Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Amid tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, sword and being killed all the day long, believers have full, entire and glorious victory through Jesus Christ, who loved sinners, gave Himself, shed His blood, died, rose again and lives to intercede at the right hand of God. God is for His people, for He did not spare His own Son but delivered Him up, with Him freely gives all things, justifies His elect so no charge stands, and by Christ's death, resurrection and intercession none can condemn them. Christ fought the battle for them and opened the way as humanity's champion, defeating the powers of darkness where Adam fell, delivering captives and overcoming the world and the three leading temptations by the divine nature combined with the human and by the word of God. Through Him they overcome Satan, temptation, sinful habits, unconsecrated self and discouragement, by as close union with Him as branch with vine, by looking to Him in living faith, by earnest prayer and the shield of faith, and by cooperation with God in obedience to all His requirements. Their present sufferings are not worth comparing with the coming glory, when warfare ends and those counted weak and defenseless for remaining loyal and true are crowned conquerors and more than conquerors, standing without spot before the great white throne.
Words and Setting
In all these things means amid tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, hunger, nakedness, exposure, peril, danger, sword, violence and being killed all the day long as sheep for the slaughter, and in that very condition believers are more than conquerors through Christ's love, so that suffering and even martyrdom do not defeat them or separate them from God's love in Christ. Hardship does not defeat those upheld by Christ, for His sustaining presence strengthens His servants in their labors and keeps them secure in God's love, and they can stand firm despite discouraging surroundings because hardship cannot defeat the victory Christ gives. The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory to be revealed, and no hardship or power can separate them from God's love in Christ Jesus.
More than conquerors means full, entire and glorious victory that goes beyond merely overcoming, so that nothing done against believers defeats them and opposition only confirms them. Those who do God's words and hold fast to Jesus have more than victory through Christ who loved them, for all that is said and done against them only confirms and strengthens them in the faith, and no evil work lasts long but comes to nothing, for nothing can be done against the truth. If evil is allowed to triumph for a while, it is only so that the final victory may be more certain, and through grace richly provided a believer can finish his course without having run in vain and labored in vain, coming off victorious as more than a conqueror through Christ who loved him. This triumphing fully over Satan, discouragement, and feelings of being bruised, hurt, weak, helpless, and bound is claimed by putting the will every moment on the side of God's will, thinking hopefully and courageously, shouting victory, refusing to dishonor God with expressions of inefficiency and inability, crying to Jesus for help in weakness, dwelling in His presence, and refusing to be conquered once, because He has conquered Satan in behalf of His own. When in trial and difficulty the believer flees to his refuge, sensing oneness with God and with Jesus Christ whom He sent, he allies himself with God against Satan and all his synagogue and cannot be overthrown, and conquering self in this victory is also conquering the world.
Him that loved us is Jesus Christ, who loved sinners, gave Himself, shed His blood, died, rose again, lives to intercede at the right hand of God, and supplies grace and strength. He became the Sin-bearer, lived a life of perfect obedience in behalf of sinners, shed His precious blood on the cross, clothes repentant sinners with His robe of righteousness, takes them under His watchcare, accepts them and sets them apart to His service, and does not cast them off when they make mistakes. He freely laid down His life and took it again, won the battle against the prince of darkness on their behalf, endured fierce temptations in human nature, made atonement for them, and now intercedes for them in heaven, so that everyone can receive the help He received and need not be overcome. Through faith in Him who loved us and gave Himself for us, shown individually at Calvary, believers overcome the enemy's temptations by firmly choosing God's will, looking to the Saviour for help, committing themselves to His service, and resisting doubt with God's promises, and accepting that great sacrifice brings victory.
Nothing can separate believers from the love of God in Christ Jesus, not death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature nor loss of position nor reproach. God is for them, having not spared His own Son but delivered Him up and with Him freely giving all things, justifying His elect so none can lay charge against them and none can condemn them while Christ who died and rose again is at the right hand of God interceding for them. The verse means personal belonging to Christ who purchased believers with the blood of the only begotten Son of God and graven them upon the palms of His hands, so they are not their own and can commit the keeping of their souls to Him as a faithful Creator who will keep what is committed to Him against that day.
Paul declared this triumph from his own trying experience preaching Christ and Him crucified under difficulties, hunted from place to place by bigoted Jews who stirred up Jews and Gentiles to oppose, persecute, and attempt to assassinate him, yet looking back over that experience and facing future trials and threatenings of suffering like a bold soldier of the cross he declared this triumph. His own hardships and confidence in the coming glory illustrate this victory, in which suffering does not separate believers from Christ's love and through Him they overcome tribulation, persecution, danger, and even death. Those who suffer and die for their faith are conquerors through Christ who loves them, for the sufferings inflicted by Satan only drive them closer to the Lord, lead them to love one another, cause them to fear offending God, keep their strength, fortitude, and firmness because Satan gains power over the body but not control of the mind, secure them to Christ's kingdom so Satan loses his subjects while others spring up to take their places, and make their lives and deaths a witness that wins others from Satan's service to follow Christ unto the crown of glory when He comes. Those who labor in reform amid conflicts and trials, with their path hedged in by difficulties and obstructed by error, travel the same road prophets, apostles, reformers of every age, and Christ Himself have traveled, Christ having trod a still more thorny path, and with one mightier than Satan as leader they are in good company, receive strength to stand steadfast in the faith, and are brought off victorious.
Those who keep the Sabbath of the fourth commandment and hold advanced Bible truth may expect malice and unreasonable persecution, such as opposition from First-Day Adventists, from Satan, evil angels, worldly acquaintances and church members, because truth is aggressive and by precept and example weakens Satan's hold on others. Such a soul who breaks from Satan and accepts advanced Bible truth, repents, and believes and obeys all of God's requirements including the Sabbath will draw determined opposition, deception, oppression and persecution, and obedience rebukes the evil works of the children of men and shows Satan his prey is escaping from his grasp, which alarms him and stirs up his worst opposition, because he hated the law of God, transgressed it, and for this lost heaven. None need be alarmed, for if true to principle that soul becomes a member of the royal family, a child of the heavenly King, with the agencies of heaven enlisted on his behalf, and comes off victorious through the merits of Christ through Him who loved him, by faith and willing obedience combining a strength more mighty than his own with human effort to resist the enemy while feeling weakness, depending on Jesus for strength every hour, and watching and praying earnestly. The whole battle before them hinges upon the observance of the true Sabbath of Jehovah, the original Sabbath, against giving it up for the first day of the week and against worship of the beast and his image and an idol sabbath, and the victory comes by the power of Bible truth and love exemplified in the cross, set home by the Holy Spirit, teaching them to cling more firmly to the truth in the face of Satan, a powerful, malignant, artful spirit who has for ages deceived both church and state. Those accounted by the world as weak and unworthy, defenseless against the cruelty of men, who remain loyal and true and will not worship the beast or his image, though in anguish and mocked, ridiculed, hated and despised, shall be crowned conquerors and more than conquerors through Jesus who so loved man that He gave His life to redeem him from the power of Satan and exalt him to His throne.
The promise was given to John with a view to the great events of the future that will shake thrones of kings, the close of all earthly scenes, and the ushering in of the reign of Him who is King of kings whose kingdom shall endure forever, while Christ receives the adoration of all the hosts of heaven, meaning that whatever tribulation might come upon God's people, if they would but patiently endure, they shall be more than conquerors through Him that loved them. It reveals that the salvation of human beings is a vast enterprise that calls into action every attribute of the divine nature, in which the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit have pledged themselves to make God's children more than conquerors through Him that has loved them. The Lord is gracious and long-suffering, not willing that any should perish, and He has provided power and freely provides grace through Christ Jesus so that believers may be more than conquerors in the conflict between the powers of light and darkness. It reveals the depths of the Saviour's matchless love in saving even one soul, and everyone who accepts salvation can testify to complete victory through Christ who loved them and gave Himself for them, standing together with redemption through His blood, freedom from the law of sin and death by the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, and rejoicing with joy unspeakable and full of glory in believing.
Ground of Certain Victory
God is for His people, having not spared His own Son but delivered Him up, and with Him freely giving all things, even all heaven in that one gift. He justifies His elect so that no charge laid against them stands, and none can condemn them while Christ who died and rose again is at the right hand of God interceding for them. Because He gave His only begotten Son, every person can reach a high standard and have a deep, rich, abundant experience instead of a poor, weak, starved experience, do a great work for the Master, and be a living channel of light filled with all the fulness of God, walking in humility and drawing with Christ in the salvation of souls through persevering effort in cooperating with the divine. By sending His only beloved Son He joins divine moral power to human effort so a person can make a success of life, rising from skepticism to faith and confidence, coming boldly to the throne of grace presenting the righteousness of his substitute and surety and receiving according to need, with God as his strength so that through the grace of Christ he can do all things, resist temptations, love God perfectly because God is lovely and have no love for sin, have moral taste changed, rise above natural weakness by living faith taking hold of Omnipotence with infinite wisdom brought into his counsels, and ally with Christ in recognition of the atonement so prayers become powerful and acceptable and he earnestly strives to do God's will and be rich in good works.
Believers belong to Christ as His purchased possession by the blood of the only begotten Son of God, graven upon the palms of His hands, so they are not their own. They can commit the keeping of soul, body and spirit to Him as unto a faithful Creator who will keep what is committed to Him against that day and bring them through trials as more than conquerors because of His love. Trusting God and resting in Him bring peace and joy, and those who rest in Jesus are safe in His love through life's trials and may abide securely in it.
Christ fought the battle for His people and remains with them, giving help and the promise of immortal glory, having won victory after victory as humanity's champion. He defeated the powers of darkness where Adam fell, overcame Satan and delivered those held captive by sin, demonstrating that obedience to God's law is possible through Him and making a way for sinful people to receive pardon and peace, be changed and purified in character, and be saved from their fallen condition. This victory includes freedom from self-indulgence and a life of faithful service, and Christ gives the saved a place upon His throne. As second Adam He passed over the three leading temptations by the divine nature combined with the human and by the word of God, endured testing and temptation and suffered beyond what His people are called to suffer, bearing their infirmities and sins not for His own sake but for theirs, so testing trials that expose human weakness teach dependence on God and believers can be victors through Christ the Overcomer by relying on His merits and acting in His name.
His overcoming makes overcoming possible for every believing child, for He took human nature to reach humanity while holding divine power, was tempted in all points as humans are, suffered being tempted, endured all suffering and temptation believers will be called to endure, overcame the world, and conquered Satan on behalf of fallen humanity in His human nature, placing the human race on vantage ground with God. That signal victory rejoiced all heaven and placed humanity, the workmanship of God, on an elevated scale with God, leaving the way open for man to be more than conqueror through Christ's merits because Christ loved him. Through faith believers lay hold of divine power from His tender, sympathetic heart and receive grace to meet every trying situation, resist and defeat the tempter with the help He received in fierce temptations in human nature, overcome the corruption in the world through lust by partaking of the divine nature, keep God's law, and make use of the advantages Christ made available, with the church standing through Him who took the penalty of sin upon Himself. Christ the Prince of life defends His followers against Satan's power and subdues their enemies, so through Him they overcome every enemy and are victorious.
