You are no longer a victim… you’re victorious! – Monday, 28 August
“The sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to be king over all…”
Romans 5:17a Living Bible (TLB)
“For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one…”
Romans 5:17a New King James Version (NKJV)
The moment you were born into this world, you were subject to sin and death, thanks to your great-great-great… (and add a couple extra “greats”) grandfather, Adam. In other words, you were born a victim. We all inherited this from Adam. You were born a victim.
“The sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to be king over all, but all who will take God’s gift of forgiveness and acquittal are kings of life because of this one man, Jesus Christ.”
Romans 5:17 Living Bible (TLB) – emphasis mine
“For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.”
Romans 5:17 New King James Version (NKJV) – emphasis mine
When you “take God’s gift of forgiveness and acquittal” and become a Christian, you reject your inheritance (from Adam) and you are no longer a victim. You no longer have death and sin ruling over you; you now have the abundant life of God inside of you (Romans 8:11; 1 John 5:12). By accepting Jesus, you have a new rich inheritance (Ephesians 1:18). This inheritance causes you to be a king in life – no longer a victim, but a victor!
We have all felt the effects of the inheritance in Adam (sin, sickness, lack, depression, anxiety…) – but now that we are children of God, we have a new inheritance. We should be more familiar with our inheritance in Christ than the one we had in Adam.
“…who has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son.”
Colossians 1:13 Berean Literal Bible
You have been delivered (set free) from the dominion (or controlling influence) of darkness (including your inheritance in Adam) and have been transferred into God’s kingdom. His kingdom is a kingdom of love and freedom and victory! You are no longer a slave, no longer in bondage to sin and its effects. You are a child of God with a rich inheritance in Christ!
Most of us live far below our privileges as children of God. Many Christians seem to have more faith in the inheritance of death and bondage from Adam than in the abundantly rich inheritance of grace, love, and freedom that we have in Christ. When we start putting more confidence in Christ and His finished work which reversed the curse of Adam (Galatians 3:13), then we will start to experience more of the inheritance we have in Christ.
“But in all these things we are completely victorious through ·God [or Christ; L the One] who showed his love for us.”
Romans 8:37 Expanded Bible (EXB)
“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
Romans 8:37 New King James Version (NKJV)
The enemy will try and trick you into thinking that you need to conquer him, and if you buy that lie he will keep you busy fighting a battle that you’ve already won. You are not fighting for victory; you’re fighting from a place of victory!
A conqueror is someone who conquers something, but “more than a conqueror” is more than that. As a child of God, you’re more than a conqueror! You aren’t fighting for victory, but enjoying the freedom and spoils of victory that Christ purchased for you through His sacrifice. You’re protecting and defending your victory by resisting the attacks of the devil (James 4:7). You have already got the victory. You are not a victim, you’re victorious!
Stop seeing yourself as a victim. With Christ you are no longer a victim; you are victorious! See yourself as a victor, as someone who is more than a conqueror because of Jesus and His finished work for you.
Much love,
Shayne
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