FAITH IS THE VICTORY

John H. Yates, 1837–1900

… this is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. (1 John 5:4)

Saving faith must always be reflected in a working faith. Our response of faith to the redemptive work of Christ transforms us; but then we need a daily motivating faith if we want to live overcoming lives. To live by faith is to believe with conviction that God’s purposes for us will ultimately prevail. In fact, prevailing faith anticipates victory and celebrates in advance. For example, read the Old Testament account of how singers preceded the warriors into battle and the defeat of the enemy was accomplished (2 Chronicles 20:20–22).

Our faith does not develop merely through intellectual assent to biblical dogma or through wishful thinking. Rather, it is a lifetime commitment to the person of Christ with a response of obedience to His Word (Romans 10:17).

This hymn of faith and victory was first published in 1891 in the Christian Endeavor Hymnal. The author, John Henry Yates, was a licensed Methodist preacher who was later ordained by the Baptists. Ira Sankey, the composer, is often called the “father of the gospel song.”

Encamped along the hills of light, ye Christian soldiers rise, and press the battle ere the night shall veil the glowing skies. Against the foe in vales below let all our strength be hurled; faith is the victory, we know, that overcomes the world.

His banner over us is love, our sword the Word of God; we tread the road the saints above with shouts of triumph trod. By faith they like a whirl-wind’s breath swept on o’er ev’ry field; the faith by which they conquered death is still our shining shield.

On ev’ry hand the foe we find drawn up in dread array; let tents of ease be left behind, and onward to the fray! Salvation’s helmet on each head, with truth all girt about: The earth shall tremble ’neath our tread and echo with our shout.

To him that overcomes the foe white raiment shall be giv’n; before the angels he shall know his name confessed in heav’n. Then onward from the hills of light, our hearts with love aflame; we’ll vanquish all the hosts of night in Jesus’ conq’ring name.

Chorus: Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory! O glorious victory that overcomes the world.

Ask God to make you a vivid demonstration to your associates and friends of a triumphant faith in Christ—an exclamation of faith, not a question mark. Sing this musical truth as you go—

For Today: Galatians 2:20; James 2:18; 1 John 5:1–12; Jude 3

Osbeck, K. W.

• I am crucified with Christ, but I live, yet not I anymore, but Christ liveth in me: and in that I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith in the Son of God, who hath loved me, and given himself for me. Galatians 2:20
• But some man might say, Thou hast the faith and I have works: show me thy faith out of thy workis, and I will show thee my faith by my works. James 2:18
• Whosoever believeth that Jesus is that Christ, is born of God: and everyone that loveth him, which begat, loveth him also which is begotten of him. In this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not burdenous. For all that is born of God, overcometh this world: and this is that victory that hath overcome this world even our faith. Who is it that overcometh this world, but he which believeth that Jesus is that Son of God? This is that Jesus Christ that came by water and blood: not by water only, but by water and blood: and it is that Spirit that beareth witness: for that Spirit is truth. For there are three, which bear record in the earth, the Spirit, and the Water and the Blood: and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God, which he testified of his Son. He that believeth in that Son of God, hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God, hath made him a liar, beecause he believed not the record, that God witnessed of that his Son. And this is that record, to wit, that God hath given unto us eternal life, and this life is in that his Son. He that hath that Son, hath that life: and he that hath not that Son of God, hath not that life. 1 John 5:1–12
• Beloved, when I gave all dilligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, to exhort you, that ye should earnestly contend for the maintenance of the faith, which has once given unto the Saints. Jude 3