Walking in Victory

The New Testament Greek Word for Victory

Let’s explore the concept of victory as presented in the New Testament.

1 John 5:4-5

“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”.

The phrase “the Victory” is a definite article that highlights the uniqueness of this victory. It refers specifically to the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. The Greek word nikē, translated as “victory,” implies a conquest, specifically Jesus’ triumph over sin, death, the law, and Satan. This term is used only once in the New Testament in its noun form, but it appears elsewhere as nikos, meaning a concrete conquest or triumph, as seen in 1 Corinthians 15:57, which speaks of the gift of victory given to all who believe in Christ.

 

1 Corinthians 15:54-57
“So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’ ‘O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?’ The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Jesus’ victory ended the reign of death and Hades over humanity. Now, we too have this victory.

However, this victory becomes our living reality only when we walk in it—overcoming everything that Jesus conquered, including the world and its elements: the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. We overcome these by faith in Christ, even in the face of trials.

John 16:33
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

 

Revelation 12:11
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”

The word “overcome” signifies the active operation of our faith in relation to the victory of Jesus.

1 John 4:4
“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

 

1 John 5:4-5
“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

Here, “overcome” refers to our walk in victory. It results from our faith—not as a gift, but as an act of faith. It is the victory of Jesus activated in our lives through our walk and work of faith. The Greek word nikaō, translated as “overcome,” means to subdue, conquer, prevail, or get the victory.

The saint’s prevailing is his work of faith, revealed in his walk of faith. When you prioritize ministry, you ignite the process of continual victory over everything. You walk in the light of Jesus’ victory, experiencing His victory in all your endeavors and encounters. This makes you more than a conqueror.

Romans 8:35-39
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: ‘For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.’ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

In all the troubles you face, you are more than a conqueror. Engage in ministry with a super-victorious mindset, knowing that you are a victor in Christ.

The phrase “more than conquerors” is translated from the Greek word hupernikaō, which means to gain a surpassing victory or to vanquish beyond. This super-victory is assured in ministry. It is a decisive victory that accompanies us in our service to the Lord, demobilizing all known and unknown forces of darkness and evil.

Luke 10:1-3,17-19
“After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. Then He said to them, ‘The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.’ Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.’ And He said to them, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.'”

Walk in the victory of Jesus. Let it be a knowing in your understanding that victory is given to you. Your work of faith and ministry, regardless of the forces against you, has given you a decisive victory. You have conquered beyond measure, subduing everything under your authority.

Walk as a victor by being pragmatic in your call and ministry.

I call you blessed.


Reverend Austine Nnabuko is an insightful teacher of the gospel of Christ, with messages that reveal Christ, Christ in the believer, and what He enables men to do through ministry.

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