Today we continue our series entitled, “Grace and Truth” by continuing to look at by continuing to look at The Law given under Moses vs. the Grace provided by Jesus. Our main scriptures are John 1:14 & 17. Let’s look at them again.
(John 1:14 New International Version)
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
(John 1:17 New International Version)
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
In this series we studied Galatians 3, 4, and 5. We finally got to the fruit of the Holy Spirit. We are going through all the fruit of the Spirit. We have been dealing with “faith that prevails” for a few days. We will continue today.
(Galatians 5:22,23 The Passion Translation)
But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions:
joy that overflows,
peace that subdues,
patience that endures,
kindness in action,
a life full of virtue,
faith that prevails,
gentleness of heart, and
strength of spirit.
Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless.
This morning, as I thought about “faith that prevails”, I thought about the difference between us attempting to overcome and the fact that Jesus already overcame. Our faith prevails because we are exercising faith in Jesus’ finished work. That’s what I will deal with today. To do so, I feel led to share two more scriptures with you before we get started.
(John 16:33 New International Version)
Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
(1 John 5:4,5 The Passion Translation)
You see, every child of God overcomes the world, for our faith is the victorious power that triumphs over the world. So who are the world conquerors, defeating its power? Those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
So what does this mean for you today? A few things.
1. The Apostle John said, “every child of God overcomes the world.” He then went on to further explain that it is our faith that has “the victorious power that triumphs over the world.” The question is not: faith in what? The question is: faith in whom? The answer is: faith in Jesus, because Jesus has already overcome the world. John continued and said, “So who are the world conquerors, defeating its power? Those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.”
God has already overcome the world. He did this by His power. He did this in, with and through His Son, Jesus. He now extends His victory to us by His grace. We access Jesus’ victory with our faith. By faith you believe in and lay hold of what Jesus has already provided.
2. Jesus conquered satan, hell and the grave. Jesus obtained victory over this world. Jesus got back the authority Adam lost in the Garden of Eden. Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Matthew 28:18). Our faith does not obtain the victory, because Jesus already obtained it for us. Our faith simply RECEIVES and then MAINTAINS the victory Jesus already OBTAINED.
3. When you are in Christ and Christ is in you, everything that belongs to Jesus belongs to you. Everything Jesus is is who you are! As you mature in faith, the goal is to be able to look in the mirror and see Jesus. You must be able to see yourself as ONE with the Father, even as Jesus was ONE with the Father. But you will never be able to do this without the Holy Spirit.
Faith is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. You need the Holy Spirit to help combat the thoughts you will get from yourself, from satan and from this world. The world will tell you that you are not good enough. The Holy Spirit will remind you that Jesus was good enough FOR YOU! Satan will tell you that what you did, or what you failed to do, has disqualified you from what God promised. The Holy Spirit will remind you that you never qualified in the first place. Jesus qualified FOR YOU! How can you disqualify yourself from something you never qualified for? The enemy will tell you that the situation you are in will destroy you. The Holy Spirit will tell you that Jesus already overcame it, and since you are in Christ, you can overcome because He already overcame! My point is that your faith can access everything Jesus has already provided, but you won’t be able to do it without the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit empowers you to walk and live by faith!
4. When the Apostle John said, “every child of God overcomes the world, for our faith is the victorious power that triumphs over the world”, the emphasis was on God and not man. Man can overcome the world by faith, because Jesus already overcame. Our faith is simply tapping into the victory Jesus already provided.
5. When you live by faith you are not striving to obtain the victory. Jesus already obtained the victory for us. This victory is now offered/extended to us by grace. So victory is now our starting point and not just our destination. We are going from victory to victory, and we do this by faith. In Romans 1:17 the Apostle Paul taught us that we are literally going from faith (starting point), to faith (destination), by faith (mode of transportation). Everything we do, we do by faith. Everything God does for us is actually already done. He now offers His finished work to us by grace (unearned, unmerited and undeserved). When our faith accesses God’s grace we get to enjoy the victory Jesus already provided!
That’s enough for today.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I thank You for teaching me to walk and live by faith. By faith I lay hold of what Jesus already provided. I live from faith (my starting point), to faith (my destination), and I do it by faith (my mode of transportation). I am committed to living by faith every second of every day. My faith does not create the victory. My faith simply taps into the victory You already provided. Jesus obtained the victory for me. My faith receives and maintains the victory Jesus obtained in this world. I overcome because You already overcame! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
