SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1384

“Reign in Life”

For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive; For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one-man Jesus Christ. – 1 Corinthians 15:22; Romans 5:17

In the beginning, God created us to have dominion over His creation. The Hebrew word is radah meaning to rule, reign, prevail against, and subdue.

And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” – Genesis 1:28

Death Reigned Through That One Man. Because of the original sin of Adam, mankind abdicated our God-given authority to Satan who became the ‘ruler of this world’ who actively works to exercise dominion over us.

In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. – 2 Corinthians 4:4

The spiritual death of eternal separation from God reigns over us and this is a battle that we cannot win by our own devices. The battle is only won through faith in Jesus.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places; Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! – Ephesians 6:12; Romans 7:24-25

Are you a slave to the old nature? Are you being ruled by a sin habit or addiction that you cannot seem to overcome?

For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved; But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. – 2 Peter 2:19; James 1:14-15

The Abundance of Grace. Through God’s love and grace, we have a path to overcome the penalty of sin and reign in life through Jesus.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life; For from his fullness, we have all received, grace upon grace; Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. – John 3:16, 1:16; Hebrews 4:16

The Free Gift of Righteousness It is through born-again faith in Jesus that we receive saving grace and His imputed righteousness that we become children of God.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord; For by grace, you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. – Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 6:23

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God; For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. – 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 5:19

Reign in Life Through the One-Man Jesus Christ.

Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. – 1 John 5:51; John 5:4

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. – 1 John 4:4

How do we Live a Victorious, Overcoming Life Through Jesus?

Repent and be born-again through faith in Jesus. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance; No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. – Luke 5:32, 13:5

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God; Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. – John 1:12-13; 2 Corinthians 5:17

Love Jesus more than the sin that you have allowed to dominate you.

Flee Immorality: Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions; So, flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. – Romans 6:12; 2 Timothy 2:22

Seek the Lord’s Help in Prayer: Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me; Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. – Psalm 119:133; 19:13

Walk by the Spirit: But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. – Galatians 5:16-18

May you reign in life through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior!