The Victorious Christian Life

Living a Victorious Christian Life: A Journey of Transformation, Obedience, and Vigilance

Introduction:

Have you ever felt overwhelmed, under pressure, surrounded, or at your wits end? You’re not alone. It has been my understanding, through many years of observation, that Christians are often confronted by the wiles of the world and the devil himself, to ensnare us through temptation, threat, or intimidation. According to James 4:7, there are two contrasting strategies to handle this: (1) “Submit yourselves therefore to God.” (2) “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Ephesians 6:11 warns us to “put on the whole armour of God” for the devil may come as an “angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14), “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” Satan can disguise himself as a good opportunity that entangles, enslaves, or even causes us to fall in our walk with God as born-again Christians.

In the renowned allegory, “The Pilgrim’s Progress” by John Bunyan, Christian’s journey from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City symbolizes the spiritual quest for salvation and the challenges faced along the way. The Christian life is often depicted as a journey of faith where believers are challenged to overcome spiritual challenges, temptations, and the pull of the world. A victorious Christian life is one that lives in the freedom and power of Christ, resisting the forces of evil while being transformed in mind and spirit. The Bible gives us clear instruction on how to live a victorious life, drawing from both the example of Christ and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

A Spiritual Battle for Your Mind

Satan, the adversary of God and mankind, seeks to control the minds of believers and to draw them away from their relationship with God. Throughout Scripture, the devil’s strategies are laid bare, showing how he manipulates thoughts, deceives, and leads Christians into spiritual bondage. The Bible gets at the root cause of spiritual failures as John 3:8 warns, “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning.” Our mind controls our behavior and our motivations control our minds. The Bible warns that the battle for the mind is one of the most crucial spiritual struggles for Christians. Understanding Satan’s tactics can help believers guard their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 1 Peter 5:8 challenges us to “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” We must secure a Godly attitude and a Biblical mindset to maintain a victorious Christian life.

Renewing Your Mind

A foundational principle in living victoriously is the renewal of the mind. Romans 12:2 exhorts believers, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” This is a one-time decision a truly born-again Christian can make to seriously begin living for Jesus by offering their body, their time, and their treasures completely to Christ. But not every Christian makes this decision of dedication. Romans 12:1 tells us why we should make this decision, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” It is our reasonable service when we consider all that Christ has done for us. It’s a serious first step in deciding to live the victorious Christian life and become an effective servant of God on earth.

To be victorious, a Christian must think differently. But once we make that commitment, we become targets by the world, torn about by our previous fleshly desires, and hunted down by Satan and his demons all to thwart God’s plan for us and attempt to destroy our victorious walk with Christ. The world bombards us with distractions, selfish desires, and temptations, but victory begins when we actively reject these worldly influences and set our minds on things above, on the will of God. 1 Peter 1:14 asks us, “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance.”

This decision makes us abhor everything we loved that was against God and causes us to embrace the things we used to despise including worship and Christian service. It is a transformation of our thinking to become purely Christ-centered. It is a pivotal point or life changing commitment. This renewal of the mind is not a passive activity; it requires intentional action, as 2 Corinthians 10:5 reminds us: “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” Herein lies the true reality of victorious living.

This decision is the firm commitment to completely make Jesus Lord not only of our salvation, but of our daily living. When we first come to Christ with all of our burdens, addictions, struggles and fears, after being saved, we tend to pick up where we left off with those routines of worldly encumbrances. It’s like Satan has his claws in us and we just get stuck in our past sinful lifestyle. Every thought that contradicts God’s truth must be captured and brought into submission to Christ’s authority. This is the work of God through the Holy Spirit whose still small voice (John 16:8) influences us to seek godliness. “And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” We must allow God to peel off each of Satan’s claws one by one. This is a powerful way to prevent the enemy from gaining a foothold in our lives. If you give the devil an inch, he’ll want to take a mile!