The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit have pledged themselves to make God's children more than conquerors in the vast enterprise of salvation that calls into action every attribute of the divine nature, for the Lord is gracious and long-suffering, not willing that any should perish, and has provided power to enable believers to be overcomers. When the Christian takes the baptismal vow divine help is pledged to him, with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit standing ready to work in his behalf and the resources of heaven placed at his command that he may be an overcomer, and by daily making wants known at the throne of grace and by faith and trust availing himself of the resources provided he gains full victory. His own power is small but God is omnipotent and is his helper, and by daily seeking God's help and trusting and using what He provides, coming to God in faith to be received and given strength to grow toward perfection in Christ, those fighting against the powers of darkness should move forward with faith and courage because God and Christ and the Holy Spirit are on their side, freely providing grace through Christ Jesus with the Holy Spirit as abiding Comforter and full provision of strength, light and joy.
Heavenly agencies fight for believers, for angels that excel in strength are sent to help those who have the fear of God before them, with help laid upon One that is mighty because Jesus died to make a way of escape and lives now to make intercession that believers may be exalted to His own right hand. Heavenly angels fight in their ranks with the mighty General of heaven leading the way, surrounding those who trust in the Lord with a wall of light and holiness, and by cooperating with them believers gain the victory through Him who loved them, since God loved sinners first and though disobedience merited displeasure and condemnation He has not forsaken them but made full and abundant provision for redemption through Christ's death for them while they were yet sinners. All heaven is constantly employed in this work of redemption, with angels actively engaged in executing God's plans and with intense earnestness cooperating with God to bring moral power and efficiency to men to bring them back from rebellion to reconciliation, while invisible armies of light and power, cherubim and seraphim and angels that excel in strength, attend the meek and lowly ones who believe and claim the promises, and angels work to let light shine upon souls so that through grace by the ministry of the Holy Spirit they conquer though tried and tempted and buffeted by Satan and by human agents through misrepresentation or open falsehood. Omnipotence makes them conquerors when they go forward in faith refusing to fail or be discouraged, the Holy Spirit supplies grace to those who feel inefficient and powerless in sinfulness, and the human part is not to become discouraged in self-denial and self-sacrifice but to be sober and watch unto prayer and take hold of Christ's strength and make peace with Him, so human power that did not establish the church cannot destroy her.
Christ loves His people as a shepherd loves His sheep, highly valuing every sheep and lamb, calling each one by name, holding them under tender watchcare, and caring for them with uttermost kindness. He loves them still more as sons and daughters, as the gift of His Father and the reward of His work, loving them both for His Father's sake and for their own sake as His children, so they can trust Him and no amount of tribulation can separate them from Him. Their suffering touches Him, whose love for them is closer and more complete than human love, who knows all about their trials and has proved Himself their ever-present Saviour as willing to help now as on former occasions. Taking sorrows and difficulties to Jesus lifts the poor, fainting soul from betrayal, failure and the snare of the enemy to regain self-respect and stand not as a failure but as a conqueror in and through the uplifting influence of the Spirit, receiving, strengthening, comfort and healing with infinite love, looking away from wretchedness to Jesus the Helper, the Lamb of God lifted on the cross, contemplating the inexpressible, full and ample love and atonement of God, and taking every temptation, trouble and grief to Him as present help and refuge who knows human anguish, carries burdens, and is all-sufficient.
Unseparated by Suffering and Trial
Sorrow, sacrifice, tribulation and even martyrdom cannot defeat faith or separate believers from God's love, for amid tribulation, distress, persecution, hunger, exposure, danger, violence and death they are more than conquerors through Christ's love. The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to be revealed, and no hardship or power can separate them from God's love in Christ Jesus. The disciples' assurance grew from seeing God's word fulfilled when the resurrection turned apparent defeat into triumph, and their joy and confidence endured as they carried the gospel through hardship.
Those imprisoned and made to suffer for truth's sake are more than conquerors not by force but by bearing with meekness whatever is done to them, trusting every moment in Jesus as a shepherd full of kindness, care, mercy and tenderness, and clinging with unwavering faith to the promise. What is done to make them suffer is done to Christ in the person of His saints, for Jesus identifies His interest with suffering humanity, and God works in their behalf for their deliverance through Him who gave His precious blood for them. Love for Christ cannot be hidden but exerts wondrous power that makes the timid bold to declare openly for Christ and His truth, the slothful diligent, the ignorant wise, the stammering tongue eloquent, rousing dormant intellect to new life and making the desponding hopeful and the gloomy joyous. That love leads its possessor to accept responsibilities for Christ's sake and bear them in His strength, not dismayed by tribulation nor turned aside from duty by reproaches, and though the world counts the loyal weak, unworthy and defenseless they triumph when righteousness wins the victory.
In acute pain, helplessness, sleepless nights, gathering darkness and severe physical suffering with inactivity, anxiety and temptation, the believer stayed upon God and drawn nigh to Him comes off more than conqueror and holds the vantage ground. Jesus comes sacredly near, His grace is all-sufficient for the affliction, the soul finds sweet comfort in His promises, and comfort and blessing received in answer to prayer help bear great suffering even when healing is not given, producing grateful praise to Him who loved and gave Himself and contented trust that God knows what is best. Affliction is part of God's plan and gives precious experience more valuable than gold, and the conqueror commits soul, body and spirit to God as faithful Creator even without reading His purpose. Trials and tribulation cannot separate God's children from Christ, and through His love and power they overcome discouragement rather than give way to unbelief, refusing to cover the Lord's altar with mourning and sighing and tears but meditating on Christ's loving words, courtesy, sympathy and compassion.
When Christ leads into hard places like Rephidim it is because He sees it is for good and for His name's glory. Looking to Him in trusting faith brings help in His own time, turning the bitterness of Marah into sweetness and opening the flinty rock to cause cooling streams to flow. Remembrance of His past presence, mercies and manifestations of power should strengthen and uphold instead of giving way to short-sighted faith, murmuring and complaining, calling for praise and thanksgiving and for going forward with full assurance that He is an ever-present help in trouble with His people always even unto the end of the world. God watches over His people as their faith is purified, removing what is worthless while preserving them through His love so they endure severe trials without being abandoned or destroyed.
In conflict and the time of trouble God's wrestling, praying people are more than conquerors in Christ's name because Christ the almighty Victor has fought the battle in their behalf against enemies He Himself has already met and tried. He knows their sorrows, has borne their griefs, is with them and will help them, bidding them stand fast to their allegiance and not be afraid, assuring them help is coming as they await their coming King with the opening of endless day to the righteous at hand. Their victory ends in a crown of immortal glory held out to His weary soldiers. Those sent to face delivery to councils, scourging, and trial before governors and kings overcome not by warfare in their own strength but by Omnipotence making them so when they go forward in faith refusing to fail or be discouraged, with heavenly angels fighting in their ranks, the mighty General of heaven leading, the Holy Spirit supplying grace to those who feel their inefficiency, and a wall of light and holiness surrounding those who trust in the Lord. One stronger than Satan draws near to the believing trusting soul to contend with the prince of darkness when godly lives provoke persecution from hypocrites rebuked by their example and Satan strives to sweep away those who uphold purity and piety.
Sufferings inflicted by Satan only drive Christians closer to the Lord and to one another, lead them to love one another and fear offending God, so they keep strength, fortitude and firmness because Satan gains power over the body but not control of the mind. Even when thousands are slain they remain secured to Jesus Christ as subjects of His kingdom, so Satan loses his subjects and others spring up to take their places, and their lives and deaths bear witness to the truth leading others to leave Satan's service and follow Christ unto the crown of glory at His coming. They come off conquerors through Jesus the great Deliverer even when Satan presses them sore and they face affliction, remaining secure through every trial by humble faith and prayer rather than self-confidence when Satan seeks to sift them.
Difficulty, disappointment, discouragement, sickness, hindrances and trial test love and fidelity, but faith overcomes them through Christ's love and help, not by human strength. Those who refuse to give up, trust God's promise of deliverance, pray, hope, believe and hold fast to His power can be more than conquerors, meeting discouragement with faith, courage, patience, hope and righteousness and waiting with undaunted faith even under reproof or difficult circumstances. Even a mistake or defeat can become victory when God's lessons are learned, bringing help in due time, and victory confirms connection with Him while God's angels stand beside the overcomers. Christ is the strength of those firmly grounded in Him, so neither joy nor sorrow turns them from what is right, and students are urged to look to Jesus, grasp Him by living faith and keep working in the spiritual battle unto the crown of immortal glory.
Though human beings are weak and face spiritual conflict against evil powers, Christ gives strength and divine assistance with heaven's forces marshaled under His command, so even the weakest who love God can become more than conquerors when aided by grace. When the enemy strives to spoil the record and compass ruin, one seeking earnestly to walk and work in the Lord's way can be more than conqueror in Christ's strength, for Christ is the only hope, gave His life to secure redemption, and as Captain of the Lord's host overcomes the enemy's strong effort for those who look to Him for salvation and care. Ceasing to look to humanity for solace and taking sorrows and difficulties to Jesus lifts the poor fainting soul from betrayal, failure and the enemy's snare to regain self-respect and stand not as failure but as conqueror in and through the uplifting influence of the Spirit, who receives, strengthens, comforts and heals with infinite love and does exceeding abundantly. Even the weakest may gain complete victory through Christ who loved them and gave His precious life, by learning faith and trust, committing the soul's spiritual needs to Him, denying self daily, lifting the cross and taking His yoke of meekness and lowliness, for Christ Himself gives the noble resolve and will to suffer and fight the Lord's battles with persevering energy.
Victory Over Sin and Satan
Through Him who loves His people and has strength to fight for them, it is possible to gain complete victory over Satan, the powers of darkness arrayed against them, and every temptation in the conflict with evil. Human strength alone is weakness and no one can free himself from Satan's power, but God has provided a way of escape and wants His people to make Him their friend, fight bravely against suggestions to leave self-denial, and keep character from becoming warped so as to exert an influence for truth, as Daniel did in coming off triumphant. Safety is in trusting Jesus, holding fast to Him, and receiving through His power and instruction the help He had so as to live the life He lived, so that nothing separates from the mighty Helper. Those who remain faithful in the struggle against sin are more than conquerors through His love, and the victory that comes after the warfare leads to the eternal reward of glory, even for those who are new in Christ.
Through Christ who conquered appetite on their behalf, Christians may themselves be more than conquerors in their own struggle against Satan, and this victory is open to all who will engage in the warfare. Without God's help striving against appetite, passion and temptation will fail, but Christ can be strength, and workers who rely on Him who conquered the enemy for them can overcome temptation while working with discretion and preserving health and strength for special demands. The victory is conditional on temperance in all things, keeping the body in subjection, bringing all appetites and passions under enlightened conscience, refusing the world as the standard, and obeying the laws of health and life as duty owed to God and neighbors. Those who do this do not fight aimlessly but gain physical vigor and mental vigor and moral power for the conflict, to engage Satan and win on their own account in Christ's name.
Through Christ's love believers can conquer unconsecrated self and every selfish desire in the conflict of faith, and with His help overcome their wrongs to become more than conquerors. Being more than conquerors through Him who loved and gave Himself means victory over selfishness and evil-surmising, gained by striving earnestly for unity, praying for it and working for it, dying to self and being born again so that Christ lives within as a living active principle and power that keeps holy, crucifying self and esteeming others better than self. This oneness brings spiritual health, elevation of thought, nobility of character and heavenly-mindedness, brings into oneness with Christ, bears unmistakable evidence before the heavenly universe and before church and world that they are God's sons and daughters, and glorifies God by example. Living the Saviour's life in this way carries out duties to God and others and prepares for standing before the great white throne without spot or wrinkle with character made clean by the Lamb's blood, for conquering self is also conquering the world.
