The apostle Paul was always a thankful man – compare 1 Cor. 15:57; 2 Cor.
8:16; 19:15. He particularly thanked God for the provision He had made for
Christians to live victorious lives day by day. Alas, so often we are defeated
and no little of victorious Christian living So; let us pray that the Holy Spirit
will lead us into the secret of following Christ in the train of His triumph.
Notice several things about this life of glorious victory.
I.The Author Of It
This triumph life is utterly impossible of attainment in our own
strength. It is “ God who causeth us…” (2 Cor. 2:14) – compare 2 Cor.
3:5, and then look at the last part of 2 Cor. 2:16. It is because we think we
are capable of living victoriously by our own strength that we fail so
miserably and frequently. God is the author of this life of victory – we
can contribute nothing to it, except our willingness to be His captive.
Salvation in every tense ( past,present and future) is all of grace –
compare Eph. 2:8-10 with 1 Cor. 15:57.
II. The Nature Of It.
This triumph life is a participation, a sharing in Christ’s victory over
all His enemies. Notice the two vital words in 2 Cor. 2:14 – “ … in
Christ”. God causes us to triumph by virtue of the fact that we are
captives of the Lord Jesus Christ. The triumph is His, and we share in it,
just as the captives shared the triumphal procession of the returning and
victorious general. Think of this for a moment:
1. During the first 33 years of our Lord’s earthly life He triumphed
over sin and Satan. Look up Heb. 4:15. Not only in the wilderness
(Mt.4:1-11), but all through His earthly life He was tempted in
every way that you and I are tempted – but never once did He
yield to the Tempter.
2. On the cross our Lord conquered sin,death,hell and the Devil.
Look up Col. 2:14,15, and Heb. 2:14. How wonderful!!! And
having completely defeated His enemies – sin,death,hell and the
Devil – He arose from the grave, and now shares His triumph with
all of His captives, His redeemed one!
( More to come).