Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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The victorious Savior
1 John 5:1-12


“God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.” (11)
Through the birth of Christ, God brought eternal life back into the world.  Let’s take a moment to meditate on God’s testimony about His Son, Jesus Christ.  In the midst of our holiday preparations and festivities, do we take time to reflect on the Christmas story? Is it just a story to be repeated every year or is it a life changing event for us?  It is the story when God “became flesh, and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).  God so loved each one of us, He sent His only begotten son to this world. 

In 1 John 5:1-12 we see God’s own testimony to confirm that Jesus is the Christ and that through Him we have eternal life. Water and blood refer to Jesus’ baptism (water) and death (blood).  The water, as well as the blood, came out of the side of the Savior’s side on the cross.  Jesus defeated Satan and sin on the cross. If we have received Jesus, then Jesus in us has overcome the world and Satan.  We are living in the victory of Jesus, the Savior. By the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we the sinners gained redemption, forgiveness, justification, sanctification and glorification.

The Savior redeems us from our transgressions: All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3.23). When we disobey the Lord and violate His holy law, we no longer meet His righteous standards. Jesus by shedding his blood on the cross purchased us by paying our sin debt and liberating us forever from the slavery of sin.
The Savior justifies us: The holy God declares that we are righteous in His eyes because Jesus’ holiness covers us forever. Titus 3: 7 states “so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life”. In other words, Jesus justifies us so that we can be completely confident about our eternal home in heaven.
Through the Savior we are Victorious: Jesus gives us a brand new nature.  We become new creation, the old is gone and the new is born. This mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that “death is swallowed up in victory” (1Cor 15:54). By this we are assured that despite our struggles in this world, we will certainly triumph in the end, because victory is ours in the Savior.
During this Christmas season, let take confidence in God’s gift of His Son Jesus Christ to give us redemption from our sins and victory over death.  Let us rededicate ourselves to Him knowing that our Savior loves us unconditionally, He wants the absolute best for us and He is at work on our behalf.
Prayer:  Thank you Lord for giving us the greatest gift, your Son Jesus Christ.
Thought for the day: Saviour redeems, justifies and makes us victorious


Mathew K Lukose, Epiphany MTC, NY

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