“Soon afterward he
went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of
the kingdom of God…” Luke 8:1 (ESV)
“For everyone who has
been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome
the world— our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who
believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” 1 John 5:4-5 (ESV)
The Nike groundbreaking “Just Do It” television advertisements in the late 1980s highlighted sports
superstars showcasing their stellar skills that gave them the edge in gaining
the most victories in the field of athletics. The message communicated in these advertisements is you can win and be victorious, so just do it. "Just Do It" eventually became more than just a slogan. It is a mindset for achievement in life.
On the field of everyday life, many do not always cross the
finish line or hit the game winning shot. For many people, victory is something only
witnessed at sports events of someone else being victorious. It is only a thought, an elusive
idea; never an actual, personal experience.
Victory is something God wants, and has made
possible, for everyone to experience. Its possibility is through what is called
“The Gospel.” The gospel is most unique because of what it is—good news.
But
what makes the gospel good news? The gospel is good news declaring the message
of the cross. As one travels through the tapestry of the grace of God, one
experiences the power of the message of the cross. The apostle Paul makes the bold assertion
that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation (Rom. 1:16), and rightly so
because it adequately handles that which hurts and harms humanity the most, preventing
victory—sin. Thus, the gospel in its power carries the message of the cross, which is a
message of forgiveness, peace, grace, change, love, victory, and hope.
One of the great messages communicated through the cross is
the message of victory. The gospel is good news because in it God, through
Christ, gives us “the victory” we could not win for ourselves and on our own (1
John 5:4; 2 Cor. 2:14).
Victory is something God wants everyone to experience and has made it possible through Jesus Christ.
The words overcome
and victory in 1 John 5:4-5 are the same
Greek term nike. The term has various nuances: 1) to conquer, vanquish, or
subdue something in life; 2) to prevail or overpower someone in battle; 3) to
overcome or come off superior in a judicial sense of legal action. Nike simply
means “to win, to have victory.” In the Old Testament, explicit victories were
won over physical forces. In the New Testament, victories gained through Christ
are against the immaterial, unseen yet real entities that entangle humanity.
What victories are guaranteed for persons who accept and
believe that Jesus is the Son of God? What victories has Christ won for us
wherein we experience the good news of the gospel?