The Struggle, The Victory

       Many of the truths of God I know I will continue to try to fully understand until my last day.  I try to learn more and more each day through the scripture where God reveals himself with the interpretation coming to me from the Holy Spirit as I read.  This being said, I know that what I am really learning is how little I know of God's truth.
     Some days like today, I feel very excited when I understand something in a new and deeper way.  I have been working my way through the New Testament in my daily reading and am reading Paul's letter to the Romans.  He talks about the Law and Christ.  At that time, Jewish believers struggled with their tradition of seeking righteous standing with God by following the Law of Moses.  The teaching that Paul shared was that Jesus offered that righteous standing through faith in the grace of  God.  Paul points out early in the letter that even before the law was given by Moses, God's grace was the source of salvation and righteousness.  Abraham was faithful to God in all things and it was counted as righteousness to him.  The law was given in order to show the people their own unrighteousness and sin.  It showed them where they differed from God and how much they needed His grace.  Instead of humbly turning to God and admitting they needed him and placing their faith and dependence on Him, they attempted to fulfill the law which no one could do except God himself.
     Paul points out that Jesus came as God in the flesh to fulfill the law's requirements, leading a sinless life, and by sacrificing himself for the sins of all of mankind, He conquered the sin that leads to the death of all mankind.  He also conquered death of the flesh itself and rose to life from the tomb.  He sent the Holy Spirit, (also God himself), to live in the bodies of those who humbly turn to God and admit they need Him and place their faith and dependence on Him.  This is a joining together with God through Jesus and Holy Spirit, thereby becoming part of the one who conquered sin and death.  Because of this, believers also have victory over sin and death.  Believers live "in Christ" and Christ lives in them.
     Our bodies have the sin and death of "human-ness" in them every day.  Our Spirit, if we turn to live in Christ, has already conquered it.   There are always times in our human lives when in our weakness we choose to give in to temptation and not rely on the victory we already have.  The more we strive to stay focused on the Spirit living within us as believers, the deeper our faith grows.  The more we rely on the power of the Holy Spirit, the less our discouragement about living this earthly life and the more we can show others the victory found through faith in Jesus.
     If you want the victory found through faith in Jesus, pray to him and commit your life to living as a follower.  Seek His plan for you by reading the scriptures and allowing His Holy Spirit to live within you and guide you.  Become part of a group of believers to help you stay focused on the victory and away from the temptations.  Stand up and count yourself as a follower and then follow.