Every soul struggling under sinful practices, evil habits, unholy thoughts, defects of character, and inherited or cultivated evil tendencies can be made free and a complete conqueror now, today, not little by little. Jesus died on Calvary to bring saving grace within reach of every sinner, and through the merits of His blood every facility has been provided for a perfect character as God's possession purchased at infinite cost growing into a holy temple, complete in Him. This comes by beholding Christ by faith as atoning sacrifice and only hope, individually applying His shed blood and the truth to experience, refusing to excuse defects as natural way or unchangeable habit, letting truth sanctify the character to refine and elevate the life and fit for the mansions prepared. Prayer, watchfulness, obedience to revealed will, placing under right influences, faith in Jesus as personal Saviour, and the aid of the Holy Spirit enable standing against Satan, with divine power combining with human effort and the Word devoting every physical, mental and moral power to God who owns by creation and redemption, gaining victory after victory over human nature in the keeping power of the Redeemer.
Triumph through Jesus Christ who loved and died to redeem and make free is full, entire and glorious over Satan, discouragement, bruised and hurt feelings, weakness, helplessness, bondage, strong feelings, distrust and fear of death. It belongs to the Lord's purchased possession by His blood, whose body, brain power and will belong to Jesus to be cherished and preserved as sanctified vessels and instruments unto righteousness, and is claimed by putting the will every moment on God's side, thinking hopefully and courageously, shouting victory, crying to Jesus for help in weakness, dwelling in His presence, and refusing to dishonor God with expressions of inefficiency and inability or to be conquered once because He has conquered Satan in behalf of His own. Jesus Himself brings through as more than conquerors those who take counsel of Him, take hold of almighty strength, stay the soul upon God, employ ability wisely, look up and not at self, and talk faith, hope and courage instead of doubt, for He looks with tenderest compassion, loves, wants them happy, knows every weakness, pities, wants to help, and recognizes them as co-laborers. To stand as more than conqueror is to stand fast in faith with eyes off self and off waves and disparaging words, refuse discouragement and lamentation over little things, make private confession to God alone, learn from mistakes to turn defeat into victory, prevail over forces of death and hell by earnest prayer without ceasing from unfeigned lips, trust the great High Priest and Advocate who knows where Satan overcomes and saves to the uttermost, and remain cheerful, free, happy, trustful and patient as God's workmen preparing a recompense of reward.
Fallen people of great capacity for evil who desire to do God's will and forsake sin can overcome through Christ's grace and the help God sends, and be brought from rebellion to reconciliation with moral power and efficiency so that in and through Christ they are more than conquerors and victors sharing His everlasting kingdom. No one is holy by birth or by nature, no human method can make loyal and true, human goodness and righteousness alone are worthless, and nothing can be done apart from Christ, but with God all things are possible for the weak and erring adopted into God's family and transformed by His Spirit from self-indulgence and supreme love for self to self-denial and supreme love for God. Whoever believes in Jesus becomes a partaker of the divine nature through the exceeding great and precious promises, receiving all things pertaining to life and godliness and escaping the corruption in the world through lust, when divinity and humanity cooperate. Christ clothed divinity with humanity, laid hold on the throne of God with His divine nature while taking human nature, overcame every temptation of Satan, and by example of perfect obedience teaches that man may be obedient, while all heaven with angels actively engaged with intense earnestness cooperates to bring this moral power to men.
Those who follow Christ instead of pride, worldly ambition and selfish plans that promise enjoyment but end in pain, sorrow and poisoned happiness are safe, for He does not allow darkness to harm them and guards what is entrusted to Him, giving complete victory through His love. Through the grace of Christ a person may come off more than conqueror over pride wrestling for pre-eminence by refusing the snare of praise of men and tempting inducements of the world, fixing eyes upon heavenly attractions and the mansions prepared, walking in humility and abiding in Christ in probation. Standing firm in the faith makes more than conquerors through Christ who loved and gave His life, requiring loyalty and faithfulness because bought with a price, working as in presence of heavenly intelligences, copying His pattern, revealing faith and hope and love, letting light shine in good works, and doing nothing that cannot be done to God's glory and under His blessing, having no need for billiard table, theater, dancing hall or other worldly diversions. Aged laborers in the last days of labors come off more than conquerors by diligently guarding hearts and minds to speak no word casting reflection on brethren and sisters, because indulging criticism hurts their own souls.
Through the living Saviour a person can come off more than conqueror and remain faithful by clinging to Christ, praying to be sustained in His work, and dying to self rather than yielding to other influences. With Christ nothing is impossible, for God works both to will and to do of His good pleasure, yet the person must cooperate, work out salvation, become a worker together with God in saving the soul, draw nigh to God, have more of Jesus and less of self, build thorough character, and guard against sharp practice, selfishness and tarnished soul in dealing with brethren and unbelievers. All who humble hearts before God, repent and confess sins, and believe in Christ as Redeemer become more than conquerors through Him that loved them, while those practicing fraud and selfishness, taking advantage for self-benefit, and showing pretentious piety with impure heart will be denied place in the future kingdom.
Believers overcome through Christ's love and strength with divine power joined to human effort enabling resistance to Satan, and all who enter heaven will have won victories, overcoming themselves by bringing temper, inclinations and spirit under God's will with His righteousness and strength available to all who claim His merits. Through His love and power they can be more than conquerors in warfare against sin, for He provides grace and strength for sanctification, and His sinless life makes it possible to live sinless lives showing the world that grace can sanctify the heart. Being more than conqueror through Him that loved and gave Himself is the result of His grace working in and with every child pressing from light to greater light and strength to greater strength in this educating school where eternal destiny is decided and little things discipline and train the soul to develop character fit for courts above and mansions prepared, meaning complete in Him not with own righteousness but with righteousness by faith. Christ's giving up His life on the cross restores to original perfection and transforms character to make more than conqueror, so that those who in His strength overcome the great enemy of God and man will occupy a position above angels who never fell, with the cross as center of attraction challenging and finally vanquishing every earthly and hellish power, and those who receive Him as Saviour, repent, cease continuing in sin, do God's will and do Christ's work honor God, come off more than conquerors, and receive large blessings as free gift not for merit of no value, with His righteousness before them and the glory of the Lord as rereward and life and salvation in Jesus.
Receiving Victory by Faith
Victory comes not from anything in man, for man has nothing wherein to glory, but in and through Christ who loved us. All that man has — reason, affection, speech, spiritual discernment — comes through the mercy of the Son of the Infinite God and must be surrendered back to God. Self dies hard, struggling for existence, yet prayer and faith place even the weakest sinner on vantage ground where the hand of faith can grasp the Saviour's hand firmly, and in that union complete victory is gained over every trial, difficulty, disappointment, the relentless foe and the opposition of the own heart. Human strength alone is weakness and cannot produce this victory, but through the Redeemer's strength, compassion, grace, almighty power and the Spirit of God weak and erring people overcome the evil that besets them.
Believers are brought into as close and vital connection with Christ as branch with vine, growing from it, part of it, sustained and nourished by it, even as Christ is one with the Father, and because of that union they are more than conquerors in affliction, storm, tempest, persecution, life and death with nothing able to separate them. Those who accept Christ, believe in Him and are united with Him share His life and work with Him to seek and save perishing souls, and when He appears they will appear with Him in glory. Strength to be more than conquerors comes through Christ who loved and gave Himself, received by enthroning Him in the heart as honored Guest, living with conscious awareness of the divine presence, making Jesus the center of contemplation, and living the Word, eating it, digesting it, making it part of being until His character becomes the individual character. The creating, transforming power of the Holy Spirit makes those yoked with Christ co-partners with Him, cherishing truth as an abiding principle that sanctifies the soul, pouring the love of Christ into the heart to be revealed in daily life, helping overcome sin and remain faithful through hardship.
Victory is gained by looking to Jesus, grasping Him by living faith, entrusting temptation and self to Him, clinging more strongly as temptation grows fiercer, keeping the mind stayed on God, and advancing daily beyond yesterday in trust. As the believer looks to the Saviour and commits to His service, Christ helps and strengthens day by day, giving rest and grace and salvation to the one who seeks the Lord with the whole heart from the abundant supply of grace. Rather than dwelling anxiously on faults or fears about salvation, confidence rests in Christ as source of strength and life, holding fast to God through Jesus, enduring by faith in the unseen God and relying on power beyond human strength to resist appetite and sin and help others escape. This rests on His love, for His great heart is open to every grief and sorrow and knows every weakness, so His praise is ever on the lips because His love is in the heart, bringing growing light, understanding of sacred things and close personal knowledge of God. The shield of living faith, joined with obedience to God's commands, enables standing firm in the evil day, steadfast to the end.
Victory requires earnest prayer, watching unto prayer, and the shield of faith, for there is omnipotence in prayer to give victory. Prevailing over the forces of death and hell comes by learning to pray earnestly to God for the help He alone can give, praying without ceasing with the soul breathing prayers at all times and in all places from unfeigned lips, and by living faith leaning in confidence upon Christ who loved us and gave His life. Christ sought strength from His Father through earnest prayer and submission and came through temptation victorious, setting the example, for human strength alone is weakness while the strength God gives is mighty to face temptation, contend with the powers of darkness and perform the work given. Those who go into the battlefield with the Lord's army put on the whole armor of God with the shield of faith as defense, for without living faith exercised in the power of God even an angel host could not help, not strength of resolutions, nor intellectual might with science, nor vast armies avail. Faith alone makes invincible, steadfast and immovable, holding the beginning of confidence firm unto the end, not by might nor by power but by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts, not faith in faith but power imparted to exercise faith in God, with entire surrender of the will and obedience to the whole will placing under Jehovah's protection. Entering each battle with full faith that through Christ victory is certain means watching and praying and trusting the living Word, with faithful watchfulness, keen perception of opening events, holy boldness instead of depression over prevailing sin, standing firm for the right against new superstitions and light-clothed false theories, looking steadfastly to Jesus the Author and Finisher of faith, increasing in faith, rejoicing in His love, talking of God's greatness not Satan's power, and taking the divine likeness with all sufficiency liberally supplied to every cooperator.
Victory calls for cooperation with God and obedience to all His requirements, for nothing can be done without Christ yet God works in the person who must work together with Him in saving the soul. Because God gave His only begotten Son He gave all heaven in that one gift and will freely give all things, so every person can reach a high standard, have a deep rich abundant experience instead of poor weak starved experience, do a great work for the Master, and be a living channel of light filled with all fullness, walking in humility and drawing with Christ by persevering effort. Complete victory comes by fighting manfully the battles of the Lord for God and truth, throwing all into active service, girding on the armor, refusing to be deceived or entrapped by Satan's devices, as the ancient saints stood closely by God, bound honor to His throne and treated attack on truth as attack on themselves, a stand urgently needed as shaking comes when those hanging back fall as prey. Being more than conqueror through grace is possible and required, meaning bravery in God, putting on the whole armor to stand loyal and true to all the commandments as a Seventh-day Adventist even before an unbelieving father, proving obedience does not spoil life, being a decided witness, using influence wholly for Christ, making most of probationary time and using God-given talents to gain for the Master and bless others. All have special battles, but full trust in the Redeemer who bought them with His blood makes them more than conquerors with Him as right arm of strength and exceeding great reward, standing firm in faith as bought with a price and working as in presence of heavenly intelligences.
