Joyful Confidence in Jesus Christ

"It is impossible to read the New Testament without being impressed by the atmosphere of joyful confidence which pervades it, and which stands out in relief against the rather jejune [insubstantial, lacking maturity, dull] religion that often passes for Christianity today. There was no defeatism about the early Christians; they spoke rather of victory. For example, 'thanks be to God! He gives us the victory...'. Again, 'in all these things  (sc. adversities and dangers ) we are more than conquerors...'. Once more, 'God...always leads us in triumphal procession...'.And each of Christ's letters to the seven churches of Asia ends with a special promise 'to him who overcomes'. Victory, conquest, triumph, overcoming--this was the vocabulary of those first followers of the risen Lord. For if they spoke of victory, they knew they owed it to the victorious Jesus."

--John Stott, The Cross of Christ, published by IVP (InterVarsityPress, 1986), p. 227