Victory in Jesus — E.A. Johnston

Victory Planned Before Creation

Before land, the foundation of the world, there has been victory in Jesus. For God saw a son as a willing sacrifice for sin, who came to earth to set men free from sin, both from the penalty and power of sin, on a bloody cross to the glory of the Father.

At Calvary there was victory in Jesus. Back yonder, in a perfect paradise, where insubordination and transgression of sin occurred in our first parents, who were a fountain of rune nature to all mankind, there has always existed a fountain of blood to cover all sin.

By victory in Jesus, that whosoever is plunged beneath that flood, that even their blackest sins should be made whiter than snow, though they be red like crimson, they should be as wool, for victory is in Jesus.

The repair of the breach between man and God has always been victory in Jesus. All through the eons and the corridors of time, there has been a resounding shout of victory in Jesus, that even the heavens and the earth cannot contain.

Eternity itself is full of victory in Jesus. In heaven, the multitude is engaged in worshiping the Lamb, in singing praises to victory in Jesus. Even the damned in hell, though full of regret and remorse, as they lay in chains of darkness, although they cannot appropriate it, but they can acknowledge that the redeemed of the Lord have victory in Jesus.

Victory Through God's Redemptive Acts in the Old Testament

When God told Noah to build an ark for the coming flood of destruction upon the earth for sin, and he placed a rainbow in the sky, it symbolized there was victory in Jesus. When the people of God stood on the borders of the Red Sea, with a pursuing army at their backside in a watery grave before them, God made a way because of victory in Jesus.

When Moses on the mount was handed the tablets written by the finger of God, there was victory in Jesus. When Joshua led the people into Canaan and the walls of Jericho fell like dominoes, there was victory in Jesus.

When Abraham willingly gave his only son Isaac as a sacrifice to God, as he stood atop Mount Moriah, he looked and in the distance he saw Calvary, he saw victory, victory in Jesus. Even in the burning of Sodom and Gomorrah, God got the glory of his justice on sin and Lot's delivery was victory in Jesus.

When Jacob wrestled with the angel at the brook Jabbok all night, not letting go until he received a blessing, though he halted on his thigh for the rest of his days, there was victory in Jesus. When the nation of Israel wanted a king, there was victory in a coming king, victory in Jesus.

Christ's Incarnation, Ministry, and Atoning Cross

When Jesus stepped out of heaven to come to earth as a baby in a manger, there was victory in Jesus. As he went about his earthly ministry, doing good, feeding the hungry, healing the sick, through towns and villages, there was victory in Jesus.

As blind Bartimaeus received his sight and followed Jesus kicking up his heels in delight, for he had found victory in Jesus. As little Zacchaeus climbed a tree and encountered the Son of God, he came down from that tree a changed man by the victory in Jesus.

At Calvary, with a bloodstained Christ nailed to the cross for the sins of man, there was a shout in heaven for the victory in Jesus. At Calvary, through the death of the Son of God, there was triumph over the powers of darkness, where captivity was led captive to be led in a triumphant procession in victory in Jesus.

Resurrection, Emmaus, and the Victorious Early Church

On that bloody cross was nailed the slain sacrifice of the Son of God, the substitute for sin, and even the very stones of the earth moved and quaked, proclaiming the glorious victory in Jesus. As the disciples ran to the tomb to find it empty, for in the very resurrection of the Son of God signified victory in Jesus.

As he appeared to many and to the forlorn disciples on the road to Emmaus, they were stirred in their souls by the victory in Jesus. When the early church was persecuted and the blood of the martyrs spilled onto the streets, Stephen, as he was stoned, could look and behold a standing Christ who signified victory in Jesus.

As Peter and John were arrested and beaten for their testimony, they praised God for the privilege of proclaiming victory in Jesus. The early church laid her life down in willing sacrifice to the victory in Jesus.

As the Apostle Paul first saw the persecutor of the early church, after he encountered Christ and was converted, he labored tirelessly in the planning of churches all over corrupt and pagan Gentile Greece, where he endured many trials and much suffering for the cause of the gospel, for the victory that is in Jesus.

And as Paul wrote his epistles in chains of prison, he gladly laid down his neck to the martyr's sword for the great victory in Jesus. And down through the ages, through darkness and light, there has been victory in Jesus.

Christian Perseverance Through Persecution and Revival

Let those Satan rage and hellish hosts revile. Nothing can stop the victory in Jesus. Not any malice of any Caesar, Pope, or Queen can quench or silence the victory in Jesus. Let the fire consume the saints at the stake.

Let the wild animals tear the physical body apart in the arena. No persecution or bodily suffering can silence the victory in Jesus. The more Christians you kill, the more victory in Jesus. The hotter the persecution, the more the church thrives by victory in Jesus.

Let oppressive governments force the church underground in China. It will only produce more vital Christianity through victory in Jesus. In a bold and Luther, fueled a reformation by the victory in Jesus, Wesleyan Whitfield spearheaded revivals that awoke two continents for God and the gospel because they were men gripped by the victory in Jesus.

Though at times slumbering in spiritual decay, the church will ignite in powerful revival by victory in Jesus. Though the world grow more violent and sinful by the day, there is always a remnant in the land proclaiming victory in Jesus.

Christ's Return, Final Judgment, and Eternal Triumph

And like a thief in the night, shall the returning Christ at the trumpet blast once more appear. There'll be victory in Jesus at the final judgment of all mankind where at the great white throne the books are opened and the lies of men are revealed and reviewed and scrutinized by the judge of all the earth at whose face the very earth and heaven flat away will be a day of victory in Jesus.

There'll be groans of misery mixed with shouts of hallelujah in that final heavenly courtroom scene at the victory in Jesus and at the final dissolution of all things where a new heaven and a new earth appear where God in eternity will wipe away all tears.

There's victory in Jesus for he is the lily of the valley, the bright and morning star, chief among ten thousand. There's victory in Jesus and at the great supper of the marriage of the lamb in the presence of saints and angels there'll be shouts of glory to God in the highest and hallelujahs that ring like bells for time and eternity continually announcing victory in Jesus forever and ever.

Amen.