Walk in Victory

Walk in Victory
Raised in Power
Terry R. Baughman

“Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:54-57 NLT).

In the most violent and evil culture prevailing prior to worldwide judgment of The Flood, God noted there was a man named Noah who walked with God faithfully. Scripture recorded, “Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God” (Genesis 6:9 NIV). Against the backdrop of his peers there was a sharp contrast between this man and the accepted norm of everyone else. That is the distinction of a transformed life in contemporary culture.
 
Paul challenged believers, “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16 NKJ). When we follow after God it will change our walk. He also wrote, “You once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2 NKJ). After the life-altering encounter with Christ we walk a new path. Paul said, “Those who are in Christ Jesus, … do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:1 NKJ).

The born-again experience draws us onto a new path, the opportunity to walk in victory! When we are baptized in Jesus we are buried with Him, and just as He arose victorious we are also raised to live a new life, “We have been co-resurrected with him so that we could be empowered to walk in the freshness of new life” (Romans 6:4 TPT). 

The life Jesus promised was more than recycled experience of the same trouble-ridden existence. He does not condemn us to reincarnation as another life form, to go through another mundane existence in a vain effort to improve our chances. His life is transformative. It is full of glory. The resurrected life is beyond expression. As a result of our faith Peter said, “You rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8 NKJ).

This Gospel is full of power. It is life-changing. Jesus didn’t just offer an ultimate reward of a heavenly home, though that is also included in the package, He calls us to radical change in the here and now. The life we are promised through the Holy Spirit will make a noticeable change in our direction, our life choices, and our focus. Our whole outlook on life takes on new meaning. We are given a new hope and the opportunity to make a positive impact on those around us. 

The Spirit-led life is in sharp contrast to a world obsessed with sin, seeking meaning through endless entertainment, with senses dulled by drugs and alcohol. The reality of this new life brings clarity to our minds, and purity in our hearts. His righteousness fills us and gives us more than we deserve and more than we can ever imagine. 

Experience the new life in Christ. Identify with His death, burial and resurrection. It’s the only way to life and the opportunity to walk in victory!
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Theme passage:
“We were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4 NKJ).