Overcoming What?

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Jesus called us to overcome. Overcome what?

Source: Wikimedia Commons/David Friel

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God…To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Revelation 2:7He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
See All...; 3:21).

These words that Jesus spoke are clear. We are called to “overcome,” just as He overcame. But what exactly are we to overcome, and how?

We are called to defeat the dominion that our carnality has over our minds. We are called to overcome “the sin which so easily ensnares us,” the apostle Paul wrote to his countrymen (Hebrews 12:1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
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It is out of fashion to talk about sin. Yet the bonds of evil that beset our life are many: envy, lying, deceit, hatred, murder, greed, ingratitude, indifference, pride, vanity, corruption, love of money or power, and moral licentiousness, to mention but a few.

There is no human being on earth who is not a slave to at least one of these sins, whether consciously or unconsciously. Denying this truth harms us. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
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But if we speak the truth and we walk in fellowship in the light of God, “the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” “If we confess our sins”—if we manifest our desire to be free of them—“He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” But, “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us” (1 John 1:7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
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“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” (1 John 5:4For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
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What exactly is faith in Christ?

God inspired the Apostle Paul to write that, though our salvation depends on the faith we have in Christ, we are called to overcome evil with His faith, doing our part (Philippians 2:12-13). This wonderful miracle happens when our will becomes the same as that of God. God’s “willing and doing” are expressed in His commandments: They must become our willing and doing, fully and with our whole hearts!

A False Freedom

Most people do not have an “ear to hear” and have discarded God’s commandments. They say that Jesus Christ destroyed the law when He, in fact, said the exact opposite (Matthew 5:17Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
See All...). It should not surprise us then that almost no one knows what “sin” is.

People have been taught to obey their own human rules rather than to recognize the difference between good and evil and do what’s good. What’s the result? In the most opulent, technologically advanced societies, sin is ever more glorified, while virtue is increasingly derided. All in the name of the god of money, freedom and material pleasures. But the sins of our century are very grave (Romans 1:24-31 [24] Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
[24] Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
[25] Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
[25] Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
[26] For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
[26] For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
[27] And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
[27] And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
[28] And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
[28] And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
[29] Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
[29] Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
[30] Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
[30] Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
[31] Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
[31] Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

See All...) and they herald destruction like that which struck the ancient cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19).

Yet many people feel free. They claim to accept everyone as they are. They’re pleased with themselves, just like the Pharisees in the time of Jesus, who did not think themselves slaves to sin. To give just one example, the movie Jesus suggests a wrong-headed belief that the modern world, particularly the Western one, is the Kingdom of God. Illusion!

In reality, moral decay in our world will go from bad to worse until Jesus Christ returns (2 Timothy 3:1-5 [1] This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
[2] For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
[3] Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
[4] Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
[5] Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

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Those who answer “yes” to the call of the Father do not consider this world as “their world.” Jesus said, “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world (John 17:16They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
See All...). Jesus prayed, “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one” (John 17:15I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
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The truth is that, without Jesus Christ in our lives, we are all slaves of sin and the evil one, who “deceives the whole world” (Revelation 12:9And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
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If we sincerely repent, God the Father forgives us and covers our past sins, erasing them through Christ’s blood. He also gave us his Holy Spirit, which enables our freedom from the slavery of death through the future resurrection of our mortal bodies into eternal life (Romans 8:11But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
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Called to Fight

Over the centuries, the Eternal Father has let the world harvest the evils that it has sown upon itself. Yet, He is also forming a “little flock” to reign with Him on the day when the rest of humanity will inherit salvation (Luke 12:32Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
See All..., Revelation 20:4-6 [4] And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
[5] But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
[6] Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

See All...). Those who want to be part of the “little flock” know that they are the first called to fight to overcome their carnal nature! This victory cannot happen without a spiritual fight. Paul wrote: “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses…that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing”(1 Timothy 6:12-14 [12] Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
[13] I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;
[14] That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our LORD Jesus Christ:

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Fight Against Whom, Against What?

