The Battle’s Over. Really. 早已得胜

[Dexu Xia]

The Battle’s Over. Really.

We were . . . buried with him. Romans 6:4

For twenty-nine years after World War II ended, Hiroo Onoda hid in the jungle, refusing to believe his country had surrendered. Japanese military leaders had dispatched Onoda to a remote island in the Philippines (Lubang) with orders to spy on the Allied forces. Long after a peace treaty had been signed and hostilities ceased, Onoda remained in the wilderness. In 1974, Onoda’s commanding officer traveled to the island to find him and convince him the war was over.

For three decades, Onoda lived a meager, isolated existence, because he refused to surrender—refused to believe the conflict was done. We can make a similar mistake. Paul proclaims the stunning truth that “all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death” (Romans 6:3). On the cross, in a powerful, mysterious way, Jesus put to death Satan’s lies, death’s terror, and sin’s tenacious grip. Though we’re “dead to sin” and “alive to God” (v. 11), we often live as though evil still holds the power. We yield to temptation, succumbing to sin’s seduction. We listen to lies, failing to trust Jesus. But we don’t have to yield. We don’t have to live in a false narrative. By God’s grace we can embrace the true story of Christ’s victory.

While we’ll still wrestle with sin, liberation comes as we recognize that Jesus has already won the battle. May we live out that truth in His power.

How are you tempted to believe that death and sin still hold power over your life? Where can you see Christ’s victory already present in the world?

Jesus, I know You’ve won the battle over evil and darkness. Would You help me to live this out?

早已得胜

我们……和祂一同埋葬。—罗马书6章4节

第二次世界大战结束了29年之后，日本士兵小野田弘男仍躲在丛林里，不愿相信自己的国家已经投降。二战期间，他奉命前往菲律宾偏远的卢邦岛侦测敌情。纵然参战各国早已停战并签署了和平条约，但多年来小野田弘男仍执意留在丛林里。直到1974年，小野田弘男的指挥官前往岛上寻找他，并且向他确认战争已经结束了。

这29年来小野田弘男过着困苦独居的生活，因为他拒绝投降，拒绝相信战争早已终止。有时，我们也会犯同样的错误。保罗宣扬那令人震惊的真理：“岂不知我们这受洗归入基督耶稣的人，是受洗归入祂的死吗？”（罗马书6章3节）耶稣在十字架上，以祂奇妙的大能击溃撒但的谎言、死亡的恐怖和罪恶的辖制。尽管我们“在罪的权势面前是死的”，“在上帝面前是活的”（11节，新普及译本），但我们在生活中，却仿佛仍受到罪的捆绑，被试探所胜，屈从各种罪的诱惑，听信谎言，不信靠耶稣。但其实我们不必向罪屈服，也无须生活在虚幻当中。靠着上帝的恩典，我们可以全然相信基督已经得胜了！

纵然我们仍与罪恶交战，但若相信耶稣早已在属灵的争战中赢得胜利，我们就能得着自由。盼望你我能倚靠祂的大能活出得胜的生命！

主耶稣，我知道祢已战胜邪恶与黑暗，
恳求祢帮助我活出得胜的生命！

在何种情况下，你会以为死亡和罪恶仍掌控你的生命？
在现今世界中，你从哪里看到基督早已得胜的事实？