Victory is the daily conquest of self by clinging to the Mighty One in prayer and work and belief, yielding human will and way to God's will and way so ways and words become Christ's, mastering and subduing self with precious glorious victories, for this victory is faith by which character is perfected and sure work made for eternity. It is steadily building good character not by merely wishing or avoiding evil but by earnest honest effort and patiently doing good, with daily progress, growing in grace and knowledge of truth, becoming strong in battling for the right, climbing ever higher to perfection and becoming a blessing to others. The new man in Christ is born to conflict, toil, labor and the good fight of faith, with power always within reach to obtain victory at every onset over every difficulty, in hand-to-hand struggle requiring all energy and steadfast marching in duty with determination not to fail nor be discouraged, the character required of faithful true workers proclaiming God's will without reserve. This comes by trusting the Lord rather than looking to human beings for wisdom, looking constantly to Jesus, drawing nigh to God, walking in light under His supervision, praying for the Lord to reveal Himself, maintaining a life of working for Him, often dying to self to yield to no influence but Christ's, shown in consistent character, wise walk, gracious Christlike words and actions, and the peace of Christ ruling the heart, with no wrong upon the soul standing on eternal rectitude. God imparts special favors to those surrendered as His purchased possession, making complete in Christ, therefore life is not for self-enjoyment but denying self, bearing the cross, remaining loyal rather than yielding to pressures to deny Christ, dishonor God or disobey law.
Victory is kept by looking up and not at self, looking away from wretchedness to the Lamb, and talking faith, hope and courage instead of doubts. Jesus Himself brings believers through as more than conquerors when they take counsel of Him, take hold of almighty strength, stay the soul upon God, employ ability wisely, wait patiently, trust Him to work all out, humbly accept reproof with Amen, never murmur, and walk before Him in faith and hope and righteousness because the Lord lives and reigns. He looks with tenderest compassion, loves, wants them happy, knows every weakness, pities, wants to help, and recognizes them as co-laborers, giving rest, grace and salvation. Being more than conqueror means resisting Satan when he tempts and magnifies trials and brings distrust and fear of death, instead remaining cheerful, free, happy and trustful, bearing trials with patience as God's workmen preparing eternal recompense. In unavoidable perplexities this comes by keeping the mind stayed upon God to be armed against Satan, being solidly in truth with truth within, sharing truth's triumph, singing His glory and talking of His power, awake, praying and watching unto prayer with deep insight into Christ and the mystery of His love, living in the warm rays of the Sun of righteousness entirely dependent on His compassion, grace and almighty power, with the joy of the Lord as strength and melting love filling and softening the heart to receive His power.
Victory grows with uplifting fellowship, brotherly help, heart-searching, and choosing society that points to God rather than the frivolous. Divine power above human strength is gained in present life by enjoying Christ and fullness of salvation, having Christ formed within with His life and joy and peace, and by helping one another climb heavenward into the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness instead of pushing downhill, choosing uplifting Christians who point to heaven and refusing the frivolous and cheap, for if believers do not uplift associates those associates will drag them down. Heart-searching and prayer help advance step by step toward heaven and lead others along safe paths, and progress while weak and tempted is encouraged by brotherly help and by Christ who knows how to succor the tempted, enabling continuance on the upward course in faith, courage and hope. Devoted workers cooperating with divine intelligences to rescue souls, fulfilling duty to best ability while God gives increase, are made more than conquerors when the Holy Spirit gives glimpses of Jesus that brace for every conflict, elevate and strengthen. That conquering strength is received by faith as believers rest in Christ, who gives not only His Word but spirit and wisdom and revelation in knowledge of God, cause for gladness, enabling freely sharing light with those in darkness with wisdom of serpent and harmlessness of dove.
Victory belongs to those who repent, turn from sin, take hold of Christ's strength, find pardon after repeated failures, receive His robe of righteousness and sanctification of His Spirit, and stop looking on the dark side to look on the bright side trusting His power to save to the uttermost. Those who repent and turn may be forgiven even after repeated failures and will ultimately be more than conquerors through Christ who loves them and washes them in His blood, leading to the eternal reward where overcomers receive the crown and praise the Lamb. People who have sinned can turn to Jesus, take hold of His strength, and find peace, power and grace to overcome iniquity in His name, ceasing to continue in sin as those receiving Him as Saviour. All who humble hearts, repent and confess sins, and believe in Christ as Redeemer become more than conquerors, in contrast to those practicing fraud and selfishness, taking advantage for self-benefit with pretentious piety and impure heart who will be denied place in the future kingdom. This victory is possible because Christ redeemed human nature and gives power to all who receive Him to become sons and daughters of God, raising, ennobling and refining instead of leaving degraded, and taking His yoke and learning meekness and lowliness brings rest while sharing His conquering life, requiring daily trust and fighting the fight of faith against skepticism and unbelief to be conquerors not merely almost overcomers.
Final Triumph and Reward
Present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory to be revealed, and warfare ends in eternal reward where overcomers receive the crown of immortal glory, praise the Lamb, and stand without spot before the great white throne. Suffering for truth amid tribulation, distress, persecution, hunger, danger, or violence does not defeat those loved by Christ, for their victory rests on His love and no hardship or power can separate them from God's love in Christ Jesus. Believers overcome in every trial through Christ's love and help by looking to Jesus, grasping Him by living faith, keeping working in the spiritual battle, and relying on God's support. He has fought the battle for them, remains with them, knows their sorrows, assures help is coming, and gives the promise of immortal glory even amid conflict and the time of trouble. Those who repent and turn from sin may be forgiven even after repeated failures and washed in His blood, and will ultimately be more than conquerors through Christ unto the eternal reward of the kingdom.
Those counted by the world as weak, unworthy, defenseless and feeble for remaining loyal and true will be crowned conquerors and more than conquerors when righteousness receives the palm of victory. This promise looks to great future events that shake thrones of kings, close all earthly scenes, and usher in the reign of Him who is King of kings whose kingdom endures forever, while Christ receives the adoration of all hosts of heaven. Whatever tribulation comes, patient endurance through Him that loved them secures triumph, for Jesus so loved man that He gave His life to redeem him from Satan's power and exalt him to His throne. He who is above all powers with greatest influence in heaven and earth was meek and lowly, holy, harmless, undefiled, and obedient to all His Father's commandments. The loyal who will not worship the beast or his image nor accept and revere an idol sabbath, though in anguish and mocked, ridiculed, hated and despised, shall then stand before the throne enjoying eternal day, revealed with the martyrs close about the throne among ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands upon thousands. No longer a scattered feeble company suffering satanic passions of a rebellious world, they have nothing to fear from force or fraud, defended by One mightier than the strong man armed, and given all power and greatness and excellence of character for believing and firmly defending truth and the laws of God.
Those who walk with Jesus in humiliation, affliction, poverty, hunger, torture, hatred, derision and bitter disappointment are His loved jewels under especial care, hidden in the secret of His pavilion until the difference between him that serves God and him that serves Him not is plainly discerned. Then the righteous once counted weak and foolish and scattered will be seen connected with the family in heaven, gathered from isolated ones and larger numbers into one company no man can number, of all classes and nations and kindreds and people and tongues. They stand before the throne of God and the Lamb in spotless robes with beams of the Sun of righteousness reflected upon them, with heavenly white garments richer than kingly robes, jeweled crowns such as no earthly monarch wore, palm branches of victory, songs of victory, crowns and harps and loud hosannas. No longer poor or sorrowful or afflicted or hated for Christ's sake, they receive the crown of glory when Christ comes, while the wicked who despised them are ashamed and confounded and lose both worlds. Their suffering draws them closer to one another and to Christ, and their lives and deaths bear witness to truth, leading others to leave Satan's service and follow Christ.
Truth will yet triumph, and those who love it and walk in it will come off conquerors through Jesus Christ. In the final conflict between truth and error, when the law of God is trampled under foot and the blood of the covenant despised, believers must not remain idle but arouse, march under Christ and fight the good fight of faith, and through Him who loved them they will share in the triumph of truth with eternal honors and eternal life, using closing hours of probation to glorify God and save souls for whom Christ died. Complete victory through Christ belongs to those registered day by day as faithful and true stewards of entrusted talents, who have the fear of God before them whether with superiors, inferiors or equals, cherish truth as an abiding sanctifying principle, and receive the creating transforming power of the Holy Spirit that makes them co-partners with Jesus Christ yoked up with Him. God's servants who enjoy the overflowing fountain of life are made more than conquerors, which is victory over all opposition, for the Holy Spirit keeps everyone committed in faith and trust to His charge, so human power and human inventions which did not establish the church cannot destroy her. God's way is not to begin with pomp and boasting exalting human agents, which comes to nothing, but to make the day of small things the beginning of the glorious triumph of truth and righteousness.
God brings His own through trials as more than conquerors because of His love, and trusting Him and resting in Him bring peace and joy, for He is able to keep what is committed to His care. Those who rest in Jesus are safe in His love through life's trials; nothing can separate them from that love, and they may abide securely in it. Constant loyalty with nothing allowed between the soul and Jesus keeps the helpless soul cast upon Him so the enemy cannot separate it from the love of Christ. That keeping is revealed in daily life by honoring the Master in business, showing love, mercy, compassion and strict integrity in social relations, and letting light shine in good works that glorify the Father in heaven. Keeping the peace and grace of Jesus Christ carries believers through trial and difficulty without discord, distraction or division, for though circumstances cannot be controlled, hope of eternal life centered in Christ gives steadiness, failures must not lead to unbelief, God's love must never be forgotten, and victory by Christ's love is lived out in supreme devotion to God and love to one another that brings sunshine into the heart.
Victory is bound up with sharing Christ's life and working with Him to seek and save perishing souls, for those who accept Christ, believe in Him and are united with Him come off more than conquerors through His love, and when Christ appears they will appear with Him in glory. Devoted workers become more than conquerors when they cooperate with divine intelligences to rescue souls, fulfilling duty to the best of ability while God gives the increase, because the Holy Spirit gives them glimpses of Jesus that brace them for every conflict, elevate and strengthen them. The new man in Christ is born to conflict, toil, labor and the good fight of faith, with power always within reach through Christ to obtain victory at every onset and to be more than conqueror over every difficulty met. This warfare is hand-to-hand struggle requiring all energy and steadfast marching in duty with determination not to fail nor be discouraged, which is the character required of men selected for God's work who are faithful and true and proclaim without reserve His will. Through grace richly provided a believer can finish his course without running or laboring in vain, coming off victorious as more than conqueror through Christ who loved him.
Pressing the battle to the gate with lifelong persevering untiring effort in order to be inside the city of God, refusing to falter or give the enemy chance to triumph, secures victory through Jesus who loved and gave His own life, who lives to make intercession, and who stays with those who stay with Him. The Lord makes those who move steadily forward more than conquerors, which means gaining victory over self, temper and inclinations, bringing the will into conformity to the will of God, and working out the righteousness of Christ on earth to be fitted for the glory of heaven. It requires understanding individual responsibility, keeping under God's discipline, and pressing on from victory to victory in united labor. Human effort alone cannot successfully withstand Satan's power and subtlety, but divine power united with human effort overcomes.
