Christ, Creed and Conquest

As conquerors in Christ true Christians are promised incomprehensible eternal rewards. Since the rewards will last eternally we will have to live as everlasting immortals to benefit from such promised rewards. But precisely

what are those rewards promised to conquering Christians?

1. Co-heirship of the Universe with Christ – Ro 8:17, Js 2:5

2. Co-Rulership over the nations after Christ’s return – Rev 2:26-27

3. Citizens in the new Jerusalem – Heb 11:10-16, 12:22, Rev 3:12, 22:14

4. Perpetual Access to the Tree of Life – Rev 2:7; 22:14

5. Never face death again; given eternal existence – Rev 2:11; 20:6

6. Given the Family Name of the Eternal God; becoming God's own Family – Rev 3:12

7. Seated with Christ on the right hand of God the Father – Rev 3:21, Eph 2:6

To inherit these fabulously indescribably glorious Spiritual rewards and blessings requires spiritual conquest—victory over the negative sinful forces of life. And that is undergirded by doctrinal purity, creedal clarity and clear conscience. These are elements of spiritual armory required for growing holy spiritual character. This is reflected in Peter’s last instruction to the Church: “But grow [increase, overcome, conquer] in grace, and in the knowledge [doctrines, creed] of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.” [2Pe 3:18.]

If there be no doctrinal purity there can be no correct creedal conscience, integrity, and morality. And where the latter is lacking there can never be true spiritual growth, or conquest—victory over the spiritual forces and powers ever arrayed against the true Christian. Where victory is lacking, true and everlasting Christ-like character cannot be built. Thus, the calling—if ever there were a calling—into the fellowship with Christ and the Father is shipwrecked.

Just as there were immoral interlopers, malevolent provocateurs and iniquitous impostors from both the Gentile and Jewish religious fraternities during the first century, intent upon upsetting the faith, the doctrinal beliefs and convictions of the body of believers in Christ, so today, there are, similarly, a brood of imposters who pretend to proclaim faith in Christ but who broadcast a false gospel—a fake evangel. In a scathing rebuke against such the Apostle Paul warns the young evangelist Titus:

Titus 1:10 “For there are many unruly [insubordinate, disobedient] and vain talkers [mischievous wranglers] and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision [Jews]: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert [spiritually overthrow] whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake [for shameful monetary gain]. 12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies [lazy, useless, and unproductive]. 13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound [uncorrupted] in the faith [in creed; in doctrinal purity]; 14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men [as encapsulated in the Mishna and Talmud and Gemara], that turn [pervert, and turn away from] the truth. 15 Unto the pure all things are pure [as determined to be pure by the Word of God]: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure [as determined pure by the Word of God]; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable [idolatrous], and disobedient [to His holy Law, the Ten Commandments], and unto every good work reprobate.”

To overcome their wicked influence and misleading teachings—their false doctrines, their creedal contamination and faith perversions—Paul urged Titus and the true Christ-ordained ministry to hold “fast the faithful word as [they] hath been taught, that [they] may be able by sound [uncorrupted and true] doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers” [Titus 1:9].

Doctrinal purity is of the essence if one is to retain a creedal conscience free from perverse influences. It is thus important to be ever vigilant about our doctrinal views, our convictions, our faith, and its application—our lifestyle of faith-obedience.

It is incumbent upon the called-out ones [the saints] to make “their calling and election sure” [2 Pet 1:10]. The words calling and election implies that it originates from outside yourself! You cannot call yourself into the body of Christ. It’s a task belonging to the Heavenly Father alone. He as Father determines who will become His children, and when [John 6:44, 65].

Here are some considerations along this thought-trajectory of being victorious in our calling:

1. Never allow your spiritual life to be defined and determined by others, be it individuals or even historic corporate ecclesiastical structures [Churches]. Personally examine the premises, the assumptions and the biblical veracity of doctrinal statements inherent within the corporate creed. 2. Examine the TEXT! Search and prove whether statements are true [Acts 17:11]. The power to determine your doctrinal correctness and purity is yours as a divine gift imparted to you by the Eternal God. It is not a human impartation. As a free moral being you have a personal salvific duty towards yourself. You are admonished to make your salvation sure, to fight the good fight, to overcome to be granted eternal life—for outside the kingdom, consigned to eternal damnation, are the liars, cowards, sexual deviants, whoremongers, idolaters and murderers [Rev 22]. 3. Obey the Eternal. Scripture as revealed to us by the Holy Spirit provides a spiritual knowledge, insight, understanding and supernatural wisdom. This in turn is based upon our obedience to the LAW of Yehovah [Ps 111:10, Prov 3:1-4]. 4. Focus on the spiritual dimensions and responsibilities of the truly Christian life. Think on “whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things … and the God of peace shall be with you" [Phil 4:8-9].

