Christians Overcome by the Blood of the Lamb

"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." - Revelation 12:11

    Jesus Christ did not overcome after the manner of the religious ascetics. Had He overcome in that manner, He could not have been called the friend of publicans and sinners. On the other hand, Jesus Christ did not become a part of the religious establishment of His day. He died outside the camp (Heb. 13:12, 13). Like Christ, Christians overcome by suffering, not after the manner of religious ascetics. Prior to His death the Lord comforted His disciples and then told them they would suffer tribulation: "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). God never promised the elect a rose garden or a highway without any detours or rough roads. All who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer (II Tim. 3:12). The degree of suffering depends on our faithfulness in witnessing.

    Overcoming is continuous. God never begins something in His people without bringing it to completion. We overcome by the blood of the Lamb: "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death" (Rev. 12:11). Overcoming is impossible separate from the finished work of Christ. This is the ground of victory. Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin. The blood of the eternal covenant secures all the covenant gifts to the elect for all time (Heb. 13:20, 21). The blood of the Lamb signifies the death of Jesus Christ. This denotes the death of sin and the defeat of Satan himself.

    The elect owe their victory to the truth of which they are witnesses. The word God has spoken becomes a testimony. The business of the Christian is witnessing. Having the witness in himself, he sets to his seal that God is true (John 3:33). The Christian lives as a true witness and may die its martyr, as those who "loved not their lives unto the death" (Rev. 12:11). One Christian martyr of the past said that death was much sweeter to him with the testimony of truth than life with its least denial.