Amid tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, sword and being killed all the day long, believers have full, entire and glorious victory through Jesus Christ, who loved sinners, gave Himself, shed His blood, died, rose again and lives to intercede at the right hand of God. God is for His people, for He did not spare His own Son but delivered Him up, with Him freely gives all things, justifies His elect so no charge stands, and by Christ's death, resurrection and intercession none can condemn them. Christ fought the battle for them and opened the way as humanity's champion, defeating the powers of darkness where Adam fell, delivering captives and overcoming the world and the three leading temptations by the divine nature combined with the human and by the word of God. Through Him they overcome Satan, temptation, sinful habits, unconsecrated self and discouragement, by as close union with Him as branch with vine, by looking to Him in living faith, by earnest prayer and the shield of faith, and by cooperation with God in obedience to all His requirements. Their present sufferings are not worth comparing with the coming glory, when warfare ends and those counted weak and defenseless for remaining loyal and true are crowned conquerors and more than conquerors, standing without spot before the great white throne.
Words and Setting
In all these things means amid tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, hunger, nakedness, exposure, peril, danger, sword, violence and being killed all the day long as sheep for the slaughter, and in that very condition believers are more than conquerors through Christ's love, so that suffering and even martyrdom do not defeat them or separate them from God's love in Christ. Hardship does not defeat those upheld by Christ, for His sustaining presence strengthens His servants in their labors and keeps them secure in God's love, and they can stand firm despite discouraging surroundings because hardship cannot defeat the victory Christ gives. The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory to be revealed, and no hardship or power can separate them from God's love in Christ Jesus.
More than conquerors means full, entire and glorious victory that goes beyond merely overcoming, so that nothing done against believers defeats them and opposition only confirms them. Those who do God's words and hold fast to Jesus have more than victory through Christ who loved them, for all that is said and done against them only confirms and strengthens them in the faith, and no evil work lasts long but comes to nothing, for nothing can be done against the truth. If evil is allowed to triumph for a while, it is only so that the final victory may be more certain, and through grace richly provided a believer can finish his course without having run in vain and labored in vain, coming off victorious as more than a conqueror through Christ who loved him. This triumphing fully over Satan, discouragement, and feelings of being bruised, hurt, weak, helpless, and bound is claimed by putting the will every moment on the side of God's will, thinking hopefully and courageously, shouting victory, refusing to dishonor God with expressions of inefficiency and inability, crying to Jesus for help in weakness, dwelling in His presence, and refusing to be conquered once, because He has conquered Satan in behalf of His own. When in trial and difficulty the believer flees to his refuge, sensing oneness with God and with Jesus Christ whom He sent, he allies himself with God against Satan and all his synagogue and cannot be overthrown, and conquering self in this victory is also conquering the world.
Him that loved us is Jesus Christ, who loved sinners, gave Himself, shed His blood, died, rose again, lives to intercede at the right hand of God, and supplies grace and strength. He became the Sin-bearer, lived a life of perfect obedience in behalf of sinners, shed His precious blood on the cross, clothes repentant sinners with His robe of righteousness, takes them under His watchcare, accepts them and sets them apart to His service, and does not cast them off when they make mistakes. He freely laid down His life and took it again, won the battle against the prince of darkness on their behalf, endured fierce temptations in human nature, made atonement for them, and now intercedes for them in heaven, so that everyone can receive the help He received and need not be overcome. Through faith in Him who loved us and gave Himself for us, shown individually at Calvary, believers overcome the enemy's temptations by firmly choosing God's will, looking to the Saviour for help, committing themselves to His service, and resisting doubt with God's promises, and accepting that great sacrifice brings victory.
Nothing can separate believers from the love of God in Christ Jesus, not death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature nor loss of position nor reproach. God is for them, having not spared His own Son but delivered Him up and with Him freely giving all things, justifying His elect so none can lay charge against them and none can condemn them while Christ who died and rose again is at the right hand of God interceding for them. The verse means personal belonging to Christ who purchased believers with the blood of the only begotten Son of God and graven them upon the palms of His hands, so they are not their own and can commit the keeping of their souls to Him as a faithful Creator who will keep what is committed to Him against that day.
Paul declared this triumph from his own trying experience preaching Christ and Him crucified under difficulties, hunted from place to place by bigoted Jews who stirred up Jews and Gentiles to oppose, persecute, and attempt to assassinate him, yet looking back over that experience and facing future trials and threatenings of suffering like a bold soldier of the cross he declared this triumph. His own hardships and confidence in the coming glory illustrate this victory, in which suffering does not separate believers from Christ's love and through Him they overcome tribulation, persecution, danger, and even death. Those who suffer and die for their faith are conquerors through Christ who loves them, for the sufferings inflicted by Satan only drive them closer to the Lord, lead them to love one another, cause them to fear offending God, keep their strength, fortitude, and firmness because Satan gains power over the body but not control of the mind, secure them to Christ's kingdom so Satan loses his subjects while others spring up to take their places, and make their lives and deaths a witness that wins others from Satan's service to follow Christ unto the crown of glory when He comes. Those who labor in reform amid conflicts and trials, with their path hedged in by difficulties and obstructed by error, travel the same road prophets, apostles, reformers of every age, and Christ Himself have traveled, Christ having trod a still more thorny path, and with one mightier than Satan as leader they are in good company, receive strength to stand steadfast in the faith, and are brought off victorious.
Those who keep the Sabbath of the fourth commandment and hold advanced Bible truth may expect malice and unreasonable persecution, such as opposition from First-Day Adventists, from Satan, evil angels, worldly acquaintances and church members, because truth is aggressive and by precept and example weakens Satan's hold on others. Such a soul who breaks from Satan and accepts advanced Bible truth, repents, and believes and obeys all of God's requirements including the Sabbath will draw determined opposition, deception, oppression and persecution, and obedience rebukes the evil works of the children of men and shows Satan his prey is escaping from his grasp, which alarms him and stirs up his worst opposition, because he hated the law of God, transgressed it, and for this lost heaven. None need be alarmed, for if true to principle that soul becomes a member of the royal family, a child of the heavenly King, with the agencies of heaven enlisted on his behalf, and comes off victorious through the merits of Christ through Him who loved him, by faith and willing obedience combining a strength more mighty than his own with human effort to resist the enemy while feeling weakness, depending on Jesus for strength every hour, and watching and praying earnestly. The whole battle before them hinges upon the observance of the true Sabbath of Jehovah, the original Sabbath, against giving it up for the first day of the week and against worship of the beast and his image and an idol sabbath, and the victory comes by the power of Bible truth and love exemplified in the cross, set home by the Holy Spirit, teaching them to cling more firmly to the truth in the face of Satan, a powerful, malignant, artful spirit who has for ages deceived both church and state. Those accounted by the world as weak and unworthy, defenseless against the cruelty of men, who remain loyal and true and will not worship the beast or his image, though in anguish and mocked, ridiculed, hated and despised, shall be crowned conquerors and more than conquerors through Jesus who so loved man that He gave His life to redeem him from the power of Satan and exalt him to His throne.
The promise was given to John with a view to the great events of the future that will shake thrones of kings, the close of all earthly scenes, and the ushering in of the reign of Him who is King of kings whose kingdom shall endure forever, while Christ receives the adoration of all the hosts of heaven, meaning that whatever tribulation might come upon God's people, if they would but patiently endure, they shall be more than conquerors through Him that loved them. It reveals that the salvation of human beings is a vast enterprise that calls into action every attribute of the divine nature, in which the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit have pledged themselves to make God's children more than conquerors through Him that has loved them. The Lord is gracious and long-suffering, not willing that any should perish, and He has provided power and freely provides grace through Christ Jesus so that believers may be more than conquerors in the conflict between the powers of light and darkness. It reveals the depths of the Saviour's matchless love in saving even one soul, and everyone who accepts salvation can testify to complete victory through Christ who loved them and gave Himself for them, standing together with redemption through His blood, freedom from the law of sin and death by the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, and rejoicing with joy unspeakable and full of glory in believing.
Ground of Certain Victory
God is for His people, having not spared His own Son but delivered Him up, and with Him freely giving all things, even all heaven in that one gift. He justifies His elect so that no charge laid against them stands, and none can condemn them while Christ who died and rose again is at the right hand of God interceding for them. Because He gave His only begotten Son, every person can reach a high standard and have a deep, rich, abundant experience instead of a poor, weak, starved experience, do a great work for the Master, and be a living channel of light filled with all the fulness of God, walking in humility and drawing with Christ in the salvation of souls through persevering effort in cooperating with the divine. By sending His only beloved Son He joins divine moral power to human effort so a person can make a success of life, rising from skepticism to faith and confidence, coming boldly to the throne of grace presenting the righteousness of his substitute and surety and receiving according to need, with God as his strength so that through the grace of Christ he can do all things, resist temptations, love God perfectly because God is lovely and have no love for sin, have moral taste changed, rise above natural weakness by living faith taking hold of Omnipotence with infinite wisdom brought into his counsels, and ally with Christ in recognition of the atonement so prayers become powerful and acceptable and he earnestly strives to do God's will and be rich in good works.
Believers belong to Christ as His purchased possession by the blood of the only begotten Son of God, graven upon the palms of His hands, so they are not their own. They can commit the keeping of soul, body and spirit to Him as unto a faithful Creator who will keep what is committed to Him against that day and bring them through trials as more than conquerors because of His love. Trusting God and resting in Him bring peace and joy, and those who rest in Jesus are safe in His love through life's trials and may abide securely in it.
Christ fought the battle for His people and remains with them, giving help and the promise of immortal glory, having won victory after victory as humanity's champion. He defeated the powers of darkness where Adam fell, overcame Satan and delivered those held captive by sin, demonstrating that obedience to God's law is possible through Him and making a way for sinful people to receive pardon and peace, be changed and purified in character, and be saved from their fallen condition. This victory includes freedom from self-indulgence and a life of faithful service, and Christ gives the saved a place upon His throne. As second Adam He passed over the three leading temptations by the divine nature combined with the human and by the word of God, endured testing and temptation and suffered beyond what His people are called to suffer, bearing their infirmities and sins not for His own sake but for theirs, so testing trials that expose human weakness teach dependence on God and believers can be victors through Christ the Overcomer by relying on His merits and acting in His name.
His overcoming makes overcoming possible for every believing child, for He took human nature to reach humanity while holding divine power, was tempted in all points as humans are, suffered being tempted, endured all suffering and temptation believers will be called to endure, overcame the world, and conquered Satan on behalf of fallen humanity in His human nature, placing the human race on vantage ground with God. That signal victory rejoiced all heaven and placed humanity, the workmanship of God, on an elevated scale with God, leaving the way open for man to be more than conqueror through Christ's merits because Christ loved him. Through faith believers lay hold of divine power from His tender, sympathetic heart and receive grace to meet every trying situation, resist and defeat the tempter with the help He received in fierce temptations in human nature, overcome the corruption in the world through lust by partaking of the divine nature, keep God's law, and make use of the advantages Christ made available, with the church standing through Him who took the penalty of sin upon Himself. Christ the Prince of life defends His followers against Satan's power and subdues their enemies, so through Him they overcome every enemy and are victorious.
