Victory
1 Corinthians 15
17 and if Christ hath not been raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
1John 5
4 For whatsoever is begotten of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that hath overcome the world, [even] our faith.
5 And who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
We need to understand what happened and what Jesus accomplished on that first Easter.
When Jesus went to the cross, he died for sin. "…the wages of sin is death…" The price must be paid. But Jesus had no sin – He was perfect.
When he hung on the cross, God put our sin on Him.
Isaiah 53
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and Jehovah hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
2 Corinthians 5
21 Him who knew no sin he made [to be] sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in him.
Sin was put on Jesus. All sin. He was covered. Then His blood –0 pure and untainted by acts of sin – flowed and covered that sin.
Blood was required to atone for sin. Blood is life.
Leviticus 17
11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh atonement by reason of the life.
Hebrews 9
22 And according to the law, I may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no remission.
Revelation 12
10 And I heard a great voice in heaven, saying, Now is come the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accuseth them before our God day and night.
11 And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony; and they loved not their life even unto death.
How does that work? Jesus identified with our sinfulness. He had no sin of his own, but took on our sins and paid for it.
Likewise, we have no righteousness of our own. When we identify ourselves with Him, we take on His righteousness.
If the crucifixion worked to remove sin, then resurrection works to give us new life.
Romans 6
5 For if we have become united with [him] in the likeness of his death, we shall be also [in the likeness] of his resurrection;
Romans 6
8 But if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him;
Romans 6
11 Even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus.
Because he lives, we lives.
2 Timothy 2
11 Faithful is the saying: For if we died with him, we shall
also live with him:
Galatians 2
20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me: and that [life] which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, [the faith] which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.
We live through Him. He is the center of the believers existence. And is we live through him, his victory is our victory.
He broke the power of death – death cannot rule in your life.
He broke the power of sin – death cannot rule in your life.
He is risen! Therefore, we are risen to a newness of life. Our citizenship is with him in heaven.
Philippians 3
20 For our citizenship is in heaven; whence also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Galatians 2
6 But from those who were reputed to be somewhat (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth not man's person)-- they, I say, who were of repute imparted nothing to me:
7 but contrariwise, when they saw that I had been intrusted with the gospel of the uncircumcision, even as Peter with [the gospel] of the circumcision
8 (for he that wrought for Peter unto the apostleship of the circumcision wrought for me also unto the Gentiles);
We who believe can and should walk in victory. How? But trusting God totally.
Are you depressed?
Moses at the Red Sea – God parted the water.
Elijah after Mount Carmel – He went up in a flaming chariot to heaven.
Are you facing needs – Are you worried?
Manna in the wilderness.
Widow of Zeraphtath
Feeding the 5000
Peter’s tax money
Are you fearful?
King Jehoshaphat – God gave a mighty deliverance.
Are you feeling trapped?
Elisha – angels on the mountains. (2 Ki 6:17)
Are you feeling let-down, disappointed, hopeless?
The disciples after the crucifixion.