Is a victorious believer just one who claims to be a believer? no
The Bible says that there is victory in Jesus, does that make us a victorious believer? no
In a marathon many runners start the race but do they all finish the race?
Paul related our Christian experience to a race. It says in 1st Corinthians 9:24–27, “Remember that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize. You also must run in such a way that you will win. All athletes practice strict self-control. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I am not like the boxer who misses his punches. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.”
After starting the race, could we be disqualified? Think about it.
I know that there are some well intentioned brothers that teach the doctrine, once saved always saved. I have a problem with this because it overrides our free choice. It is true that no one can snatch us out of God’s hands but we can choose to walk away and God won’t stop us. I believe that God will make us very miserable, but that is no guarantee that we will repent and make the right choice.
The Bible says, “many are called but few are chosen.”
Paul also went on to say this as a warning to the Corinthians, and to us, as the true church in the 10th chapter of 1st Corinthians 1–11, “I don’t want you to forget dear brothers and sisters what happened to our ancestors in the wilderness long ago. God guided all of them by sending a cloud that moved along ahead of them, and he brought them all safely through the waters of the sea on dry ground. As followers of Moses they were all baptized in the cloud and the sea. And all of them ate the same miraculous food, and all of them drank the same miraculous water. For they all drank from the miraculous rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ. Yet after all this God was not pleased with most of them, and he destroyed them in the wilderness.
These events happened as a warning to us so that we would not crave evil things as they did, or worship idols as some of them did. For the scriptures say, ‘The people celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged themselves in pagan rivalry.’ And we must not engage in sexual immorality as some of them did, causing 23,000 of them to die in one day. Nor should we put Christ to the test as some of them did then died from snake bites. And don’t grumble as some of them did, for that is why God sent his angel of death to destroy them. All these events happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the time when this age is drawing to a close.”
Then Paul goes on and says this in verses 12–13, “If you think you are standing strong be careful for you to may fall into the same sin. But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it. When you are tempted He will allow you a way out so that you will not give into it.” Praise God! The shameful thing is, that many of us, when tempted don’t look for the way out so we fall into the temptation.
When you became a believer did you ever stop and think about what it would cost you?
When you sign on to follow the Lord you enter into a battle, a battle you would have to fight the rest of your life. Don’t forget we have many enemies in this battle and some may be in your own family. Jesus said he didn’t come to bring peace on the earth but a sword and the members of ones own family would be against one another. Thank God, we have the power of the Holy Spirit in us to always be victorious in the fight. This battle will not be an easy one and I don’t think it was meant to be. The forces of darkness seem to be everywhere you look or go. We need to stand totally committed and dependent on God
It is not how you start out in this battle that counts, it is how you end up that determines whether you are a victorious believer or not. So stand firm in the faith, unmovable and don’t forget to put on the whole armor of God so you can resist the evil one and always thank and praise the Lord for the victory! God bless you and have a great day.
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