5. Endure to the end. It WILL be tough! Of His true followers Christ said, they “shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endures to the end shall be saved" [Mat 10:22]. The CHRISTIAN calling is not designed for quitters and cowards: “… if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition [Greek: damnable destruction]; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul” [Heb 10:38-39]. Persistence in fighting the good fight IN TRUE FAITH will yield the great rewards of eternity! [Do not misunderstand: our victorious battles yield REWARD –NOT SALVATION! THER’E’S NOTHING WE CAN DO TO SECURE OUR SALVATION. Salvation is a free gift from the Father through our acceptance of Christ as Saviour. However, if we do not “cooperate” with His spirit and live within His love [love being the keeping of His commandments] there cannot be salvation. We are no better than a demon. To believe is worthless unless it is accompanied by righteous living—sinless, holy, COMMANDMENT KEEPING lives. To confess faith in Christ is meaningless without obedience! Faith without works is death! The DEVILS ALSO BELIEVE and tremble, but they won’t obey. [See James 2:17-20.] Therefor, fight the good fight of obedience to the laws of the Eternal, to the end—whenever that end may be for you!

6. CHOOSE the WAY OF THE ETERNAL, DAILY! To live the overcoming life, the life of doctrinal integrity, of clearly grasped creedal conscientiousness and spiritual conquest, we have to choose EVERY DAY—no, every second of every day!—to live the Christ-filled and Christ-directed life. “Choose ye this day” whom you will serve, and how [Josh 24:15]. Each day is a day of choosing. Choosing life or death. Living or dying. Each one of us must make that vital decision each day—others cannot CHOOSE for us! EACH ONE OF US WILL GIVE ACCOUNT PERSONALLY TO GOD ON HOW AND WHAT WE CHOSE [Ro 14:12]. “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou may love the LORD thy God, and that thou may obey His voice, and that thou may cleave unto him: for he is thy life …” [Deut 30:19-20a].

7. YEHOVAH, THE ETERNAL CREATOR, IS THE SOLE GIVER OF ETERNAL LIFE. This significant truth, “He is our life!” SHOULD NOT BE MERE "HEAD KNOWLEDGE" but soul-force, moment-by-moment spirit awareness. Psalm 1:2 iterates the thought thus for the righteous living, victory aspiring saint: "... his [her] delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth [s]he meditate day and night."  Do not assume that SPIRITUAL success –victory, conquest – can be had without living within the law of the Eternal Father and Christ, “I have strength for all things in Christ who empowers me … through Him who infuses inner strength into me” [Php 4:13, Amplified].

David exults in Yehovah when he exclaims: Yehovah is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? Yehovah is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? [Ps 27:1].

The ultimate source of spiritual victory is through the power of the Holy Spirit in and through the enablement of Christ. We will not be able to survive in a spiritual warzone with mere human defence mechanisms—academic learning, science, psychology, wealth, political astuteness, or any other devilishly designed mind-science programme.

Many believers have, true to the prophecies in Revelation 2 and 3, succumbed to a lukewarm, Laodicean attitude; some have lost their first love; others have dabbled in demonic digressions and scripturally surrendered to “scholarliness”; and many have been overtaken by sin—fornication, adultery, and idolatry on the internet platforms of Tik-Tok, You Tube, Facebook and other equally absorbing platforms; they encamp around the night-fires of spiritual Snoozeville in the dusty, desiccated Valley of Dry Bones. Spiritual death has slithered into their sleeping bag. They are entrapped in a survival mentality, thinking barely enough is enough. They have been duped by a compromising church leadership that Christmas, Easter, and the rest of the pagan sacred days, are “acceptable” feasts whilst scuppering the true holy festivals of the Eternal as outlined in Leviticus 23. They are spiritually, mentally, and psychologically entombed within churchian tradition and scrappy sciolistic suppositional sacrosanctity whilst languidly awaiting the “day of the Lord”.

