You are More than a Conqueror

In Romans 8:37, the Apostle Paul declared that, “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors.” Exactly what are “these things” over which we have become victorious? In verse 35 of the same chapter, Paul says it is a victory over the hazards and hardships of life. Neither affliction nor distress nor persecution nor famine nor nakedness nor peril nor the sword can wrest us away from the love of Christ.

How is this possible? How can Paul say that we are ultimate victors when life’s challenges often leave us bruised and battered? Considering how often we must pick up the pieces of our lives, how can we say that we are conquerors? Maybe Paul is being overly optimistic and unreasonably positive. Not quite. Paul understands that we do not base our victory on human strength. No sooner did Paul say, “We are more than conquerors,” than he carefully added an important qualification, “through Him that loved us.” The victory is ours because of the God who loves us.

Accordingly, the truth of this text is that nothing in life or death can separate us from God’s eternal love. God’s love in Jesus is what keeps us secure in the midst of hard times. In fact, Paul listed various realities threatening us from day to day: death, life, angels, principalities, things present, things to come, powers, and so on. Yet he comes to this conclusion, “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors.”

This is precisely the word of encouragement I want to leave with you today: despite the difficulties of our days, you are more than a conqueror! Indeed, you are a super-victor! You are a consummate champion! You are transcendently triumphant! You are supremely victorious through Him who loves you and gave His life for you.

Whenever life gets the upper hand, remember this word. You may be beat up and beat down, but you are still a conqueror. You may be poor and destitute, but you are still a conqueror. The world may malign and mistreat you, but you are still a conqueror. Although you are tested, tried, and made to pass through the fires of affliction, you are still a conqueror. Although you often walk through the valley of the shadow of death, you are still a conqueror.

Moreover, you are not just a conqueror; you are more than a conqueror. Because He loves you, your victory exceeds the limits of an ordinary victory. Therefore, whenever you face the vagaries and vicissitudes of life, remember that the victory is abundantly yours, not because of your own power, strength, might, or wisdom; you are victorious because of the love that He has for you. But remember, the victory is not a life free of tribulation. Instead, the victory is to know that even in tribulation, Jesus’ promise is still true, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”