* THE SECRET OF SPIRITUAL VICTORY* by C. R. Stam

* THE SECRET OF SPIRITUAL VICTORY*
by C. R. Stam
Believers in Christ have been made "free from sin" by grace (Rom.
6:14,18) in the sense that they need not, indeed, should not, yield to
sin when temptation arises (Rom. 6:12,13). Believers have also been made
"free from the law of sin and death" (Rom. 8:2) for Christ, in grace,
bore the death penalty for them.
But no believer is free from what Paul calls "the law of sin which is in
my members" (Rom. 7:23), that is, the old flesh, with its inherent
tendency to do wrong. Nor is he free from the conflict with the new
nature which this involves. If the Christian would be truly spiritual
and deal in a scriptural way with the sin that indwells him, he must
clearly recognize its presence; he must face the fact that while, thank
God, he is no longer "in sin", sin is still in him. (Rom 7:18 For I know
that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will
is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not.)
But this conflict should not discourage us, for it is one of the true
signs of salvation. It is unknown to the unbeliever, for only the
additional presence of the new nature, along with the flesh, causes this
conflict, for the Bible says about these two: "these are contrary the
one to the other" (Gal. 5:17).
But not only is this conflict within the believer a sure sign of
salvation; it also creates within him a deep and necessary sense of our
inward imperfection and of the infinite grace of a holy God in saving us
and ministering to us daily in helping us to overcome sin. And this in
turn gives us a more understanding approach as we proclaim to the lost
"the gospel of the grace of God".
Paul's epistles show clearly that there is nothing that will so help us
to overcome sin and live pleasing to God as an understanding and an
appreciation of what He has done for us in Christ. As we are occupied
with these "things of the Spirit" we find ourselves "walking in the
Spirit", and Galatians 5:16 says: "WALK IN THE SPIRIT, AND YE SHALL NOT
FULFIL THE LUST OF THE FLESH". How much better to have our lives
transformed by occupation with Christ (II Cor. 3:18) and our position
and blessings in the heavenlies with Him (Col. 3:1-3), than to assume
the hopeless task of trying to improve the "the flesh"; always engaged
in introspection; always occupied with the flesh!
* If you are a Christian, *
*you are not a citizen of this world *
*trying to get to heaven;*
* you are a citizen of heaven *
*making your way through this world.*
-----Vance Havner *
*
Lord God of truth, forgive my multiplied attempts to develop a Christian
walk by my promises to You. Lord, You know how often I have failed. What
a joyous option this is --- to live by Your promises to me! Please teach
me how to think and live this way, in Jesus name, Amen.