When finally he faced death on a torture stake and the Roman governor questioned him with regard to his kingship, he could reply: “You yourself are saying that I am a king. What shows that Jesus never faltered in his conquest?Ĩ Jesus did not waver in his integrity, for he knew that he must be a conqueror down to the end. But the ruling class, and especially the religious leaders, became his bitter opponents.Ĩ. Throughout Galilee, in the Roman province of Perea and on into Jerusalem itself, Jesus preached the glad tidings as world conqueror and Messiah. 4:17) An electrifying message this! God’s kingdom was indeed at hand, in the person of the anointed Jesus himself. “From that time on Jesus commenced preaching and saying: ‘Repent, you people, for the kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.’” ( Matt. How did Jesus launch out on his campaign of conquest?ħ As John the Baptizer’s work came to a close, Jesus launched out on his major campaign of conquest. 6:17) Under temptation by Satan in the wilderness, he three times turned back the adversary, saying, “It is written.” His conquest was based on adherence to the Word of God. He found delight in that Word, and became skilled in using it as “the sword of the spirit.” ( Eph. 8:35, 37-39, American Standard Version.Ħ Jesus himself illustrated, while here on earth, how we may complete this conquest by faith.
in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” Then, expressing our unwavering conviction of Jehovah’s inseparable love for us, which is so essential a part of our faith, he says: “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”- Rom. (a) How may we be “more than conquerors”? (b) What conviction is an essential part of our faith?ĥ Speaking for all such conquerors, the apostle Paul declares: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?. It is, however, a conquest that we must maintain ‘through thick and thin,’ out of appreciation for the love shown to us by Jehovah and his Son.ĥ. We launch out on world conquest when we turn around from following the ways of the world and, on the basis of our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, dedicate our lives to Jehovah and receive water baptism. No, we do not have to wait until Har–Magedon to make that conquest. 11:1, 6 12:2.Ĥ As long as we hold unflinchingly to this faith, we may say that we have conquered the world. This faith is anchored in the promises of the God “who cannot lie.” It looks intently to Jesus as its Perfecter and as God’s Chief Agent for fulfilling all of His grand purposes in connection with his kingdom.- Titus 1:2 Heb. 3:11-14) It is convinced of the existence of the one living God Jehovah and that he will vindicate his position as Sovereign Lord of the universe. Like ‘gold, silver and precious stones,’ it is incombustible. True Christian faith, far different from credulity built on shifting sands of emotion or superstition, is built on the sure foundation of Jesus Christ. But how? As one of his beloved followers later put it: “This is the conquest that has conquered the world, our faith.”- 1 John 5:4.ģ What kind of conquest is this conquest by faith? Well, to have faith means to be so thoroughly convinced concerning things unseen or things of the future that these become a reality to the believer. 53:3) Moreover, he said that they, too, would conquer the world. On the eve of his execution he could tell his disciples: “Take courage! I have conquered the world.” ( John 16:33 Mark 6:3 Isa.
Yet this man-Jesus Christ-is beyond compare as a world conqueror. When the Roman imperial power killed him, his few followers were scattered. Yet his conquest has been complete, and for the eternal good of those who acknowledge his kingship.Ģ Many stumbled over this powerful conqueror, for they thought him to be nothing more than a humble carpenter’s son. He boasted of no armed hordes of warriors, no great armadas of ships. Mighty Pharaoh of Egypt, boastful Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, Alexander the Great, the Caesars of Rome, Napoleon, Hitler-their glory was indeed short-lived! However, there is one world conqueror whose glory will never fade. But, finally, all of these had to bow in defeat. HISTORY tells of many would-be world conquerors. (a) What has been the common experience of would-be world conquerors? (b) how has one world conqueror differed from these? (c) Why is the conquest by this One and his followers beyond compare? “This is the conquest that has conquered the world, our faith.”- 1 John 5:4.ġ, 2.