We Shall Overcome? We Already Have, and More!

One afternoon, I was listening to the local high school choir sing the hymn:

"We shall overcome"

In the Body of Christ, we have already overcome! We do not have to try and win:

"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

"Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8: 37-39)

What is the Love of God, specifically?:

"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (1 John 4:10)

And of course:

"And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." (1 John 4:16)

How does this translate into victory:

"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" (1 John 5: 4-5)

Jesus Himself testifies to this in the Revelation:

"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." (Revelation 3: 21)

Every believer sits in Christ Jesus, and where is He? At the right hand of the Father, even now!:

"Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us."
(Romans 8:34)

and

"God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

"Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

"And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:" (Ephesians 2: 4-6)

How great, then, is this victory, in which we sit with Christ in high places?

"And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church" (Ephesians 1:22)

and

"And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

"And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." (Colossians 2: 13-15)

Christ is above all power and principalities, all things that would afflict us, all troubles that would try us. He makes intercession for us continually, ever justifying us, putting to shame any condemnation raised against us. We have nothing to fear, past, present, future. No one can try us. No one can separate us from Him.


Why, then, do so many believers see so little victory in their lives? It all depends on what they are focusing on:

"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

"For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

"When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3: 1-4)

We need to remind ourselves that we are one with Him -- and that He is greater than any trial, trouble, or tribulation. He is at work in us, through us, around us, even if we do not see it or sense it through our natural senses:

"Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:

"(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)" (2 Corinthians 5: 6-7)

No longer thinking on what's in front of us, let us remember who we are, and whose we are.

We have already overcome in Him. No matter what circumstances may face us, we can rest in the faithful knowledge that He cares for us, that He is one with us, and that in Him we have more than they victory!

Today, every believer can claim by faith: "I have overcome!"