Victory in Christ is what the Christian life is all about. Victory, glorious victory over any and every sin, over every weakness and failing in the life. Victory over every hereditary and cultivated sin. Seventh-day Adventists are not known for having such complete victory, members are often unsure of their standing with Christ. This is not an indication of victory.
All my Christian life I noticed something was lacking in my religious life, not even outwardly was I always what a Christian is expected to be. Inwardly there was an unlovely harem of feelings and attitudes, sins of defeat, continual defeat. Should I have expected anything different? I am led to believe so.
'Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord” or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.' Ps 24:3-5. As the Psalmist writes, "If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, oh Lord, who shall stand?" Ps 130:3. Isaiah says: "this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men." Isa 29:13.
What is the reason for this? The truth of the gospel is: "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear." Isa 59:2. Jesus says of our day, "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. Mt 24:12. Save yourselves from this wicked generation. Sin separates God"s people from Christ. Sin interferes with the communion with God. Sin stops the grace of God from being efficacious.
The pure message of the gospel is that only a cleansed soul temple will God accept. Sin or selfishness blocks the passage of grace in the life. Make it the business of the life to put away sin. Seek the Lord while He may be found. Seek Him with the whole heart.
The first step is to come to Jesus just as you are, but with such it must be with a whole hearted surrender of the life, time, money, house and all. The self-surrender must be renewed at every stage. It is a continual process. God has a right to everything, every attitude we have. What else is needed? Humility, prayer, confession of each and every particular sin, and repentance. Repentance is a deepening gift of God. W cannot come to God, repent, or surrender to have victory, except through Jesus. The larger magnet of the Godhead, angels, and our sin infected will, can with much time and effort, overcome the greatest drawing of sin, Satan, and self.
If we do not resist we shall be drawn to Jesus, if we do not cling to sin we can know God. If we do cling to sin we cannot know Christ. Christ brings us up to different points in the character that is designed to manifest what is in the heart that keeps out Jesus. At every advance step the heart is tested and tried closer, they have opportunity to see what shuts out Jesus. See 1T, p 187.
However, please know that God is not found in a casual, haphazard manner. There is no short answer to victory over sin, except through a life long resistance to sin and a reformation of life. We are advised, "Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life; and they are they which testify of me." God's word is to be hidden in the heart and obeyed "that I might not sin against thee." Jn 5:39; Ps 119:11.
Paul advises us to mortify the deeds of the body, and mortify your sinful members. Cherished sin will undo all the good of the gospel. See SC, p 34.
All my Christian life I said I cannot obey and wont obey, but I willed to be made willing. It sometimes requires deliberate effort on our part to expel doubt from the mind, believe God, and trust Him in the dark. It is said of Abraham that "he staggered not at the promise, he was fully persuaded that what he had promised, he was able to perform.” Rm 4:20-21.
Everywhere else we may look, the Christian may see darkness, but Jesus only is life, light, and peace. Victory comes through Christ"s grace and we work out what God works in the life.
Paul advises, "Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." 2 Tim 2:19b. Jesus advises "sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee." Jn 5:14a. And further, that "Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin." Jn 8:34. Paul asks in horror, "is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid." Gal 2:17 John writes, "Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not; whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known him. Little children, let n man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning." 1 Jn 3:5-8a.
