Torch, Fall 1996

I '1 I ~· continued from page 5 superficial in our expectations of spiritual experience. But then each time he adds a phrase that shows that there is indeed spiritual victory. The basic idea is this: a Christian lives in this fallen world, and, even though he is saved, he is still a jar of clay. But if, with the power of God's Spirit, he strives to be more holy and more fruitful, without being "crushed," "in despair," "abandoned," or "destroyed," then that is what Paul would call victory! If this seems like too modest a proposal for living victoriously, remember the actual experience of the biblical saints, including Elijah and his "1-might-as-well– be-dead-too" prayer (see 1 Kings 19:4) or the psalmists and Jeremiah with their complaints and lamentations to God. Or think of the experiences already referred to in the life and ministry of the apostle Paul and even of our Lord's experience, especially, but not exclusively, in the Wilderness temptation and in the Garden of Gethsemane. Remember, too, the reality of Christian heroes like Martin Luther and Charles Spurgeon. Without a doubt, they were spiritual victors, but they had recurring seasons in their Christian experience when they felt "harassed at every turn– conflicts on the outside, fears within." They had to entrust themselves again and again to "God who comforts the down– cast. .." (2 Corinthians 7:5-7). The truth is, we believers in Christ are indeed "pressing on the upward way." We are being made new because of the empowering of the Holy Spirit ... a Ghr1sl1an ftues in !his fallen world, and, even !houghhe is saved, he is sl1fla ;Ciro/clay. and God's enabling grace, which find their way into our lives as we submit to the Word and as we pray and share fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ. And so we do walk "in newness of life" (Romans 6:4). Indeed we should be living "supernaturalized lives," and our expectations should fully factor in the truth that God's "divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness" (2 Peter 1:3). At the same time, we must remember that we have not yet arrived. Perfection (that is, complete Christ-likeness) comes only when "He appears" at His second coming, the time when we "see Him as He is" (1 John 3:2). We must not forget that our Lord's model prayer for us included a petition for daily forgiveness- something perfect people living in perfect victory would never need to pray. So may our expectations and, therefore, our experience of spiritual victory be shaped by biblical truth. May we recommit ourselves to the life and walk of faith, depending always on the grace that kept us safe this far to also lead us home. May we trust in the promise of our resurrected Lord, "To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne" (Revelation 3:21). "The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it" (1 Thessalonians 5:24). ..rJ Doug Phillips, a 1982 graduate of Cedarville College, has served as the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Okemos, Michigan since 1987. He earned a B.A. in preseminary Bible at Cedarville and an M.Div. degree at Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary.