One of the greatest hindrances to victorious Christian living is the lack of assurance of one's salvation. If we continually doubt God's forgiveness in our lives, Satan renders us ineffective. I've met many Christians who long for victory, but seem to always find themselves struggling and defeated. If there's no security in our relationship to God, then defeat is assured and victory is only a passing dream.

Many years ago, I had a friend who continually struggled with God's acceptance though he had come to know Christ. He grew up in an abusive home. His father was an alcoholic and often beat the children when he was in a drunken stupor. Consequently, when my friend became a Christian, he had a distorted view of God as his father. Any time that he did something wrong, he felt rejected by God and feared what might happen to him. One day a Christian leader began to disciple my friend. He not only taught him the truths of God's Word, but he also was a living example of those truths.

He showed grace to my friend when he failed. He didn't berate him, but he encouraged him. When he fell spiritually, he picked him up. My friend began to experience more and more victory in his life daily. I didn't see my friend for many years after that. Not long ago, he was visiting the city where I live. He called me and wanted to get together for a meal. The change in his life was incredible. He was secure. He no longer was trying to get everyone's acceptance. He knew that he was accepted by God, and that had released him to grow and mature in Christ.

The Bible calls Satan "the accuser of the brethren." He accuses us to God. He accuses us to our fellow believers. But most of the damage inflicted upon us comes when we believe his accusations about us. We become what we believe. If we believe what God says, we find ourselves growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ. If we believe the accusation of the devil, we become defeated.

I'm not speaking about the new "name it and claim it" theology. I'm speaking of the old time, old fashioned "standing on the promises of God" theology. God's Word says, "These things have I written unto you who believe on the name of the son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life" (1 John 5:13). The Bible says that we can know that we have eternal life - not hope, wish, or think that we have eternal life. We can rest in the absolute assurance that we are the children of God - not because of anything that we have done, but because of His grace.

The verse immediately prior to the one just quoted tells us how we can know for sure that we have eternal life. It says, "He who has the Son has the life" (1 John 5:12). How do we know that we have eternal life? If we have the Son of God in our lives, then we can rest in the firm certainty that we have that eternal life because God's Word says we do. We must then learn to stand on the promises of God.

Victory flows from a secure relationship with God. It comes from standing on the eternal promises of God's Word. It's the practical knowledge of the wonderful love of the Father for His children. That's why the Bible says that "we are more than conquerors through Christ who loved us." We're not simply victors. We are "more than conquerors."

When we comprehend this great truth, we begin to soar with the eagles. There's a confidence that permeates our character. Winners are always confident - not overconfident. Just confident. Winners know their potential. That's settled in their hearts and minds. As believers in Jesus Christ, our potential for victory in the Christian life is unlimited because Jesus has secured the victory for us. We walk in His victory, not ours. Victory comes from a fixed future in heaven, a safe relationship with the Savior on Earth, and a confident conviction about our position in Christ. The most secure place in the world to live is in Christ and to know that He is living in us. That's the blessed assurance that we have.