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Lifetime Guarantee
You've tried fixing your marriage, your kids, your job. Suddenly the light dawns. It's not your problems that need to be fixed--it's your life ! The good news is that God doesn't ask you to live your life for Christ, but to let Him live His life through you. With humor, candor, and "plain vanilla talk," author Bill Gillham takes a new and enlightening look at the concept of your identify in Christ. A Christian who walks in this manner is backed by God's lifetime guarantee. "I know of no book that so clearly lays out the truth of what it means to be in Christ for modern man. I heartily recommend it."
--Dr. Jay Kesler
President, Taylor University, Upland, Indiana "Dr. Bill Gillham...builds our confidence that through Christ we can really be more effective in our day-to-day lives."
--Zig Ziglar
Author, Confessions of a Happy Christian , Dallas, Texas
--Dr. Jay Kesler
President, Taylor University, Upland, Indiana "Dr. Bill Gillham...builds our confidence that through Christ we can really be more effective in our day-to-day lives."
--Zig Ziglar
Author, Confessions of a Happy Christian , Dallas, Texas
256 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1987
78 people are currently reading
182 people want to read
About the author
Bill Gillham
7 books2 followersUpon graduating from Poteau, Oklahoma High School I joined the navy. History states that the atomic bomb caused the Japanese to surrender, but mom always claimed they’d heard I was coming. After the war I followed Anabel Hoyle to college which was a shrewd move for two reasons. I married her and the tuition was paid by the G. I. Bill (your tax dollars at work). Then came in random selection: grad school, four sons, a public school teacher/administrator/university professor career, all in Oklahoma.
The Holy Spirit targeted my heart in 1957 while watching the first nationally televised Billy Graham Crusade. I responded to Brother Billy’s invitation to "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved." My experience was not accompanied by bells and whistles, so it was five years before God gave me assurance of my salvation through reading 1 John 5:11-13. Meanwhile I zealously "worked for God" according to the tradition of my elders. But, God wanted to teach me that although I meant well, this was not His plan. I was not to live my life for Christ, but to trust Christ in me to express His life through me, by faith. God accomplished this by allowing me to have a major career failure.
I'd received my doctorate from Oklahoma State University in 1969 to become a psychology professor at Southeastern OSU. Hoowee! Here comes DOCTOR Gillham! I thought I was such a hot dog that McDonald’s didn’t have enough mustard to cover me. But, God quickly let Satan take the wind out of my sails by making my lecture notes "turn to Chinese" in front of my class. "Help!" I sent up a 911 prayer, but got Gods voice mail "I’ve gone to Mars today please leave a message and." It was horrible. And it kept happening! My self-esteem was down the toilet. But, God was at work. These failures caused me to abandon trusting in myself. The burden was transferred to Jesus (Ps. 55:22)! I learned that Christ lives in me to face life for me (Jn. 15:5)! Whew! What a relief! When a campus organization later selected me as "Professor of the Year," I received it as a tribute to Jesus, not to me.
That’s what our ministry is about. Trusting Christ to express His overcoming life through you is normal Christianity, but sad to say, its not the normal Christians experience.
The Holy Spirit targeted my heart in 1957 while watching the first nationally televised Billy Graham Crusade. I responded to Brother Billy’s invitation to "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved." My experience was not accompanied by bells and whistles, so it was five years before God gave me assurance of my salvation through reading 1 John 5:11-13. Meanwhile I zealously "worked for God" according to the tradition of my elders. But, God wanted to teach me that although I meant well, this was not His plan. I was not to live my life for Christ, but to trust Christ in me to express His life through me, by faith. God accomplished this by allowing me to have a major career failure.
