PHIUPPIANS warfare which we all must face (Ephesians 6:10-18). It is interesting to note that God does not tell us to march in the battle, or to con quer. We are simply exhorted to "stand." The Lord has already ac complished the conquering. This is the difference between offensive and defensive warfare. In the latter we have the ground and only seek to keep it, whereas in the former we have to wage a constant fight. Christ defeated the devil at the cross in order that we might gain the victory. By the resurrection, God proclaimed His Son victor over the whole realm of darkness. This is the inheritance we have been given. What has Jesus Christ done for those who have trusted Him? Cer tainly one of the greatest is that He died to bring us salvation. Through faith in Him our sins can be re moved and purified. He bore our judgment at Calvary. The Bible says that Cod has removed our sins as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). He will remember them against us no more forever (Isaiah 43:25). Through His death we are offered Christ's righteous ness in the place of our own which is totally inadequate. The Gospel teaches that Cod allowed the Lord to die that you might be able to found in Him, not having your own righteousness, but that which is through the faith of Jesus Christ our Lord. This is the first great truth of Biblical Christianity. Then it is certainly true that our Saviour achieved a tremendous vic tory when He was raised again from the dead. Through faith Jesus Christ not only becomes our Saviour personally, but also He intimately becomes our Lord and Master.
Knowing Him does not mean that life will always be smooth. Our Sav iour knew temptations and suffer ing as well. We, too, can know Christ's power in the midst of suf ferings and trials. Difficulties come not to depress or defeat us but to provide opportunities for the su pernatural power of the Lord Jesus Christ to be seen in our lives. What a great tribute the Apostle Paul paid to believers in Philippi when he declared that they were dearly beloved and longed for. He further avowed that they were his joy and his crown (4:1). Because of I our high and sacred calling we are to be mindful of the exhortation to "stand fast" in the sacred truths which have been entrusted to us by Christ. Our Saviour conquered death so that those who follow Him might have life. We can be grateful also that He has promised to reveal His will to each of us. God has marked down a special path for His redeemed children to follow. We are not to deviate from that estab lished guidance. The thing that makes daily vic tory possible is that Jesus, through our faith in Him, lives within us directing us on the upward way. While He certainly gave us the Bible to lead us, yet we also have His per fect life as our example. In the realm of the spiritual, the Holy Spir it has already provided the genius within us to defeat the devil and to bring victory in all our experiences. Paul longed for his fellow believ ers who were in distant Philippi. He thought of them often there in his Roman prison. This is why he wanted them to stand fast in the Lord. Although in persecution and bondage the Apostle was one who lived above the troubles of life, he
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