HOW TO LIVE VICTORIOUSLY
By
Jerry Falwell
A. INTRODUCTION
1. God expects his children to be holy. That means they must live victoriously over sin, “Be ye holy, for I am holy” (I Peter 1:16).
2. God promises that we should be victorious. “Thanks be unto God which always causes us to triumph in Christ” (II Corinthians 2:14).
3. Victory over sin has two aspects. First, turning from sin and, second, turning to Jesus. A fireman on a hook an ladder couldn’t get any closer to a little girl on the ledge of a burning building. He said, “You grab my arm and I’ll grab you . . . jump and trust me.” She grabbed him, just as he grabbed her. In a picture of salvation we grab God just as He grabs us. In a picture of holiness, we let go of sin (repentance). God grabs us and gives us His power to live for Him.
B. VICTORY MEANS LIVING AN ACTIVE CHRISTIAN LIFE.
The main emphasis in the Christian life is the active tense. The Bible is written not in the passive but in the active. God expects action.
1. An active Christian lets his new nature control his life. “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: all things are passed away; behold all things are become new” (II Corinthians 5:17). Counting to ten when you get angry is not God’s way of victory. The new nature has power, therefore, we are to allow the new nature to give us victory over sin.
ILLUSTRATION:
the power of a new car carries you, not walking.
the airplane carries you, no effort.
2. An active Christian shows gratitude to Christ. “Whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Colossians 3:17). The greatest dishonor to Christ is to continue to live by old sinful habits. We honor Christ by living for Him. The bible calls unsaved people “children of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2).
3. An active Christian protects himself from sin. Separation is turning from sin and yielding one’s self to God. However, separation does not mean isolation. A Christian still lives among sinners and has to come in contact with sinners every day. Jesus prayed, “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil” (John 17:15).
4. The active Christian avoids temptation. An alcoholic cannot fellowship with his old buddies in the tavern without being tempted. “Lead us not into temptation” is one of the most important requests in the Lord’s Prayer.
“Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall . . . but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (I Corinthians 10:12-13).
5. An active Christian maintains a strong testimony for Christ.
a. Many new Christians are worried about the influence of their old buddies on them after they get saved. However, if a new Christian has a strong testimony for Christ, the old buddies will either get saved, or never come around again. “Abstain from all appearance of evil”
(I Thessalonians 5:22).
b. Sometimes Christians have to avoid evil influences. “I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: . . . or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters.
But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no, not to eat (I Cor. 5:9-11).
6. An active Christian lives by priorities.
a. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). The first priority of a Christian is spiritual maturity. He will read Christian books and attend church services that will enrich his life. He will spend time with his Bible and in prayer.
b. A Christian will not support evil enterprises.
7. An active Christian will prepare himself for heaven.
a. Since there is no evil in heaven, we should practice living without evil while on earth.
b. A girl stops dating other boys the minute she falls in love with her future husband. Just so, a Christian tries to stop sinning after he is saved.
c. Christians should prepare to live with Christ as His bride for all eternity.
d. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you” (Philippians 4:8-9).
e. “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20).
f. “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ”
(I Thessalonians 5:20).
8. An active Christian has not been eradicated from sin.
a. The Christian still has his sinful nature. When he gets saved, the old Adamic nature is not taken from him. He still has a sinful nature that will continue with him until he dies or the Lord takes him home in the rapture. “But if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” (I John 1:8).
b. The Bible goes even further. It says that the Christian cannot say he has stopped sinning. All Christians stumble, because no one is perfect. “If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and His word is not in us”
(I John 1:10).
c. But God expects the Christian to do his best to overcome sin. Even though God knows that we will sin and that we have a sinful nature, God still expects his children to strive diligently to overcome sin. Striving to overcome sin called “walking in the light.” “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His son cleanses us from all sin”
(I John 1:7).
C. CONCLUSION
Today, I’ve taught you to be victorious over sin. But some still struggle with sin. Some are in bondage to sin. I have encouraging words for you:
1. God loves you.
2. Christ died for you.
3. You can have a second chance. You can start over.
4. Today, you can take control of your life. You can choose to live for God. “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord,
I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
For more information on the TRBC Pastor’s Bible Class, log on to the Internet for TRBC Home page at www.trbc.org/pbc.
