"We shall overcome" is the theme song of civil rights workers. If you think of the title of the song rather than its words, you will agree that it could be adopted by almost any group which disagrees with another—unions against management, political party against political party, etc. The world is full of strife today and each cause supposes it is right and the other wrong. When people talk of overcoming they mean overriding their opponents' opinions, and frustrating their wills—often by violence.

"Overcoming" is an expression borrowed from the Bible which uses it in an entirely different sense. "This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" (1 John 5:4,5). Here is a thought that is completely different. God calls man not to overcome his enemies in this world but to overcome the world itself, by faith in Jesus as the Son of God. "By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, let any man should boast" (Eph. 2:8,9). Man likes to think he can work his way to heaven for this makes him feel important. But if you want God's salvation you must first humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, admit that you are a lost sinner, and say like Job, "I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes" (Job 42:6).

Christ came to seek and save lost sinners. "Come unto Me," He said, "and I will give you rest" (Matt. 11:28). Nicodemus came and was told the secret of that rest—The Son of man must be lifted up: "That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:14,15). It was at the cross that the Son of man, the Lord Jesus Christ, was lifted up to die. There He personally assumed the sins of every man who comes to Him acknowledging that he is a sinner confessing his sins. Because it was the will of God to secure man's eternal happiness, His Son accepted the wages of sin (death) at the cross. His life's blood flowed out to satisfy the claims of God's righteousness. Atonement has been made, so that now, "through THIS MAN, is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins" (Acts 13:38). In this way, personal belief in the eternal value of the blood of Christ to wash away sins—God can righteously justify the vilest sinner and welcome him in His own house. "The blood of Jesus Christ His [God's] Son cleanseth us from all sin" (1 John 1:7).

Scripture terms people who deny this message "those who dwell on the earth," that is, they are the marchers, the strikers, the agitators who seek to improve a world God is about to judge and who sneer at the gospel call out of it to heavenly glory. So if you want to sing, "We shall overcome" and be sure that you will, come to Christ the Rock of Ages now. Then one day you will sing a new song: "Thou art worthy . . . for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation" (Rev. 5:9).

"He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son" (Rev. 21:7).

—T.L.M.