In the name of Jesus we sing a song about having the victory. A large number of people who confess that they believe in Jesus are not living a victorious life in Christ. They have fallen short of the mark. haven't grown up to the measure that they are capable. They have settled for a form of Christianity that is far less than where they should have attained. A lot of these Christians wonder where is the victory? Where is the power that they are supposed to have acquired?

John 10:10
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Here we see where Jesus was telling his disciples that he is come to give his sheep life more abundantly. But to receive the abundant life requires that the Christian must be a follower of Jesus, and just not a hearer only.

James 1:23-27
23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Needless to say, many in the Christian community have become hearers only. They have been living their life the same as before they ever became a Christian. There was no change in their life so they don't have the abundant life that the Lord promised to them. Their life is still the same hum drum old life that they live as a sinner living solely for their own sinful pleasure. They feel and think that you can be both a sinner living after the flesh and also be a Christian. But the Bible tells us differently.

1 John 2:15-17
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

See where John tells the reader that he who does the will of God abides forever. It is not the one who on an impulse raises his hand during an altar call will be the one who is raised in the resurrection, but the one who continues in the faith doing the will of God will be the one to meet the Lord and Saviour in the air. It is the one who does the will of the Father that will see eternal life in heaven. It is the one who continues on in the word that will be prepared to meet the Lord in the air. Many will find themselves lacking the eternal presence of the Lord, for they did not trust and obey the scriptures.

Romans 6:16-23
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

It is impossible to live in sin and be a true Christian at the same time. The two are opposite of each other and only the true believer will reach the promised reward. We have been made free from the wickedness of sin. Jesus has redeemed us from a life filled with fulfilling the desires of the flesh. Look at how the world lives and determine whether they are truly happy or not. Look at the life of an adulterer. He spends his time living in secret, ashamed of his actions, and continually fearful that he will be caught. Does this sound like a joyous life? Does this sound like a life of freedom? Isn't this a life of fear and shame? Isn't this a life where getting caught might be the best thing to happen? A servant of sin has no freedom for he is continually hiding in the dark fearing the moment that this sins become exposed.

	3014 E Street
	Philadelphia, PA  19134
	Church Office Phone: (215) 634-3637
	Published by: Rev. LeRoy D. Cressy (215) 535-4037 


	                    Services:

	Sunday School  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10:30 AM

	Sunday Morning Worship . . . . . . . . . . 12 NOON

	Sunday Evening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:30 PM

	Wednesday Evening  . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:30 PM

    

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Copyright © 2000 LeRoy D. Cressy
Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of this transcript as long as the copyright and this permission notice appear.