I'd received my doctorate from Oklahoma State University in 1969 to become a psychology professor at Southeastern OSU. Hoowee! Here comes DOCTOR Gillham! I thought I was such a hot dog that McDonald’s didn’t have enough mustard to cover me. But, God quickly let Satan take the wind out of my sails by making my lecture notes "turn to Chinese" in front of my class. "Help!" I sent up a 911 prayer, but got Gods voice mail "I’ve gone to Mars today please leave a message and." It was horrible. And it kept happening! My self-esteem was down the toilet. But, God was at work. These failures caused me to abandon trusting in myself. The burden was transferred to Jesus (Ps. 55:22)! I learned that Christ lives in me to face life for me (Jn. 15:5)! Whew! What a relief! When a campus organization later selected me as "Professor of the Year," I received it as a tribute to Jesus, not to me.
That’s what our ministry is about. Trusting Christ to express His overcoming life through you is normal Christianity, but sad to say, its not the normal Christians experience.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
January 30, 2010
4.5 stars.
Gillham's book does an admirable job of exploring and explaining the principles I'd encountered earlier in Nee and Stanford, but he does so in more down-to-earth terms. His examples of how to abide above while simultaneously dwelling on earth helped me understand the concept much better, and I feel that God had things to show me in these pages.
Gillham also shows how our fleshly patterns consistently lead us away from the full life that the Lord wants for everyone. The notion that Satan presents the Christian with sinful ideas using first-person pronouns in order to deceive him or her really struck me, and it makes perfect sense. Gillham demonstrates wisdom and a lot of understanding in these pages, and he makes use of scripture thoroughly.
There are only a few downsides of this book. Gillham's colloquial style is part of the book's purpose--its audience is the body as a whole--but sometimes it's a tad annoying. He also likes to use strange diagrams that rarely aided my understanding of what he says. Those don't matter too much because he writes quite clearly if not elegantly.
I'm blessed and glad I read this book and recommend it to anyone who is interested in how to live the life hidden with Christ in God.
Gillham's book does an admirable job of exploring and explaining the principles I'd encountered earlier in Nee and Stanford, but he does so in more down-to-earth terms. His examples of how to abide above while simultaneously dwelling on earth helped me understand the concept much better, and I feel that God had things to show me in these pages.
Gillham also shows how our fleshly patterns consistently lead us away from the full life that the Lord wants for everyone. The notion that Satan presents the Christian with sinful ideas using first-person pronouns in order to deceive him or her really struck me, and it makes perfect sense. Gillham demonstrates wisdom and a lot of understanding in these pages, and he makes use of scripture thoroughly.
There are only a few downsides of this book. Gillham's colloquial style is part of the book's purpose--its audience is the body as a whole--but sometimes it's a tad annoying. He also likes to use strange diagrams that rarely aided my understanding of what he says. Those don't matter too much because he writes quite clearly if not elegantly.
I'm blessed and glad I read this book and recommend it to anyone who is interested in how to live the life hidden with Christ in God.
June 22, 2019
This is a must read for everyone!
March 15, 2014
I had a difficult time getting through this book. Although the message was inspiring, I found the examples to be silly and repetitive. I also found myself becoming annoyed at what I took to be the author's patronizing attitude towards women.
June 6, 2017
The subject and purpose of this work were great and on point. What lost me with this work were the multiple illustrations and graphs that the author used to restate the point of each chapter multiple times throughout each chapter. I honestly felt the book could have been half or at least a third of its length had the author made his point, given an illustration and application, and then moved on. Each chapter felt like it was intentionally made longer.
Another issue I had with this work was the author's turn of phrases. While I get that using a phrase like "earth suit" and "feelers" are good for a quick laugh that helps illustrate your argument, continuing to use them constantly knocks the message of the work off track and are simply distracting and annoying.
In a feeble attempt to close on a positive note, while there are MANY other works out there by much better writers on the subject of a believer living their lives out of their position in Christ and His finished work on the Cross (such as The Green Letters by Miles Stanford), Gillham did do a decent job of making this work a little more relatable to a reader that may not be familiar with your everyday "Christianese" or theological terms.
All in all though, I've read it, it's done, I'd be happy to never have to read it again.
Another issue I had with this work was the author's turn of phrases. While I get that using a phrase like "earth suit" and "feelers" are good for a quick laugh that helps illustrate your argument, continuing to use them constantly knocks the message of the work off track and are simply distracting and annoying.
