If one would only study the life of Christ, it would easily be seen that His life was not an easy one. He suffered many things that if most suffered, they would have deserted their mission. He pressed forward.

He was tempted as all men are tempted, yet He did not sin (Heb. 4:15). In the gospel account we read where Satan tempted Him with things of this life, yet He refused to sin. In each temptation the Lord quoted scripture to overcome Satan’s advances. While going about His work He was continually challenged by the scribes and Pharisees yet remained steadfast to the will of the Father.

The courage and stamina of Christ was seen when those men whom He had chosen to walk with Him forsook him. He knew that death awaited Him at the cross yet continued His march to Jerusalem. When He was taken prisoner in the garden, one of His disciples tried to defend Him with a sword, but the Lord told him to put it away, after this His disciples fled. Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.

But all this was done, so that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him and fled (Matt. 26:52-56). At His trial there was no one to plead His case. Mocked, beaten, and all the while he stood with “a face like flint”. He stood steadfast in following the Father’s word.

Surely it can be seen that man today must also steadfastly follow God’s word. He won the victory. It is in Christ the man can have victory.

As we look at the word of God, we find that it is through baptism that one “gets into Christ”. Notice the words written by Paul, “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:27). To those at Rome He wrote, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:3,4). When one is baptized into Christ, he is a new creature (II Cor. 5:17), he has forgiveness of sin (Col.

1:14), and in Christ salvation and eternal life (II Tim. 2:10, I Jno. 5:11).

That is how Paul was able to say, “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing (II Tim. 4:6-8). Paul knew his reward awaited him and for it he longed. His life serves as an example of how a child of God should live, ever seeking to please God.

The prophet Isaiah in many places but especially in chapter fifty-three gave us a look at Christ to help us see God’s plan for man’s victory and His great love for man. In Christ salvation is to be had. We must have believe that Christ is the Son of God, turn to God and away from sin, be willing to confess Christ before men, and then get into Christ through baptism.

We then must remain faithful to God all the days of our life.