The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit have pledged themselves to make God's children more than conquerors in the vast enterprise of salvation that calls into action every attribute of the divine nature, for the Lord is gracious and long-suffering, not willing that any should perish, and has provided power to enable believers to be overcomers. When the Christian takes the baptismal vow divine help is pledged to him, with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit standing ready to work in his behalf and the resources of heaven placed at his command that he may be an overcomer, and by daily making wants known at the throne of grace and by faith and trust availing himself of the resources provided he gains full victory. His own power is small but God is omnipotent and is his helper, and by daily seeking God's help and trusting and using what He provides, coming to God in faith to be received and given strength to grow toward perfection in Christ, those fighting against the powers of darkness should move forward with faith and courage because God and Christ and the Holy Spirit are on their side, freely providing grace through Christ Jesus with the Holy Spirit as abiding Comforter and full provision of strength, light and joy.
Heavenly agencies fight for believers, for angels that excel in strength are sent to help those who have the fear of God before them, with help laid upon One that is mighty because Jesus died to make a way of escape and lives now to make intercession that believers may be exalted to His own right hand. Heavenly angels fight in their ranks with the mighty General of heaven leading the way, surrounding those who trust in the Lord with a wall of light and holiness, and by cooperating with them believers gain the victory through Him who loved them, since God loved sinners first and though disobedience merited displeasure and condemnation He has not forsaken them but made full and abundant provision for redemption through Christ's death for them while they were yet sinners. All heaven is constantly employed in this work of redemption, with angels actively engaged in executing God's plans and with intense earnestness cooperating with God to bring moral power and efficiency to men to bring them back from rebellion to reconciliation, while invisible armies of light and power, cherubim and seraphim and angels that excel in strength, attend the meek and lowly ones who believe and claim the promises, and angels work to let light shine upon souls so that through grace by the ministry of the Holy Spirit they conquer though tried and tempted and buffeted by Satan and by human agents through misrepresentation or open falsehood. Omnipotence makes them conquerors when they go forward in faith refusing to fail or be discouraged, the Holy Spirit supplies grace to those who feel inefficient and powerless in sinfulness, and the human part is not to become discouraged in self-denial and self-sacrifice but to be sober and watch unto prayer and take hold of Christ's strength and make peace with Him, so human power that did not establish the church cannot destroy her.
Christ loves His people as a shepherd loves His sheep, highly valuing every sheep and lamb, calling each one by name, holding them under tender watchcare, and caring for them with uttermost kindness. He loves them still more as sons and daughters, as the gift of His Father and the reward of His work, loving them both for His Father's sake and for their own sake as His children, so they can trust Him and no amount of tribulation can separate them from Him. Their suffering touches Him, whose love for them is closer and more complete than human love, who knows all about their trials and has proved Himself their ever-present Saviour as willing to help now as on former occasions. Taking sorrows and difficulties to Jesus lifts the poor, fainting soul from betrayal, failure and the snare of the enemy to regain self-respect and stand not as a failure but as a conqueror in and through the uplifting influence of the Spirit, receiving, strengthening, comfort and healing with infinite love, looking away from wretchedness to Jesus the Helper, the Lamb of God lifted on the cross, contemplating the inexpressible, full and ample love and atonement of God, and taking every temptation, trouble and grief to Him as present help and refuge who knows human anguish, carries burdens, and is all-sufficient.
Unseparated by Suffering and Trial
Sorrow, sacrifice, tribulation and even martyrdom cannot defeat faith or separate believers from God's love, for amid tribulation, distress, persecution, hunger, exposure, danger, violence and death they are more than conquerors through Christ's love. The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to be revealed, and no hardship or power can separate them from God's love in Christ Jesus. The disciples' assurance grew from seeing God's word fulfilled when the resurrection turned apparent defeat into triumph, and their joy and confidence endured as they carried the gospel through hardship.
Those imprisoned and made to suffer for truth's sake are more than conquerors not by force but by bearing with meekness whatever is done to them, trusting every moment in Jesus as a shepherd full of kindness, care, mercy and tenderness, and clinging with unwavering faith to the promise. What is done to make them suffer is done to Christ in the person of His saints, for Jesus identifies His interest with suffering humanity, and God works in their behalf for their deliverance through Him who gave His precious blood for them. Love for Christ cannot be hidden but exerts wondrous power that makes the timid bold to declare openly for Christ and His truth, the slothful diligent, the ignorant wise, the stammering tongue eloquent, rousing dormant intellect to new life and making the desponding hopeful and the gloomy joyous. That love leads its possessor to accept responsibilities for Christ's sake and bear them in His strength, not dismayed by tribulation nor turned aside from duty by reproaches, and though the world counts the loyal weak, unworthy and defenseless they triumph when righteousness wins the victory.
In acute pain, helplessness, sleepless nights, gathering darkness and severe physical suffering with inactivity, anxiety and temptation, the believer stayed upon God and drawn nigh to Him comes off more than conqueror and holds the vantage ground. Jesus comes sacredly near, His grace is all-sufficient for the affliction, the soul finds sweet comfort in His promises, and comfort and blessing received in answer to prayer help bear great suffering even when healing is not given, producing grateful praise to Him who loved and gave Himself and contented trust that God knows what is best. Affliction is part of God's plan and gives precious experience more valuable than gold, and the conqueror commits soul, body and spirit to God as faithful Creator even without reading His purpose. Trials and tribulation cannot separate God's children from Christ, and through His love and power they overcome discouragement rather than give way to unbelief, refusing to cover the Lord's altar with mourning and sighing and tears but meditating on Christ's loving words, courtesy, sympathy and compassion.
When Christ leads into hard places like Rephidim it is because He sees it is for good and for His name's glory. Looking to Him in trusting faith brings help in His own time, turning the bitterness of Marah into sweetness and opening the flinty rock to cause cooling streams to flow. Remembrance of His past presence, mercies and manifestations of power should strengthen and uphold instead of giving way to short-sighted faith, murmuring and complaining, calling for praise and thanksgiving and for going forward with full assurance that He is an ever-present help in trouble with His people always even unto the end of the world. God watches over His people as their faith is purified, removing what is worthless while preserving them through His love so they endure severe trials without being abandoned or destroyed.
In conflict and the time of trouble God's wrestling, praying people are more than conquerors in Christ's name because Christ the almighty Victor has fought the battle in their behalf against enemies He Himself has already met and tried. He knows their sorrows, has borne their griefs, is with them and will help them, bidding them stand fast to their allegiance and not be afraid, assuring them help is coming as they await their coming King with the opening of endless day to the righteous at hand. Their victory ends in a crown of immortal glory held out to His weary soldiers. Those sent to face delivery to councils, scourging, and trial before governors and kings overcome not by warfare in their own strength but by Omnipotence making them so when they go forward in faith refusing to fail or be discouraged, with heavenly angels fighting in their ranks, the mighty General of heaven leading, the Holy Spirit supplying grace to those who feel their inefficiency, and a wall of light and holiness surrounding those who trust in the Lord. One stronger than Satan draws near to the believing trusting soul to contend with the prince of darkness when godly lives provoke persecution from hypocrites rebuked by their example and Satan strives to sweep away those who uphold purity and piety.
Sufferings inflicted by Satan only drive Christians closer to the Lord and to one another, lead them to love one another and fear offending God, so they keep strength, fortitude and firmness because Satan gains power over the body but not control of the mind. Even when thousands are slain they remain secured to Jesus Christ as subjects of His kingdom, so Satan loses his subjects and others spring up to take their places, and their lives and deaths bear witness to the truth leading others to leave Satan's service and follow Christ unto the crown of glory at His coming. They come off conquerors through Jesus the great Deliverer even when Satan presses them sore and they face affliction, remaining secure through every trial by humble faith and prayer rather than self-confidence when Satan seeks to sift them.
Difficulty, disappointment, discouragement, sickness, hindrances and trial test love and fidelity, but faith overcomes them through Christ's love and help, not by human strength. Those who refuse to give up, trust God's promise of deliverance, pray, hope, believe and hold fast to His power can be more than conquerors, meeting discouragement with faith, courage, patience, hope and righteousness and waiting with undaunted faith even under reproof or difficult circumstances. Even a mistake or defeat can become victory when God's lessons are learned, bringing help in due time, and victory confirms connection with Him while God's angels stand beside the overcomers. Christ is the strength of those firmly grounded in Him, so neither joy nor sorrow turns them from what is right, and students are urged to look to Jesus, grasp Him by living faith and keep working in the spiritual battle unto the crown of immortal glory.
Though human beings are weak and face spiritual conflict against evil powers, Christ gives strength and divine assistance with heaven's forces marshaled under His command, so even the weakest who love God can become more than conquerors when aided by grace. When the enemy strives to spoil the record and compass ruin, one seeking earnestly to walk and work in the Lord's way can be more than conqueror in Christ's strength, for Christ is the only hope, gave His life to secure redemption, and as Captain of the Lord's host overcomes the enemy's strong effort for those who look to Him for salvation and care. Ceasing to look to humanity for solace and taking sorrows and difficulties to Jesus lifts the poor fainting soul from betrayal, failure and the enemy's snare to regain self-respect and stand not as failure but as conqueror in and through the uplifting influence of the Spirit, who receives, strengthens, comforts and heals with infinite love and does exceeding abundantly. Even the weakest may gain complete victory through Christ who loved them and gave His precious life, by learning faith and trust, committing the soul's spiritual needs to Him, denying self daily, lifting the cross and taking His yoke of meekness and lowliness, for Christ Himself gives the noble resolve and will to suffer and fight the Lord's battles with persevering energy.
Victory Over Sin and Satan
Through Him who loves His people and has strength to fight for them, it is possible to gain complete victory over Satan, the powers of darkness arrayed against them, and every temptation in the conflict with evil. Human strength alone is weakness and no one can free himself from Satan's power, but God has provided a way of escape and wants His people to make Him their friend, fight bravely against suggestions to leave self-denial, and keep character from becoming warped so as to exert an influence for truth, as Daniel did in coming off triumphant. Safety is in trusting Jesus, holding fast to Him, and receiving through His power and instruction the help He had so as to live the life He lived, so that nothing separates from the mighty Helper. Those who remain faithful in the struggle against sin are more than conquerors through His love, and the victory that comes after the warfare leads to the eternal reward of glory, even for those who are new in Christ.
Through Christ who conquered appetite on their behalf, Christians may themselves be more than conquerors in their own struggle against Satan, and this victory is open to all who will engage in the warfare. Without God's help striving against appetite, passion and temptation will fail, but Christ can be strength, and workers who rely on Him who conquered the enemy for them can overcome temptation while working with discretion and preserving health and strength for special demands. The victory is conditional on temperance in all things, keeping the body in subjection, bringing all appetites and passions under enlightened conscience, refusing the world as the standard, and obeying the laws of health and life as duty owed to God and neighbors. Those who do this do not fight aimlessly but gain physical vigor and mental vigor and moral power for the conflict, to engage Satan and win on their own account in Christ's name.
Through Christ's love believers can conquer unconsecrated self and every selfish desire in the conflict of faith, and with His help overcome their wrongs to become more than conquerors. Being more than conquerors through Him who loved and gave Himself means victory over selfishness and evil-surmising, gained by striving earnestly for unity, praying for it and working for it, dying to self and being born again so that Christ lives within as a living active principle and power that keeps holy, crucifying self and esteeming others better than self. This oneness brings spiritual health, elevation of thought, nobility of character and heavenly-mindedness, brings into oneness with Christ, bears unmistakable evidence before the heavenly universe and before church and world that they are God's sons and daughters, and glorifies God by example. Living the Saviour's life in this way carries out duties to God and others and prepares for standing before the great white throne without spot or wrinkle with character made clean by the Lamb's blood, for conquering self is also conquering the world.