The Power of Obedience and Purity

A victorious Christian life is not just about mental renewal but also about a serious decision to begin living in obedience to God’s commands. 1 Peter 1:14 challenges believers to live “as obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance.” Obedience to Christ means turning away from the old self, from sinful desires and habits that once held us in bondage. It requires a mindset of purity and devotion to God, seeking to reflect His holiness in our everyday lives.

We can’t do this in our own strength. When you came to Christ for salvation (for those who did), didn’t He cleanse you of all sin? Weren’t you a clean newborn baby in the family of God? Weren’t you grateful for being delivered from your guilt and shame? What happened? Have you lost your first love? Did you again allow yourself to become ensnared by the wicked evil lustful flesh and all its cravings? If you give the devil a foothold, he will try to take over. As new Christians, we may again become burdened by personal sin and we may feel we are no longer saved.

But remember, once we are saved, we are “sealed until the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30 says that we should not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, who has sealed us for the day of redemption. The sealing is an earnest, a proof, an assurance of our presence in heaven. Yes, the Holy Spirit will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). But He lives in our hearts and observes our thoughts and actions. He is grieved when we sin and allow our Christian walk to falter. He also encourages us through that still, small, voice, to be controlled by the Holy Spirit. “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:18-20).

This idea of obedience also extends to how we handle sin. If we agree about our sin with God, then we are doing the right thing to remedy our sinful situation even after we are actually saved. Yes, Christians do sin. But sin is not something to be taken lightly; it is an obstacle that hinders our relationship with God and robs us of our victory. A victorious Christian will actively strive to overcome sin, knowing that the power to do so is found in Christ. Romans 6:6, “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.”

The Mind of Christ

Living victoriously also means aligning our thoughts with God’s thoughts. 1 Corinthians 2:16 tells us, “For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.” As believers, we have access to the wisdom of God through His Word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This wisdom empowers us to make choices that honor God, to live according to His will, and to resist the devil’s schemes. We must be aware of the devil’s tactics and resist his attempts to draw us away from the truth.

Mindful of Eternity

A victorious Christian life also involves living with an eternal perspective. Ecclesiastes 12:14 reminds us that “God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” The knowledge that all actions, even secret ones, will be judged by God motivates us to live with integrity, righteousness, and purity. A victorious life is one that remains faithful to God, knowing that He sees all and will reward those who live for Him.

Furthermore, 1 Peter 1:13 encourages believers to “prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Our victory is assured not through our own strength but through the grace that will be revealed to us when Christ returns. This grace empowers us to live above the world’s standards, putting on the armor of Christ (Romans 13:14), and making no provision for the flesh.

Conclusion

In conclusion, living a victorious Christian life is a dynamic journey of ups and downs, highs and lows, mountain tops and valleys, that requires a transformed mind, steadfast obedience, vigilance against spiritual dangers, and a focus on God’s eternal promises to mature in Christ. It is a life lived in the power of Christ through filling our minds with God’s Word and depending on moment-by-moment continual renewal, continually purified, and continually guided by the Holy Spirit. When we decide to cast down every thought that exalts itself against God by taking that first step to decide to make Jesus Lord of our life, we determine to live for Him by renewing our minds daily, obeying God’s commands, and stay vigilant against the devil’s attacks, we can live triumphantly.

Romans 6:11 commands us to “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Decide that you are no longer able to see, hear, or acknowledge temptation by determining to die to self daily and live victoriously in Him. Reading God’s Word helps us to fuel our day for victorious living. Pray constantly and exercise your faith by regular fellowship with other Christians at a faithful Bible-believing church or by sharing the Gospel with unbelievers also strengthens us emensely. However, we can’t do this on our own. It is not by our own strength, but by the grace of God and the strength He provides that we live victoriously, now and forever. Live the victorious life. Lay down every sin at the cross. Decide to pick up His cross and decide to live for Him. You decide. The battle is for your mind!