Dominion Bible StudyChikamu

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37; ESV)

Much of the time, we do not feel like conquerors. In fact, many of us feel like we are barely even staying in the daily battle of life, with all of its anxieties and hardships. This passage of Scripture reminds us of two things we often get confused about. First, truth is determined by our faith in God’s Word, not in what we see with our eyes. We all have bad days. We all struggle with various weaknesses that lead us to sin. Most of us have asked the question, “How can God call me a conqueror when I continue to fall so often?” The second thing we must recognize in this verse is where our strength to conquer comes from. We often stop reading the verse after the word “conquerors,” but we miss the most important part, “…through him..” Without the power of the Holy Spirit inside of us—made possible by the death of Christ— we do not and could not have the power to conquer sin. This is made clear earlier in the same chapter, “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact, the Spirit of God dwells in you.” (Romans 8:7-9a)

In other words, you are more than a conqueror because you are not fighting with your own strength but with God’s strength. Another way to say it is that God is fighting your battles for you, alongside you, all while the Holy Spirit is praying for you in your weakness according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27) He knows what you need. He knows what is good and best for you. He is equipping you with the power to overcome the works of the flesh so you may glorify God through holy living. Therefore, rather than focusing on our circumstances or failures, we must rely on God’s faithfulness to His Word. The key is to remember you and I cannot win the battle on our own, but with God, we cannot lose. The next time you think you cannot overcome temptation, remember the Spirit of Christ lives inside of you, and He has overcome the world. (John 16:33)