PRÉCIS ON THE THEOLOGY OF WINNING: CHRISTIAN DEFINITION OF SUCCESS VS. THE WORLD’S DEFINITION OF SUCCESS

SCRIPTURE. “For everyone born of God is victorious and overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has conquered and overcome the world—our [continuing, persistent] faith [in Jesus the Son of God].” ― 1 JOHN 5:4, AMP

KEY TERM: “VICTORY.” ‘Niké’ [νίκη]: “Conquest; means of success; a particular expression of victory, resulting from receiving (obeying) the faith Christ imparts [i.e., ‘His inworked persuasion to remain with Him under trial’]; the defeat of an enemy in battle, or of an antagonist in contest; a gaining of the superiority in war or combat.”

QUOTATION. “Sometimes ‘Standing against Evil’ is more important than defeating it. The greatest heroes stand because it is right to do so, not because they believe they will walk away with their lives. Such selfless courage is a victory in itself.” ― N.D. WILSON, Dandelion Fire, 2009; edited

COMMENTARY. “‘True love for the people of God, may be distinguished from natural kindness or party attachments, by its being united with the Love of God, and Obedience to His Commands.’ The same Holy Spirit that taught the Love, will have taught Obedience also; and that man cannot truly love the children of God, who, by habit, commits sin or neglects known duty. As God’s Commands are holy, just, and good rules of liberty and happiness, so those who are born of God and love Him, do not count them grievous, but lament that they cannot serve Him more perfectly.

‘Self-denial is required,’ but true Christians have a Principle which carries them above all hinderances. Though the conflict often is sharp, and the regenerate may be cast down, yet he will rise up and renew his combat with resolution. But all, except believers in Christ, are enslaved in some respect or other, to the customs, opinions, or interests of the world. ‘Faith [and Faithfulness] is the cause of Victory,’ the means, the instrument, the spiritual armour by which we overcome. In and by Faith we cleave to Christ, in contempt of, and in opposition to the world. Faith sanctifies the heart and purifies it from those sensual lusts by which the world obtains sway and dominion over souls. It has the indwelling Spirit of Grace, which is greater than he who dwells in the world. The real Christian overcomes the world by Faith; he sees, in and by the life and conduct of the Lord Jesus on Earth, that this world is to be renounced and overcome. ‘He cannot be satisfied with this world, but looks beyond it, and is still ‘tending, striving, and pressing toward Heaven.’ We must all, after Christ’s Example, overcome the world, or it will overcome us to our ruin.” ― MATTHEW HENRY, Exposition of the Old and New Testaments, 6 vols., 1708-1710; edited

DK. You will have discovered that I often write of my own struggles as they are addressed by the Scriptures, and this Commentary is no exception to that. Specifically, I have agonized far too often that my messages are not being widely accepted, causing me to feel like a failure. So, I inquired of the Lord just recently:

“Lord, what do you count as Success in Your Kingdom?” His Answer was so quick and clean and freeing, beloved: “To remain with Me is your Victory!”

Thus, Christian Success us simply defined as Staying True to Christ and Canon in the face of overwhelming temptation to compromise both. It is the core-deep Love of God that compels us to Obedience as over against Rebellion against His Law, so rife in the American Church today.

BOTTOM LINE. Victory in God overcomes the world and learns to hate and fiercely resist what DR. FRANCIS SCHAEFFER so often called, “the World Spirit.” And concomitantly to lovingly embrace ‘The Christ’ who saved us in the very first, middle, and last place, beloved. This is Triumph vastly more than never stumbling – ‘Remaining,’ as with THE FAITHFUL REMMANT!

Do this, and hear your King publicly declare: “‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little, I will put you in charge of many things; share in the joy of your master.’”