The Battle’s Already Been Won . . . What Battle?

Like any longstanding group of people, Christians have their own vocabulary and overused phrases.

Someone who comes to faith is said to be “born again.” A Christian who tells her coming-to-faith story is said to “give her testimony.” When it comes to sharing the good news of Jesus with non-believers, we urge each other to “speak the truth in love.” And when you see another Christian struggling with life or faith, you might be tempted to say, “Relax. The battle’s already been won.”

The words may sound wise and powerful, but what battle are we talking about? The struggle against sin and temptation? The fight to spread the gospel against Satan’s attacks? A real live war between two nations?

What does this saying really mean for the world, for all believers and, especially, for you?

7 Areas Where the Battle’s Already Been Won

Perfection: Achieved

For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. Hebrews 10:14. 

Do you battle a low sense of self-worth? Do you worry about letting down your peers, your teachers, your coaches, your parents, your coworkers, yourself?

Good news: You aren’t just “good enough.” You’ve been made perfect. Your faults, your weaknesses and your mistakes have all been smoothed over like the cracks in a cement sidewalk. Jesus washed you in his blood (another of those Christian sayings we sometimes glaze over because we’ve heard it so much).

You can’t be any better than perfect, and Jesus made you perfect FOREVER and holy. So let go of the stress of trying to live up to expectations because the battle’s already been won.

Related: Facting Failure: The Bottom Line of Philippians 4:13

Sin: No Longer Your Master

For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. Romans 6:14

This is a big one. You may never have been in bondage to a king, a prison warden, a trafficker, or a bank lender, but you probably know exactly what it’s like to be a slave. Because that’s what sin does to you. It pulls you in, chains you up, beats you down, and spits you out all covered in guilt, over and over again.

But if sin is a dragon, grace is a dragon-slayer. Under grace, you have the power to walk away. You have the warm blanket of forgiveness to wrap around yourself so you can try again. You’re not fighting this alone. You’ve got Jesus on your side and the battle’s already been won.

More on this in Help me, Jesus, I just can’t stop!

Justice: On the Way

I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. Revelation 19:11

Think of a time when you were hurt and felt like no one cared. Justice probably seemed as solid as a vapor. But justice will come, and when it does, it will be complete and final. No lawsuits needed, no hefty lawyer’s fees, no need to plead your case before a jury. You don’t even need any witnesses on your behalf because the Judge in heaven saw it all.

God will handle your need for justice in ways you never could. The battle’s already been won.

Imperfect Faith: No Worries

…fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. Hebrews 12:2

Do you ever fear your faith is not enough to get you into heaven? You believe Jesus died for you but you struggle with trusting God to get you through a rough week at school.

Will God hold that against you?

Have no fear, Jesus has made your faith perfect. Keep your eyes on him and let the Holy Spirit work in your heart. You don’t have to create perfect faith because Jesus is the perfector of your faith. The battle’s already been won.

Related: How Do I Know If I Am Acceptable to God? and What to do When You Start Questioning Your Beliefs.

Defending Your Faith: Handled

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Your atheist professor just put you on the spot in the middle of Advanced Biology. A teammate sneers when she sees you praying after a game. One of your peers bad-mouths you because you asked to change a few lines in a play you’ve been cast in that would turn your character toward a sinful lifestyle (true story in this family).

Do any of these situations make you want to slam the Word of God down someone’s throat? You don’t have to. God does not need defending and you are under his protective wing. Share the truth in love (a wise saying, by the way), but the battle for your defense—and God’s—has already been won.

For more, see Plug Into the Power of the Holy Spirit and How to Handle the Toughest Questions About God.

Fear: Let it Go

The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

No one fears a bully when her supersized, linebacker big brother is standing next to her. How about a supersized Deity who can stir the ocean with a single breath and turn mountains into plains with just one word? If we have that kind of power at our backs, why are we ever afraid at all?

Have no fear of anything, the battle’s already been won.

Related: Why You Can Trust God Instead of Freaking Out.

Before the Throne of God: Stand Tall

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1

If you think giving a speech, performing a piano jury, delivering a doctoral dissertation for a panel of reviewers, or standing before a judge for a criminal offense that you are 100-percent guilty of is scary, imagine what it will be like to stand before the Judge of the world and give an accounting of every wrong you’ve ever committed.

Except . . .

You won’t have to do that. Jesus has done it for you. When you finally stand before the throne of God, there will be nothing left for you to do but enter into his eternal presence. 

Related: What is the Hardest Thing to Believe About Christianity?

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57

The battle’s already been won. Now that’s a reason to rejoice!

For more: check out Fervr’s post Fighting the Good Fight.