Occasionally, I hear someone say that we can only have victory over sin in heaven, and until then, our righteousness is only by faith, which is why we need grace. Yet it seems to me that we will overcome only by faith and grace for all eternity. We will never ever overcome in our own strength. If we are able to resist sin by our own power in heaven, wouldn’t that become legalism? Revelation 12 tells us that a third of the angels fell with Lucifer. When we get to heaven, can you imagine the other two-thirds telling us that they kept from falling all by themselves? I doubt it! I imagine they will quickly attribute their own personal victory over Lucifer’s temptations to the grace of God. After all, for all eternity, we will be eating from the tree of life mentioned in Revelation 22:2, which will be for the healing of the nations. By eating this fruit every month, we will recognize that our spiritual health depends on our reliance on Jesus’ grace for all eternity. 

Photo by William Earnhardt

In heaven, we will cast our crowns at the feet of Jesus, showing that we never have and never will live a victorious life on our own. We have always walked by faith and always will. Eternal life is only by  faith, and it will be only by faith for all eternity. Hebrews 11:1 says faith is the evidence of things not seen. Since we will never see the end of eternity, our walk by faith will be for eternity. What I am saying is that, since eternity will never be fulfilled, we will forever have to trust God by faith that He is giving us eternal life. Also, for eternity that eternal life will be by grace. Ephesisans 2:8-9 tells us we are saved by grace through faith and not by works. Our works here on earth never award us heaven, but we also need to realize our works in heaven will never earn us eternal life either. There is not one single created being in the entire universe, fallen or unfallen, who can say that they deserve eternal life or have earned it. 

We will be dependent upon grace and faith for all eternity, and that same grace and faith can give us victory in the here and now.

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, Titus 2:11-12 NKJV

Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 1 John 4:17 NKJV

 

In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul had a weakness and a thorn in the flesh. He prayed for it to be removed, but Christ did not remove it. This weakness was not a sin. 1 Corinthians 10:13 tells us God will help us escape every temptation, but that does not mean He removes every temptation and weakness. However, he does give us the grace and strength to overcome. 

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV

The passage above tells us God’s grace continually strengthens and empowers us to overcome our continual weaknesses and temptations. While our flesh will be perfected in heaven according to 1 Corinthians 15:50-55, that does not mean we will no longer need faith and grace to live a life of eternal victory. After all, even with perfected bodies, Adam and Eve fell in the Garden of Eden. Even with perfect bodies, a third of the angels fell from heaven with Lucifer. This, again, is where the tree of life comes in for the healing and continual health of the nations. By continually eating from this tree, we will be symbolically declaring our eternal dependence upon the grace of Jesus to be eternally safe from sin. 

When we get to heaven, we will not switch from grace to legalism. We will not switch from grace to the works of the flesh, even our perfect flesh. Both on this earth in this life and in the new earth, our eternal life will always be dependent upon Christ’s grace. And the same grace that will give us eternal victory will give us victory here on earth. “We need Thee every hour” is a lesson we learn here on earth and will practice for all eternity. 

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 1 John 5:4 

The death of Christ upon the cross made sure the destruction of him who has the power of death, who was the originator of sin. When Satan is destroyed, there will be none to tempt to evil; the atonement will never need to be repeated; and there will be no danger of another rebellion in the universe of God. That which alone can effectually restrain from sin in this world of darkness, will prevent sin in heaven. The significance of the death of Christ will be seen by saints and angels. Fallen men could not have a home in the paradise of God without the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Shall we not then exalt the cross of Christ? The angels ascribe honor and glory to Christ, for even they are not secure except by looking to the sufferings of the Son of God. It is through the efficacy of the cross that the angels of heaven are guarded from apostasy. Without the cross they would be no more secure against evil than were the angels before the fall of Satan. Angelic perfection failed in heaven. Human perfection failed in Eden, the paradise of bliss. All who wish for security in earth or heaven must look to the Lamb of God. {5BC 1132.8} –Ellen White, Signs of the Times, December 30, 1889. 

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