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The eighth chapter of Romans is a powerful passage of Scripture.  This section of the Bible follows on the heels of the apostle Paul’s angst about sin’s grip on the human heart.  Romans 7 resonates with us so well because we all share the same struggle.  As Paul put it, “For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.” (Romans 7:19)  By the end of that chapter Paul pointed unequivocally to the only One who was victorious over sin and death.  Jesus shares His victory with His followers that we might be free from sin’s grip on our lives.

What follows in Romans 8 is an articulation and celebration of the victory that Jesus has won over sin and death.  By His sacrifice and resurrection, He made it possible for the believer to experience His power in the day-to-day struggle with sin.  Three times in Romans 8 we learn how the resurrection of Christ has accomplished this for the believer.  And when we arrive at verse 37 we discover the phrase, “in Christ we overwhelmingly conquer”.  This term “overwhelmingly conquer” is created by combining the Greek words “hyper” with “nike” resulting in “hyper-victor”.

What is the crucial component of this “hyper victory” offered to believers?  It is the power of the resurrection of Jesus!  God authored and accomplished the miracle of raising Jesus from the dead (see Romans 8:11).  Now He desires to activate that power in the lives of His followers (see Ephesians 1:19-20).  What are the challenges you are facing today?  Are you aware of the power of Christ’s resurrection?  Are you accessing His victory for those challenges?  On the Sundays leading to Easter (April 5), we will explore our God given victory, expressed in Romans 8 in three ways.

As we enter into Easter this year, let us consider carefully and celebrate joyfully all that Jesus has accomplished for us!  To help you reflect more deeply on Christ’s sacrifice and victory, our friends at Focus on the Family Canada have provided us with an 8-day devotional.  Check out Words From The Cross, which can be read during Holy Week – beginning on Palm Sunday (March 29) and ending on Easter Sunday (April 5).