Are you a member of a book club whose book you have never read?The Bible is the best–selling book of all time. It adorns coffee tables and church pews. We swear on it in court and politicians take their oaths of office on it, yet few have actually read the Bible in its entirety and even fewer rightly divide and apply it.However, what is most troubling are the ones who say that their beliefs and practices are based upon the eternal truths of the Bible, but nothing can be further from the truth as those beliefs and practices are cultural derivations that are contrary to the God revealed in the Bible.Furthermore, if the Bible is properly interpreted and applied, it is a book of unity and not division for we are all equal before God in creation, we are equal before God in sin, and we are equal before God in salvation.This book has taken some of the most divisive and hotly debated topics of the day and run them through the prism of the Bible. The primary source of this book is the Bible. Therefore, this book is replete in scriptures from the Bible. Please take self–assessments in each chapter to determine if what you believe and practice aligns with the dictates and directives of the scriptures. For those who are unbelievers, please take into serious consideration what the Bible teaches about the person, promise, and power of Christ, not the misrepresentations of the Christ of culture. For those who consider themselves believers, truly honor and worship Him by realigning and recalibrating your beliefs and practices in accordance with the dictates and directives of the scriptures as indicated.But be aware that God in His foreknowledge knew that we would fail to live up to His standard of righteousness; therefore, Christ is the Lamb of God slain before the foundation of the world. So since all have sinned and fall short of God's glory, this is not a book about us versus them. This is not a book of condemnation, exclusion, and hate. This is a book of justification, inclusivity, and love for we are all equal before God in creation, equal before God in sin, and equal before God in salvation.The good news is no matter who we are or what we have done, God extends His mercy, grace, and love through faith alone in His Son and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ because righteousness could have been obtained by us being good enough, then Christ died in vain. We obtain right standing before God by believing what He has said in the Bible is true.The Lord Jesus Christ said in 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." Therefore, we can have peace and cheer in the midst of life's storms by trusting and depending on the person, promise, and power of Christ. Faith in Him gives the power to have victory over the world.It is this faith that hews hope out of the mountain of life's many despairs. It is this faith the size of a mustard seed that can move what appears to be insurmountable mountains of this life. It is this faith in the Christ revealed in the Bible––which is salvation––and not the faith revealed in culture––which is idolatry––that gives us power to overcome the world as we lie confidently each day and look resolutely forward with hope to a new heaven and a new earth.You see when you have the faith that overcomes the world, you have the power to be in the world but not of the world. You see when you have the faith that overcomes the world, you have power to resist the devil, and he will flee from you. You see when you have the faith that overcomes the world, you have the power to do all things through Christ who strengthens you. You see when you have the faith that overcomes the world, you have the power to live life above the circumstances. You see when you have the faith that overcomes the world, you have the power to understand that all things are not good but that they work together for good. You see when you have the faith that overcomes the world, you have the power to see that little becomes much when you place it in the Lord's hands. You see when you have the faith that overcomes the world, you have the power to call those things when they are not as if they are. You see when you have the faith that overcomes the world, you have the power to see the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. You see when you have faith that overcomes the world, you have power to rejoice in all things. You see when you have faith that overcomes the world, you have power to give thanks in all things. You see when you have the faith that overcomes the world, you have the power to love your neighbor as self. You see when you have faith that overcomes the world, you have the power to love your enemies. You see when you have the faith that overcomes the world, you have the power never to sight of the heavenly prize. You see when you have the faith that overcomes the world, you can be content in whatever state you are in. You see when you have the faith that overcomes the world, you can be strengthened with might in your inner being so that you can become incredibly indomitable and resourcefully resilient, wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove. You see when you have the faith that overcomes the world, you realize that no matter how the world sees you or treats you, you are a child of God blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ. You see when you have the faith that overcomes the world, you have the power to go through the flood and not be overcome and go through the fire and not be burned. You see when you have the faith that overcomes the world, you realize that you are a gifted member of the body of Christ. You see when you have the faith that overcomes the world, you have the power to become a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit who leads you and guides you into all truth. You see when you have the faith that overcomes the world, you have the power to have fellowship with the Godhead. You see when you have the faith that overcomes the world, you have the power to enjoy His presence now and forevermore.A faith that overcomes the world gives a victory over defeat, an achievement that beats, an accomplishment that conquers, an attainment that transcends, a tour de force that subdues, a championship that triumphs, an award that vanquishes, a feat that wins, an advantage that trounces, an abundance that prevails, a success that quells, a masterpiece that subdues, a magnum opus that masters.What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 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. (Romans 8:31–39)
-- Eldred C. Marshall III
