Romans 8:36-37. 36As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
We are more than conquerors. A simple google search will reveal dozens of Christian ministries with this verse in their promotions. “You can do it, you’re more than a conqueror!” Why is this? Because everyone wants to win. Everyone wants to be victorious. Everyone wants to be the “ultra-conqueror” of Romans 8, don’t we?
But what about all of us Christian losers out there? What of us who don’t find victory over that sin? What about those who give in to that addiction over and over again? What about the depression or anxiety cycle that never goes away? The relationship that is never healed? The unchanging circumstance? The thorn in the flesh?
Here is the great hope of Romans 8:37 – both of these are true: 1) We ARE victors even when we fail, and 2) We CAN live in victory – right now.
We ARE victors even when we fail.
We aren’t more than conquerors IF and WHEN we overcome the trials, temptations, sins, and sorrows of life. We ARE more than conquerors IN all these things. In the middle of the temptations, trials, failures, faults, sins, and sorrows we stand in Christ and in his victory.
Christian, we are IN the slaughter. Not walking around it. Not avoiding it. Not even defeating it. We are experiencing it. All the sin. All the suffering. All the hardships. All the addictions. All the depression. All the self-harm. The Enemy has us by the throat. But even in all these things we are more than conquerors. How? Because NOTHING can separate us from the love of God. No matter how we die, we will rise. No matter how we lose, we will win. No matter how we are overwhelmed, we will overcome. This is the cross in us. This is Christ in us.
We can live in victory – right now.
Yes, ours is a future victory in Christ, but what about right now? Can we experience Christ’s victory on a daily basis? Yes. Here’s how:
First, we must experience God’s grace in our weakness. Until you recognize your own dependency, your own need, your own inadequacy and inability in this fight we call life, until then, you will never experience the real victorious life of Christ. Hiding our weaknesses, our sorrows, our pains, and our failures means we are also hiding God’s greatest victories of grace in our lives.
Then, after receiving grace in weakness, we must move forward in faith. Now it’s time to claim the promises that God has made to us in Christ. Yes, we are more than conquerors is a future promise. But faith in this future promise can and does impact our present reality. If we know the promise of eternal life, of an everlasting inheritance, of a home with God in his presence forever, then can’t we actually live a life here on earth free from fear and despair? Trusting our Abba? Daring to love? Striving from grace? Running the race?
To live is Christ is to know that we have victory. We ARE already conquerors because God has promised that one day we WILL BE conquerors. Jesus has fought for us and won. We are free now to fight and win, even when we fail. How? Because God works all things for the good – our transformation into the character of Christ. The One who has conquered us.
You: Where in life do you feel defeated today?
You in Christ: How does it comfort you to know that you don’t have to win because Jesus already has won?
Christ in you: Where have you seen Christ’s victory in your life recently?
To Live is Christ 