Paul had to give such lazy, self-deluded Christians a shove from behind to get them thinking straight and become spiritually regenerated. Some were so "spiritual" in their anticipation of Christ’s return that they packed up their chattels and “retired” from life, living and loving. Eventually they ran out of supplies and had to mooch off other brethren to live. Paul said to them: “If you are too ‘spiritual’ to work then starve, physically.” He who will not work shall not eat!

"[W]e commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly [living lazy lives, GNB], working not at all, but are busybodies” [2Th 3:10-11]. [Ledigheid is the duiwel se oorkussing! That is, "Idle hands are the devil’s workshop!"]

Like these ancient Thessalonians, some today are simply in a “waiting” mode instead of a “doing” frame of mind. Like the five virgins who did not prepare sufficiently for their Master’s coming, they will undertake a midnight scurry to lamp-oil vendors to light up their darkened paths to the groom’s chamber only to be turned away – too late, too little, too unprepared to meet the Master to deliver them from this evil society and the ensuing “great tribulation”.

Some, like certain world “leaders”, have escaped to their dens. These early prepper exodists have taken refuge already, spiritually. They have departed from this world. Some church leaders have booked caves for themselves and a few favorites and loved ones somewhere in the Middle-East. Others are indolently staring into the Eastern horizon, awaiting the appearance of the “sign of the Son of man”—and some rapturous angelic upjerk.

Christ admonished His followers: “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his Master has made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his Master when he comes shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods” [Mat 24:45-47]. Working in the vineyard is required for achievement, victory and reward!

Just trying to make It through each day without a spiritual strategy to achieve some set spiritual objective is a losing life of purposelessness and wholly counterintuitive. A Christian has a definite and well-defined goal—a goal established by Christ himself. A long-term objective which is not passive but active and dynamic.

The vigor and force of the true follower is activated by the dictum, “Thy kingdom come…” [Mt 6:10]. It’s a daily DESIRE as is the desire for “our daily bread”.

This DESIRE motivates, engenders and inspires us to conquer society, conquer self, and conquer sin. We seek and design ways to creatively, intelligently, strategically and victoriously navigate our lives through and over the hurdles and obstacles of life, each day.

Some Christians engage in spiritual avoidance stratagems and subterfuges. But in the end we have to face the reality of our actions. For each day we live—wastefully or otherwise—we must give account unto him who is the Judge of all who ever lived—whether now alive or dead. Every one of us shall give account of himself to God [Rom 14:12].

If we do not take stock of our lives daily, repenting of sins and weaknesses as manifested in our trials [1 John 1:7-9] we will be troubled in conscience and our creedal clarity will fade; callousness gradually envelops our conscience, and our spiritual fight becomes weakened and may turn into flight!

AT 1 Timothy 1:18 Paul states: “This charge I commit unto you … war a good warfare...” To fight a “good warfare” means to engage with the objective of winning! Armies do not engage in battle with the objective of losing! Conquest, victory, is the focus and desired goal.

How does one “war a good warfare”? Paul explains in the next verse: “Holding faith [credence, moral conviction], and a good conscience; [or, a pure conscience, 1 Tim 3:9] which some having put away, [and] concerning faith have made shipwreck!” [1 Tim 1:19.]

To keep the faith, to retain clear creedal conscience, to retain clarity of conscience, to conquer by good spiritual warfare we have to be prepared, ready to face the enemy from without and within; from around, above and beneath. Paul, as usual, sums up the force of this truth succinctly to Timothy when he urges: “Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly [not half way!] to them; that thy profiting [spiritual progress] may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine [“Watch yourself and watch your teachings.” (GNB)] continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee” [1 Tim 4:15-16].

Like the man from Lamancha, let our hearts be brave, and strong and true. Or, to personalize the communication from Yehovah to Yoshua: “Be determined and confident” [GNB] … “Be strong and very courageous, that you may observe … all the law … turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go” [Josh 1:6-7].

As the battle rages, the daily denouement of this earthly drama playing itself off on the cosmic stage of eternity within a fragment of time, will ensure eternal rewards as detailed above for the very courageous and victorious in Christ.

and through Christ. May that be each of us!