Every soul struggling under sinful practices, evil habits, unholy thoughts, defects of character, and inherited or cultivated evil tendencies can be made free and a complete conqueror now, today, not little by little. Jesus died on Calvary to bring saving grace within reach of every sinner, and through the merits of His blood every facility has been provided for a perfect character as God's possession purchased at infinite cost growing into a holy temple, complete in Him. This comes by beholding Christ by faith as atoning sacrifice and only hope, individually applying His shed blood and the truth to experience, refusing to excuse defects as natural way or unchangeable habit, letting truth sanctify the character to refine and elevate the life and fit for the mansions prepared. Prayer, watchfulness, obedience to revealed will, placing under right influences, faith in Jesus as personal Saviour, and the aid of the Holy Spirit enable standing against Satan, with divine power combining with human effort and the Word devoting every physical, mental and moral power to God who owns by creation and redemption, gaining victory after victory over human nature in the keeping power of the Redeemer.
Triumph through Jesus Christ who loved and died to redeem and make free is full, entire and glorious over Satan, discouragement, bruised and hurt feelings, weakness, helplessness, bondage, strong feelings, distrust and fear of death. It belongs to the Lord's purchased possession by His blood, whose body, brain power and will belong to Jesus to be cherished and preserved as sanctified vessels and instruments unto righteousness, and is claimed by putting the will every moment on God's side, thinking hopefully and courageously, shouting victory, crying to Jesus for help in weakness, dwelling in His presence, and refusing to dishonor God with expressions of inefficiency and inability or to be conquered once because He has conquered Satan in behalf of His own. Jesus Himself brings through as more than conquerors those who take counsel of Him, take hold of almighty strength, stay the soul upon God, employ ability wisely, look up and not at self, and talk faith, hope and courage instead of doubt, for He looks with tenderest compassion, loves, wants them happy, knows every weakness, pities, wants to help, and recognizes them as co-laborers. To stand as more than conqueror is to stand fast in faith with eyes off self and off waves and disparaging words, refuse discouragement and lamentation over little things, make private confession to God alone, learn from mistakes to turn defeat into victory, prevail over forces of death and hell by earnest prayer without ceasing from unfeigned lips, trust the great High Priest and Advocate who knows where Satan overcomes and saves to the uttermost, and remain cheerful, free, happy, trustful and patient as God's workmen preparing a recompense of reward.
Fallen people of great capacity for evil who desire to do God's will and forsake sin can overcome through Christ's grace and the help God sends, and be brought from rebellion to reconciliation with moral power and efficiency so that in and through Christ they are more than conquerors and victors sharing His everlasting kingdom. No one is holy by birth or by nature, no human method can make loyal and true, human goodness and righteousness alone are worthless, and nothing can be done apart from Christ, but with God all things are possible for the weak and erring adopted into God's family and transformed by His Spirit from self-indulgence and supreme love for self to self-denial and supreme love for God. Whoever believes in Jesus becomes a partaker of the divine nature through the exceeding great and precious promises, receiving all things pertaining to life and godliness and escaping the corruption in the world through lust, when divinity and humanity cooperate. Christ clothed divinity with humanity, laid hold on the throne of God with His divine nature while taking human nature, overcame every temptation of Satan, and by example of perfect obedience teaches that man may be obedient, while all heaven with angels actively engaged with intense earnestness cooperates to bring this moral power to men.
Those who follow Christ instead of pride, worldly ambition and selfish plans that promise enjoyment but end in pain, sorrow and poisoned happiness are safe, for He does not allow darkness to harm them and guards what is entrusted to Him, giving complete victory through His love. Through the grace of Christ a person may come off more than conqueror over pride wrestling for pre-eminence by refusing the snare of praise of men and tempting inducements of the world, fixing eyes upon heavenly attractions and the mansions prepared, walking in humility and abiding in Christ in probation. Standing firm in the faith makes more than conquerors through Christ who loved and gave His life, requiring loyalty and faithfulness because bought with a price, working as in presence of heavenly intelligences, copying His pattern, revealing faith and hope and love, letting light shine in good works, and doing nothing that cannot be done to God's glory and under His blessing, having no need for billiard table, theater, dancing hall or other worldly diversions. Aged laborers in the last days of labors come off more than conquerors by diligently guarding hearts and minds to speak no word casting reflection on brethren and sisters, because indulging criticism hurts their own souls.
Through the living Saviour a person can come off more than conqueror and remain faithful by clinging to Christ, praying to be sustained in His work, and dying to self rather than yielding to other influences. With Christ nothing is impossible, for God works both to will and to do of His good pleasure, yet the person must cooperate, work out salvation, become a worker together with God in saving the soul, draw nigh to God, have more of Jesus and less of self, build thorough character, and guard against sharp practice, selfishness and tarnished soul in dealing with brethren and unbelievers. All who humble hearts before God, repent and confess sins, and believe in Christ as Redeemer become more than conquerors through Him that loved them, while those practicing fraud and selfishness, taking advantage for self-benefit, and showing pretentious piety with impure heart will be denied place in the future kingdom.
Believers overcome through Christ's love and strength with divine power joined to human effort enabling resistance to Satan, and all who enter heaven will have won victories, overcoming themselves by bringing temper, inclinations and spirit under God's will with His righteousness and strength available to all who claim His merits. Through His love and power they can be more than conquerors in warfare against sin, for He provides grace and strength for sanctification, and His sinless life makes it possible to live sinless lives showing the world that grace can sanctify the heart. Being more than conqueror through Him that loved and gave Himself is the result of His grace working in and with every child pressing from light to greater light and strength to greater strength in this educating school where eternal destiny is decided and little things discipline and train the soul to develop character fit for courts above and mansions prepared, meaning complete in Him not with own righteousness but with righteousness by faith. Christ's giving up His life on the cross restores to original perfection and transforms character to make more than conqueror, so that those who in His strength overcome the great enemy of God and man will occupy a position above angels who never fell, with the cross as center of attraction challenging and finally vanquishing every earthly and hellish power, and those who receive Him as Saviour, repent, cease continuing in sin, do God's will and do Christ's work honor God, come off more than conquerors, and receive large blessings as free gift not for merit of no value, with His righteousness before them and the glory of the Lord as rereward and life and salvation in Jesus.
Receiving Victory by Faith
Victory comes not from anything in man, for man has nothing wherein to glory, but in and through Christ who loved us. All that man has — reason, affection, speech, spiritual discernment — comes through the mercy of the Son of the Infinite God and must be surrendered back to God. Self dies hard, struggling for existence, yet prayer and faith place even the weakest sinner on vantage ground where the hand of faith can grasp the Saviour's hand firmly, and in that union complete victory is gained over every trial, difficulty, disappointment, the relentless foe and the opposition of the own heart. Human strength alone is weakness and cannot produce this victory, but through the Redeemer's strength, compassion, grace, almighty power and the Spirit of God weak and erring people overcome the evil that besets them.
Believers are brought into as close and vital connection with Christ as branch with vine, growing from it, part of it, sustained and nourished by it, even as Christ is one with the Father, and because of that union they are more than conquerors in affliction, storm, tempest, persecution, life and death with nothing able to separate them. Those who accept Christ, believe in Him and are united with Him share His life and work with Him to seek and save perishing souls, and when He appears they will appear with Him in glory. Strength to be more than conquerors comes through Christ who loved and gave Himself, received by enthroning Him in the heart as honored Guest, living with conscious awareness of the divine presence, making Jesus the center of contemplation, and living the Word, eating it, digesting it, making it part of being until His character becomes the individual character. The creating, transforming power of the Holy Spirit makes those yoked with Christ co-partners with Him, cherishing truth as an abiding principle that sanctifies the soul, pouring the love of Christ into the heart to be revealed in daily life, helping overcome sin and remain faithful through hardship.
Victory is gained by looking to Jesus, grasping Him by living faith, entrusting temptation and self to Him, clinging more strongly as temptation grows fiercer, keeping the mind stayed on God, and advancing daily beyond yesterday in trust. As the believer looks to the Saviour and commits to His service, Christ helps and strengthens day by day, giving rest and grace and salvation to the one who seeks the Lord with the whole heart from the abundant supply of grace. Rather than dwelling anxiously on faults or fears about salvation, confidence rests in Christ as source of strength and life, holding fast to God through Jesus, enduring by faith in the unseen God and relying on power beyond human strength to resist appetite and sin and help others escape. This rests on His love, for His great heart is open to every grief and sorrow and knows every weakness, so His praise is ever on the lips because His love is in the heart, bringing growing light, understanding of sacred things and close personal knowledge of God. The shield of living faith, joined with obedience to God's commands, enables standing firm in the evil day, steadfast to the end.
Victory requires earnest prayer, watching unto prayer, and the shield of faith, for there is omnipotence in prayer to give victory. Prevailing over the forces of death and hell comes by learning to pray earnestly to God for the help He alone can give, praying without ceasing with the soul breathing prayers at all times and in all places from unfeigned lips, and by living faith leaning in confidence upon Christ who loved us and gave His life. Christ sought strength from His Father through earnest prayer and submission and came through temptation victorious, setting the example, for human strength alone is weakness while the strength God gives is mighty to face temptation, contend with the powers of darkness and perform the work given. Those who go into the battlefield with the Lord's army put on the whole armor of God with the shield of faith as defense, for without living faith exercised in the power of God even an angel host could not help, not strength of resolutions, nor intellectual might with science, nor vast armies avail. Faith alone makes invincible, steadfast and immovable, holding the beginning of confidence firm unto the end, not by might nor by power but by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts, not faith in faith but power imparted to exercise faith in God, with entire surrender of the will and obedience to the whole will placing under Jehovah's protection. Entering each battle with full faith that through Christ victory is certain means watching and praying and trusting the living Word, with faithful watchfulness, keen perception of opening events, holy boldness instead of depression over prevailing sin, standing firm for the right against new superstitions and light-clothed false theories, looking steadfastly to Jesus the Author and Finisher of faith, increasing in faith, rejoicing in His love, talking of God's greatness not Satan's power, and taking the divine likeness with all sufficiency liberally supplied to every cooperator.
Victory calls for cooperation with God and obedience to all His requirements, for nothing can be done without Christ yet God works in the person who must work together with Him in saving the soul. Because God gave His only begotten Son He gave all heaven in that one gift and will freely give all things, so every person can reach a high standard, have a deep rich abundant experience instead of poor weak starved experience, do a great work for the Master, and be a living channel of light filled with all fullness, walking in humility and drawing with Christ by persevering effort. Complete victory comes by fighting manfully the battles of the Lord for God and truth, throwing all into active service, girding on the armor, refusing to be deceived or entrapped by Satan's devices, as the ancient saints stood closely by God, bound honor to His throne and treated attack on truth as attack on themselves, a stand urgently needed as shaking comes when those hanging back fall as prey. Being more than conqueror through grace is possible and required, meaning bravery in God, putting on the whole armor to stand loyal and true to all the commandments as a Seventh-day Adventist even before an unbelieving father, proving obedience does not spoil life, being a decided witness, using influence wholly for Christ, making most of probationary time and using God-given talents to gain for the Master and bless others. All have special battles, but full trust in the Redeemer who bought them with His blood makes them more than conquerors with Him as right arm of strength and exceeding great reward, standing firm in faith as bought with a price and working as in presence of heavenly intelligences.
