Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” Ephesians 1:3 (NKJ)

At the beginning of this series, I put forth the proposition that spiritual blessings, outlined in Ephesians 1:3-14, would result in victorious living by believers.  Concluding this series, it is now time to share exactly how spiritual blessings accomplish that.  What exactly does victorious living look like?  While there is much written on “how” to live victoriously—often time a recommended list of spiritual disciplines and “do’s and don’ts”—it is often unclear what it looks like specifically.

For me, there are several biblical truths that contribute to understanding what victorious living looks like.  In Christ, believers are “new creatures” (2 Cor. 5:17) and are continually “transformed by the renewing of their mind” (Rom. 12:2).  It is God’s expectation that believers “be holy as He who called [them] is holy” (1 Pet. 1:15-16) with the ultimate objective to be conformed to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29).  As believers are conformed to Christ’s image, they are to live out the purpose or “good works, which God has ordained” them to do (Eph. 2:10).  This process of spiritual transformation is ongoing in the believer who confidentially trusts God and understands that “He that began a good work is able to perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6)—until Christ’s Second Return or the believer’s returns to Christ.

Victorious living is emotional confidence and spiritual contentment found by living in the reality and purpose of God.

Victorious living finds its genesis in the Triune God.  In Christ.  Chosen. Predestined.  Adopted as sons.  Accepted by the Beloved.  Redeemed and forgiven.  Gathered together.  Eternal inheritance. Sealed until redemption.

Victorious living is about walking in the reality of the spiritual blessings “gifted” to us by God resulting in our new identity and capability.  All these blessing are to the praise of God’s glory—lavish and abundant blessings on which to live victoriously.  I once believed that living victoriously was dependent on me.  I am so glad that God provided the “true secret to victorious living”.   For it in In Him “we live, and move, and have our meaning” (Acts 17:28).

“But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”  (Titus 3:4-7)

SELAH:  In your quiet time, read Ephesians 1:3-14.  Feel free to read it several times using a different translation or paraphrase; then journal how this scripture can help you live more victoriously.