• Invisible demons— “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
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• Sin— We are called to overcome the sin to which we have become slaves. We are either slaves of sin or slaves of righteousness (Romans 6:16Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
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• Flesh— The apostle Paul wrote this confession: “For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do…But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringingme into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members” (Romans 7:14-15 [14] For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
[15] For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

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• Fear— We are called to overcome the “fear” that afflicts the world. The devil succeeds in making us fear, sometimes through relatives or friends who slow down or impede our spiritual enlistment in the army of Jesus Christ (Matthew 10:37He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
See All..., Hebrews 2:15And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
See All..., 1 Peter 3:14-16 [14] But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
[15] But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
[16] Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

See All...). To start fighting, then, we must first rid ourselves of fear, convinced that “if God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
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Our losing situation begins to turn around to find us victorious when we sincerely repent and ask God for forgiveness. “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:6-7 [6] Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
[7] Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

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Fight. But How?

God calls us to fight for justice, with instruments of justice and not with weapons of corruption. Machiavellian philosophy suggests that a good end justifies the use of any means or methods, even unethical or dishonest ones. The Word of God teaches that our means to defeat evil must always be faith in God and obedience to His commandments.

Here is some advice on how to fight against evil without falling into evil.

Fight according to the laws of God (2 Timothy 2:3-5 [3] Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
[4] No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
[5] And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

See All...). We are not talking about “holy wars,” which worldly religions wage in the name of God. This is not how God wants it.

Fight wearing the armor of God. This is spiritual armor, of course (Ephesians 6:11-17 [11] Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
[12] For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
[13] Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
[14] Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
[15] And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
[16] Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
[17] And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

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Paul also added one other important element to our armor: team spirit! “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel” (Ephesians 6:18-19 [18] Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
[19] And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

See All..., New International Version).

When you decline the call of God or you remove your armor, you will fall right into the crosshairs of the fiery darts of the devil. Sin, which is the transgression of the divine command, takes advantage of the law and produces all kinds of covetous desires (Romans 7:8But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
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Sin, even if through ignorance, makes you a slave to sin. But if you love the law of God and always hold high the truth (2 Timothy 3:16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
See All...), then your fight is not in vain, even if you slip.

Fight without lying to yourself. We must recognize that without the help of the Spirit of God, we will never overcome sin (Romans 8:7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
See All...). Realizing that alone we are too weak to defeat the evil one is an essential for our ultimate victory.

Fight asking God for help recognizing our weakness is not enough. We must humbly ask God for help, because “the Spirit of God also helpeth our infirmities” (Romans 7:18For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
See All..., 8:26, King James Version).

Fight following in the steps of Jesus “who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously” (1 Peter 2:23Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
See All.... See also Mark 1:17And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.
See All..., John 8:12Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
See All... and Hebrews 2:10For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
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Fight to encourage others. This is one of our most important daily responsibilities. We are “enlisted” in the spiritual army of Christ and have the obligation to encourage, defend and cover our brethren from the attacks of the enemy. If one of us falls captive to fear, he asks for help and the whole platoon will run to help him and free him. If one of us deserts the holy assembly and shoots against it, it becomes very clear on whose side that person stands. He or she plays the game of the evil one to discourage us and make us all fall. In this situation, we must avoid those people (Romans 16:17-18 [17] Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
[18] For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

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In conclusion, we have become loyal soldiers carrying out orders from our good captain, Jesus Christ.

The Final Victory

We therefore fight the good fight of faith to attain the eternal life to which we are called. If we do these things, our final victory is assured.

God made this promise: “To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God…To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne” (Revelation 2:7He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
See All...; 3:21).

In that day, God will dwell with us, and will wipe away every tear. Death shall be no more. There will be no more mourning or crying or pain. God does not lie. He speaks the truth. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Revelation 2:7He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
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