Christus Victor is Latin for “Christ the Victor”. What does it mean? Robert Kolb explains:

“This is the element of the atoning work of Christ that emphasizes the triumph of Christ over the evil powers of the world, through which he rescues his people and establishes a new relationship between God and the world.”

Christus Victor was first made popular as a view on the atoning work of Christ by Twentieth century theologian Gustaf Aulen who published a work of the same name. He argued for the idea that the finished work of Christ was a “divine conflict and victory.” Much of his theology was formed from the writings of early church theologian Irenaeus who saw the battle between Satan and God as a war of evil and good with “God executing justice in a just manner, through the death of Christ.”

I want us to examine two specific questions as we sing this new hymn:

1. What does the Bible say about God’s victory?
2. What does this mean for you and I today?

What Does The Bible Say About God's Victory?

There are countless passages that speak of victory.

• Exodus 15 - The triumph of the Egyptian army at the Red Sea
• Exodus 20 - Victory from slavery in Egypt
• Psalm 47 - Nations subdued by God’s people in battle
• Psalm 92 - Psalmists own personal victory over his enemies
• Haggai 2 - Declares the final victory that is to come over the enemies of God
• Matthew 4 - Victory of Christ over Satan’s tempting in the desert
• Ephesians 6 - The sword in battle that will drive back Satan, that is the word of God
• John 2 - Believers’ authority in Christ to overcome the evil one
• Romans speaks repeatedly about captivity to sin and how Christ has claimed victory over it on our behalf. Romans 8:1 - For those in Christ Jesus, the battle over sin, death and condemnation has been won.
• 1 John 5 - Victory in Christ for those who have been born again.
• John 16 - Though this world has trouble, we can take heart for Christ has overcome the world.
• Revelation is filled with how the story will end - this battle that rages between God and Satan will come to an end - the good news found throughout. For example Revelation 12 - Satan is conquered by the blood of the lamb.

I could go on and look at countless other passages, but I want us to pause and look in depth at Paul's first letter to the church in Corinth where he speaks about true victory in Christ which is His resurrection. Paul is writing to doubters — gentile believers who are claiming Christ resurrection but don’t believe in the resurrection of the saints. In other words, Jesus was raised but that has no impact for believers in eternity.

In this passage he will show us what victory is in Christ and what it means for you and I today.

“Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved if you hold fast to the word I preached to you — unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared…” (1 Corinthians 1:1-5a)

Paul begins with the good news of the gospel. He declares the resurrection is true. He goes on in verse 5 to say Jesus appeared to hundreds after he was raised, even Paul himself on the Damascus Road. He goes on in verse 15 to say “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.”

The resurrection of Christ is the cornerstone of our salvation and our eternal hope. If it’s not true, then it means nothing for you and I today, Paul reminds us. In verse 20, he declares “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.” He circles back to say, it’s true! And that’s just the glorious beginning, the first fruit. All believers will follow suit in the resurrection of the dead. In verse 26 “He puts all enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” He continues in verse 54 “…when the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory. O death where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

And here it is, don’t miss this in verse 56 and 57: “The sting of death is sin and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Christ is the victor of what? Death. Sin. The grave. This is the good news, the best news, the gospel!

What Does This Mean For You And I Today?

It means we give thanks to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

You and I are victorious today. Not by our own deeds, merit, striving, toiling, hoping or earning. None of us are worthy. All of us fall short. Yet, we are victorious because of the finished work of Christ and the victory found in his resurrection.

Paul ends 1 Corinthians 15 with a charge for all of us who are in Christ: “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

Sing this song with certainty that Jesus is Lord, victorious and worthy of all praise.

And that you are I share in his victorious resurrection. That is what this great hymn is all about!