Surrender to Unbelief Is Treason Against Christ

 "In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us" (Romans 8:37). 

"Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (I Corinthians 15:57). 

"Everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" (I John 5:4-5).

Does the reader notice any parallels among these three verses? In each, the respective Apostles tell us that the Christian life is one of victory. Victory over whom? Over the world, used here of the unbelieving world. 

Another thing that I would expect a reader to notice is the contrast between these verses and the expectations of the average American evangelical. Under the influence of dispensationalism and pietism, the average evangelical expects his religious experience to be one of suffering and retreat. Now, of course, we know that Jesus warned us to expect such things: "A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you" (John 15:20). But notice that there is no "always" in that verse. Yet, always has become the standard expectation. That one verse is given sustained application, while the three above get buried. 

I would suggest that the expectation of continuous retreat is a self-fulfilling expectation. It has become a mark of orthodoxy to abandon our world to the unbelievers. However, as I think the verses above tell us, that is a false orthodoxy!