Victory is the daily conquest of self by clinging to the Mighty One in prayer and work and belief, yielding human will and way to God's will and way so ways and words become Christ's, mastering and subduing self with precious glorious victories, for this victory is faith by which character is perfected and sure work made for eternity. It is steadily building good character not by merely wishing or avoiding evil but by earnest honest effort and patiently doing good, with daily progress, growing in grace and knowledge of truth, becoming strong in battling for the right, climbing ever higher to perfection and becoming a blessing to others. The new man in Christ is born to conflict, toil, labor and the good fight of faith, with power always within reach to obtain victory at every onset over every difficulty, in hand-to-hand struggle requiring all energy and steadfast marching in duty with determination not to fail nor be discouraged, the character required of faithful true workers proclaiming God's will without reserve. This comes by trusting the Lord rather than looking to human beings for wisdom, looking constantly to Jesus, drawing nigh to God, walking in light under His supervision, praying for the Lord to reveal Himself, maintaining a life of working for Him, often dying to self to yield to no influence but Christ's, shown in consistent character, wise walk, gracious Christlike words and actions, and the peace of Christ ruling the heart, with no wrong upon the soul standing on eternal rectitude. God imparts special favors to those surrendered as His purchased possession, making complete in Christ, therefore life is not for self-enjoyment but denying self, bearing the cross, remaining loyal rather than yielding to pressures to deny Christ, dishonor God or disobey law.
Victory is kept by looking up and not at self, looking away from wretchedness to the Lamb, and talking faith, hope and courage instead of doubts. Jesus Himself brings believers through as more than conquerors when they take counsel of Him, take hold of almighty strength, stay the soul upon God, employ ability wisely, wait patiently, trust Him to work all out, humbly accept reproof with Amen, never murmur, and walk before Him in faith and hope and righteousness because the Lord lives and reigns. He looks with tenderest compassion, loves, wants them happy, knows every weakness, pities, wants to help, and recognizes them as co-laborers, giving rest, grace and salvation. Being more than conqueror means resisting Satan when he tempts and magnifies trials and brings distrust and fear of death, instead remaining cheerful, free, happy and trustful, bearing trials with patience as God's workmen preparing eternal recompense. In unavoidable perplexities this comes by keeping the mind stayed upon God to be armed against Satan, being solidly in truth with truth within, sharing truth's triumph, singing His glory and talking of His power, awake, praying and watching unto prayer with deep insight into Christ and the mystery of His love, living in the warm rays of the Sun of righteousness entirely dependent on His compassion, grace and almighty power, with the joy of the Lord as strength and melting love filling and softening the heart to receive His power.
Victory grows with uplifting fellowship, brotherly help, heart-searching, and choosing society that points to God rather than the frivolous. Divine power above human strength is gained in present life by enjoying Christ and fullness of salvation, having Christ formed within with His life and joy and peace, and by helping one another climb heavenward into the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness instead of pushing downhill, choosing uplifting Christians who point to heaven and refusing the frivolous and cheap, for if believers do not uplift associates those associates will drag them down. Heart-searching and prayer help advance step by step toward heaven and lead others along safe paths, and progress while weak and tempted is encouraged by brotherly help and by Christ who knows how to succor the tempted, enabling continuance on the upward course in faith, courage and hope. Devoted workers cooperating with divine intelligences to rescue souls, fulfilling duty to best ability while God gives increase, are made more than conquerors when the Holy Spirit gives glimpses of Jesus that brace for every conflict, elevate and strengthen. That conquering strength is received by faith as believers rest in Christ, who gives not only His Word but spirit and wisdom and revelation in knowledge of God, cause for gladness, enabling freely sharing light with those in darkness with wisdom of serpent and harmlessness of dove.
Victory belongs to those who repent, turn from sin, take hold of Christ's strength, find pardon after repeated failures, receive His robe of righteousness and sanctification of His Spirit, and stop looking on the dark side to look on the bright side trusting His power to save to the uttermost. Those who repent and turn may be forgiven even after repeated failures and will ultimately be more than conquerors through Christ who loves them and washes them in His blood, leading to the eternal reward where overcomers receive the crown and praise the Lamb. People who have sinned can turn to Jesus, take hold of His strength, and find peace, power and grace to overcome iniquity in His name, ceasing to continue in sin as those receiving Him as Saviour. All who humble hearts, repent and confess sins, and believe in Christ as Redeemer become more than conquerors, in contrast to those practicing fraud and selfishness, taking advantage for self-benefit with pretentious piety and impure heart who will be denied place in the future kingdom. This victory is possible because Christ redeemed human nature and gives power to all who receive Him to become sons and daughters of God, raising, ennobling and refining instead of leaving degraded, and taking His yoke and learning meekness and lowliness brings rest while sharing His conquering life, requiring daily trust and fighting the fight of faith against skepticism and unbelief to be conquerors not merely almost overcomers.
Final Triumph and Reward
Present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory to be revealed, and warfare ends in eternal reward where overcomers receive the crown of immortal glory, praise the Lamb, and stand without spot before the great white throne. Suffering for truth amid tribulation, distress, persecution, hunger, danger, or violence does not defeat those loved by Christ, for their victory rests on His love and no hardship or power can separate them from God's love in Christ Jesus. Believers overcome in every trial through Christ's love and help by looking to Jesus, grasping Him by living faith, keeping working in the spiritual battle, and relying on God's support. He has fought the battle for them, remains with them, knows their sorrows, assures help is coming, and gives the promise of immortal glory even amid conflict and the time of trouble. Those who repent and turn from sin may be forgiven even after repeated failures and washed in His blood, and will ultimately be more than conquerors through Christ unto the eternal reward of the kingdom.
Those counted by the world as weak, unworthy, defenseless and feeble for remaining loyal and true will be crowned conquerors and more than conquerors when righteousness receives the palm of victory. This promise looks to great future events that shake thrones of kings, close all earthly scenes, and usher in the reign of Him who is King of kings whose kingdom endures forever, while Christ receives the adoration of all hosts of heaven. Whatever tribulation comes, patient endurance through Him that loved them secures triumph, for Jesus so loved man that He gave His life to redeem him from Satan's power and exalt him to His throne. He who is above all powers with greatest influence in heaven and earth was meek and lowly, holy, harmless, undefiled, and obedient to all His Father's commandments. The loyal who will not worship the beast or his image nor accept and revere an idol sabbath, though in anguish and mocked, ridiculed, hated and despised, shall then stand before the throne enjoying eternal day, revealed with the martyrs close about the throne among ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands upon thousands. No longer a scattered feeble company suffering satanic passions of a rebellious world, they have nothing to fear from force or fraud, defended by One mightier than the strong man armed, and given all power and greatness and excellence of character for believing and firmly defending truth and the laws of God.
Those who walk with Jesus in humiliation, affliction, poverty, hunger, torture, hatred, derision and bitter disappointment are His loved jewels under especial care, hidden in the secret of His pavilion until the difference between him that serves God and him that serves Him not is plainly discerned. Then the righteous once counted weak and foolish and scattered will be seen connected with the family in heaven, gathered from isolated ones and larger numbers into one company no man can number, of all classes and nations and kindreds and people and tongues. They stand before the throne of God and the Lamb in spotless robes with beams of the Sun of righteousness reflected upon them, with heavenly white garments richer than kingly robes, jeweled crowns such as no earthly monarch wore, palm branches of victory, songs of victory, crowns and harps and loud hosannas. No longer poor or sorrowful or afflicted or hated for Christ's sake, they receive the crown of glory when Christ comes, while the wicked who despised them are ashamed and confounded and lose both worlds. Their suffering draws them closer to one another and to Christ, and their lives and deaths bear witness to truth, leading others to leave Satan's service and follow Christ.
Truth will yet triumph, and those who love it and walk in it will come off conquerors through Jesus Christ. In the final conflict between truth and error, when the law of God is trampled under foot and the blood of the covenant despised, believers must not remain idle but arouse, march under Christ and fight the good fight of faith, and through Him who loved them they will share in the triumph of truth with eternal honors and eternal life, using closing hours of probation to glorify God and save souls for whom Christ died. Complete victory through Christ belongs to those registered day by day as faithful and true stewards of entrusted talents, who have the fear of God before them whether with superiors, inferiors or equals, cherish truth as an abiding sanctifying principle, and receive the creating transforming power of the Holy Spirit that makes them co-partners with Jesus Christ yoked up with Him. God's servants who enjoy the overflowing fountain of life are made more than conquerors, which is victory over all opposition, for the Holy Spirit keeps everyone committed in faith and trust to His charge, so human power and human inventions which did not establish the church cannot destroy her. God's way is not to begin with pomp and boasting exalting human agents, which comes to nothing, but to make the day of small things the beginning of the glorious triumph of truth and righteousness.
God brings His own through trials as more than conquerors because of His love, and trusting Him and resting in Him bring peace and joy, for He is able to keep what is committed to His care. Those who rest in Jesus are safe in His love through life's trials; nothing can separate them from that love, and they may abide securely in it. Constant loyalty with nothing allowed between the soul and Jesus keeps the helpless soul cast upon Him so the enemy cannot separate it from the love of Christ. That keeping is revealed in daily life by honoring the Master in business, showing love, mercy, compassion and strict integrity in social relations, and letting light shine in good works that glorify the Father in heaven. Keeping the peace and grace of Jesus Christ carries believers through trial and difficulty without discord, distraction or division, for though circumstances cannot be controlled, hope of eternal life centered in Christ gives steadiness, failures must not lead to unbelief, God's love must never be forgotten, and victory by Christ's love is lived out in supreme devotion to God and love to one another that brings sunshine into the heart.
Victory is bound up with sharing Christ's life and working with Him to seek and save perishing souls, for those who accept Christ, believe in Him and are united with Him come off more than conquerors through His love, and when Christ appears they will appear with Him in glory. Devoted workers become more than conquerors when they cooperate with divine intelligences to rescue souls, fulfilling duty to the best of ability while God gives the increase, because the Holy Spirit gives them glimpses of Jesus that brace them for every conflict, elevate and strengthen them. The new man in Christ is born to conflict, toil, labor and the good fight of faith, with power always within reach through Christ to obtain victory at every onset and to be more than conqueror over every difficulty met. This warfare is hand-to-hand struggle requiring all energy and steadfast marching in duty with determination not to fail nor be discouraged, which is the character required of men selected for God's work who are faithful and true and proclaim without reserve His will. Through grace richly provided a believer can finish his course without running or laboring in vain, coming off victorious as more than conqueror through Christ who loved him.
Pressing the battle to the gate with lifelong persevering untiring effort in order to be inside the city of God, refusing to falter or give the enemy chance to triumph, secures victory through Jesus who loved and gave His own life, who lives to make intercession, and who stays with those who stay with Him. The Lord makes those who move steadily forward more than conquerors, which means gaining victory over self, temper and inclinations, bringing the will into conformity to the will of God, and working out the righteousness of Christ on earth to be fitted for the glory of heaven. It requires understanding individual responsibility, keeping under God's discipline, and pressing on from victory to victory in united labor. Human effort alone cannot successfully withstand Satan's power and subtlety, but divine power united with human effort overcomes.