Thoughts on Christian Living Book #2 by Dr. W. A. Dillard - HTML preview

BEHOLD THE VICTOR!

Much is made in the New Testament of one becoming an “overcomer.” A widespread understanding of who will wear that commendation, may fail to harmonize with Holy Writ as it tends to rest on the wishful thinking of unstudied men? Hummmm! Please think for a minute on a most important, but little talked about subject.

The foundation of it all is this: Jesus the Christ is the ultimate

and complete overcomer.

Before ascending up to the Father, Jesus told His church, “These

things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world

ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33. So, it is preached that since Jesus is the overcomer, and He may

be had by faith, then all who receive Christ Jesus as Savior becomes an

overcomer through His substitutionary sacrifice. I John 5:4 may seem to

corroborate this: “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world; and

this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”

BUT WAIT A MINUTE! While the above is true, it speaks to the spirit of born-from-above people, a spiritual birth which is sealed by the Holy Spirit unto the day of redemption. But man is more than a spirit. He is also an intellect housed in a physical body, the combination of which is referenced as a life. The spirit is saved in repentance and faith initially, but the mind is in the process of being saved by being renewed in conformity to the teachings of Christ. Thus, are the body and its fleshly nature brought into subjection and obedience to the things of Christ. This then is the victor, and it is important to note that “Overcomer” is derived from the word “Nikao” meaning “to conquer!” So there is much to learn, much to do, much to “conquer” in the course of life as one grows in knowledge and grace toward spiritual maturity. Additionally, it is just this that is the definition of “overcoming” in much of its Bible usage, especially in the letters to the churches in Revelation Chapters Two and Three. These are scriptural New Testament churches which means their membership had been saved, scripturally baptized, and were in the process of meeting together to worship and carry out the terms of the Great Commission. Still they were sternly warned and beseechingly exhorted to press on to become an “overcomer,” “a conqueror” with certain reward associated with that action, and certain loss for failure to do so.

Consequently, each one should work out his salvation in fear and trembling for in doing so there will be the salvation of the mind-life both for the doer as well as for those who hear him. There then is the human victory! “Well done, thou good and faithful servant…..”

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