Continuous Victory

When Christ redeemed us, we were permanently cleansed. We were instantly ransomed, and immediately saved from death. Yet, while our sins are completely and irrevocably forgiven, we are not instantly made perfect.

Christ's victory in our lives is not the end of our Christian faith, or the goal of the race we run, but it is the beginning. It is the starting point. Now that we have been cleansed, now that we have been freed from the cages and depravity of sin, we can finally run the race that God intended for us to run in the beginning.

Christ's victory over death was a one-time deal; however, our victory over sin - while we still remain on earth - is not. Although we have been freed, sin will constantly ensnare us, and try to tangle us up again. If Satan cannot destroy our soul, he can still make us ineffective in our walk with God. He will do his best to demoralize us, and to diminish our testimony to other believers and non-believers. That is why it is important for us to overcome. As Arthur Pink says, this last part is important. "Faith which 'overcomes the world' (1 John 5:4), not which 'has overcome'. So far from being an immediate achievement, it is a lifelong business, a prolonged and continuous strife."

Christ's achievement is meant to be long-lasting in our lives. It enables us, too, to be able to conquer and triumph over the world. Our faith is not about what we have done, or even what we may do...it is about what we are doing. We are conquering, actively.

Living Life