
- dick christen
"God has not called us to fumble through life.” – Stephen Olford
“There can be no victory where there is no combat.” – Richard Sibbes
“The more anyone excels in grace, the more he ought to be afraid of falling.” – John Calvin
“God wants us to be victors, not victims; to grow, not grovel; to soar, not sink; to overcome, not be overwhelmed.” – William A. Ward
