Thanks For The Victory

Thanks for the Victory

1 John 5:4-5

“I heard an old , old story, how a Savior came from glory, how he gave his life on Calvary to save a wretch like me. I heard about his groaning, of his precious blood’s atoning, then I repented of my sin and won the victory. O, victory in Jesus, my Savior forever, he sought me and bought me with his redeeming blood. He loved me e’er I knew him, and all my love is due him. He plunged me to victory, beneath the cleansing flood.”

I know that song is a favorite for many who are gathered here today. We love the sentiment, the hope, the joy it brings. Victory in Jesus! What a great concept.

But let’s be real. There are times in life that it seems that defeat, not victory, is imminent. We struggle and struggle, and we can’t seem to get ahead of the pain.

At times the hurt is so powerful, we may think we’ll never recover. So, on this week of Thanksgiving, how can we be sure that victory is real for our lives? When I tell you that we can thank God for the victory, how can you be sure I know what I’m talking about? Well in our text this morning, John wrote that the battle over the world could be won. God has made victory possible—let’s look at the text and discover the truths that show us that we truly can say, “Thanks for the victory!”

It is true that

I. The world has launched a battle against the people of God.

A. John used the word, “world,” in a very technical sense here.

1. It did not refer to “planet earth.”

2. It did not refer to simply the mass of humanity that God loved enough to send his Son.

3. Here, the world represents all that is opposed to God—a system of life that fights the will and purposes of God.

B. And that world tries to influence God’s people in such a way that they lose their identity.

C. Attacks designed to steal away our faith seem to hit us every day.

D.

Transitional Sentence: Yes the world has engaged us in a tremendous battle, but we need not give up, because it is also true that . . .

II. Through faith we can have victory in that battle.

A. Let’s be very clear what we mean by faith.

1. I’m not speaking about “faith in faith”—a kind of wishful, positive thinking.

2. But the faith that brings victory is faith that is grounded in Jesus, the Son of God.

B. Because of what Christ has done, the victory offered is real.

1. Christ offers us a defense against the infections of this world.

2. Christ offers us strength to stand against the attacks of this world.Christ offers us the indestructible hope of final victory over this world.

C. As we put our trust in him, that victory can be real for us.

1. The cost of our victory has already been paid.

2. Now, we must receive the gift—walk in the grace that has been given us.

3. We can be over-comers in Christ!

Today, you may be facing a million trials. Know that you can have victory in the midst of the struggle. Trust in the gift God has given in Christ. Throw yourself into his arms. And give him “Thanks for the victory!”