I’ve been around some Christians who seem to be constantly living in defeat. They are always reminding themselves (and me) what sinners we are and how undeserving we are. They seem to be in a perpetual state of sadness over their sins. We are a sinful people, but isn’t it rather depressing to say that and just stay there? Don’t forget there is more to the story.
I am convinced that the difference between living in victory and drowning in defeat is where we choose to put our focus. We are sinners who are saved by God’s amazing grace. Are we focusing on who we are or on what Christ has done? I love the way Paul says it in Romans 8, one of my favorite books in the Bible:
1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.
No longer are we under condemnation. No longer are we bound by sin. Christ has set us free. And when we choose to focus on His amazing grace, we can live in His victory!