I asked my husband if I could walk alone today; I had a feeling God wanted to tell me something and I wanted to be able to hear it. This is what I believe He wanted me to wrestle over.
We Christians speak of OUR living the “victorious Christian life,” or that we are supposed to, at least. ALL. THE. TIME. But is this just another way we have been deceived to become glory grabbers? When people say, “go live a victorious Christian life” or go live out the victory, or sing about all the victory we have, pumping their fists in the air like we are at a sporting event, etc, it is generally a call to not sin and to perfect ourselves because Christ has given us infinite power to achieve less sin and infinite goodness.
But after a biblical word study this morning, I don’t see a believer’s “victorious Christian life” something we are called to pursue. In fact, all the forms of the word victory (that aren’t speaking of winning an Old Testament battle) speak of what GOD has accomplished (the victory He has achieved over sin and death and defeat). We are beneficiaries of the victory Christ has achieved FOR US!
What does this victory mean? We don’t have to fear death; HE took the sting out of death. (I Cor 15:54-57). We don’t have to fear judgement for our sins; HE has reconciled us and made our sin powerless to separate us from Him. (I Cor 5:18-20) We live in the benefits of HIS victory! Even 1 John 5 speaks of a victory that is ours because of our salvation, the salvation that is ours because HE overcame the world. We no longer belong to the ruler of this world.
When we bask in the glory of victory that is OURS, we run the risk of glorying in our own works and our own power and our own strength to walk the straight and narrow, otherwise known as a “theology of glory” (a theology of self). It is not a theology of the cross which recognizes that God is the provider of what we need because of what HE has done or is doing FOR US!
When we seek to live on the mountain of “victorious Christian living,” we have a mindset of what is called “high anthropology.” This says, man can achieve what he puts his mind to by grit and determination, even though they may be good things. Focused on OUR obedience and performance.
While “Low anthropology” recognizes that we are incapable of the 100% righteousness and perfection that God ultimately required, and thus any demonstration of good works or good behavior is always simply a gift to an undeserving sinner because of the victory Christ won FOR US on the cross. Focused on God’s deliverance.
Be careful that you do not glory in YOUR victorious-ness. Any victory you think you have is simply what Christ has accomplished FOR YOU. That glory has nothing to do with what YOU have done or the way YOU seek to live. It has to do with a God who overcame FOR YOU to give you a life where death no longer stings and your continual sin no longer condemns you. Victory is not a standard to which we aspire to achieve. Victory is a blessing we live in because Christ was victorious FOR US!
God's Grace For The Journey 