In a feeble attempt to close on a positive note, while there are MANY other works out there by much better writers on the subject of a believer living their lives out of their position in Christ and His finished work on the Cross (such as The Green Letters by Miles Stanford), Gillham did do a decent job of making this work a little more relatable to a reader that may not be familiar with your everyday "Christianese" or theological terms.
All in all though, I've read it, it's done, I'd be happy to never have to read it again.
June 11, 2020
We watched Bill and Annabell’ Videos in 1993, or around there, “How To Live The Victorious Christian Life” and they totally changed our lives . They brought us hope back into our lives where we lost it. I had been saved when I was 9 years ago and our family’s life was church. We were there every time the doors were opened. But after I got married my hope was disappearing, my parents God didn’t work for me anymore,😢. I searched for something I was missing in the wrong places, it just added to my problems. When their tapes were introduced to us I wouldn’t watch the at first, because I just knew I heard it all. Boy am I glad I was wrong. I wouldn’t watch them and was in the dining room doing crafts while my husband and friend watched them. Every once in a while I would hear something very interesting and would peek my head around the corner. I was hooked, soon I was out in the front room watching the videos, too,😀. I soaked it all in, I-was hungry ! I started reading every book My husband read on the same message. I read more books in a few months than I did in all the years I was in school. I”Lifetime Guarantee” was the first book I read. I found hope for my life again, thank you Lord! I learned I can have joy even in the middle of my storms.
May 31, 2024
I only made it through pages 13-18 and I just couldn't keep reading.
In just these first few pages his writing style came across as insincere and superior: like a know-it-all. He uses exaggerated ridiculous imagery excessively.
He offers quotes with no source that are meaningless to his point.
By the end of page 15 and all the way through 16-18 it is chock full of bad theology. He nags on this concept of "appropriating" which the dictionary defines as "to take (something) for one's own use, typically without the owners consent or permission. Then he goes on, expounding this ridiculous concept, sounding progressively more off base from any reasonable exegetical understanding of the gospel and life in Christ. To any believer who spends regular time in God's word, it is clear this is faulty teaching.
Save your money & your time. Don't bother with this one.
Instead try How to Grow by Darryl Dash, The Gospel Comes with a House Key by Rosaria Butterfield, Help My Unbelief by Barnabas Piper, Growing Together by Melissa B. Kruger, In His Image by Jen Wilkin, or Ten Words to Live By by Jen Wilkin
In just these first few pages his writing style came across as insincere and superior: like a know-it-all. He uses exaggerated ridiculous imagery excessively.
He offers quotes with no source that are meaningless to his point.
By the end of page 15 and all the way through 16-18 it is chock full of bad theology. He nags on this concept of "appropriating" which the dictionary defines as "to take (something) for one's own use, typically without the owners consent or permission. Then he goes on, expounding this ridiculous concept, sounding progressively more off base from any reasonable exegetical understanding of the gospel and life in Christ. To any believer who spends regular time in God's word, it is clear this is faulty teaching.
Save your money & your time. Don't bother with this one.
Instead try How to Grow by Darryl Dash, The Gospel Comes with a House Key by Rosaria Butterfield, Help My Unbelief by Barnabas Piper, Growing Together by Melissa B. Kruger, In His Image by Jen Wilkin, or Ten Words to Live By by Jen Wilkin
December 10, 2017
I did not care for this book whatsoever, especially in regards to how and what Bill wrote. He rambled on abut women in such an odd manner. He even goes on to explain that "the mother who never takes time to teach and TRAIN her daughter what it means to be a woman -baking, sewing, housekeeping, including the intimate tasks such as proper hygiene at the onset of menstration-communicates to her daughter she is worthless and stupid....". The things that he even writes about like constantly silly things relating to *the real slim shady please stand up* are just bizarre. Don't waste your time or money with this ridiculous book.
January 2, 2019
I love this book, it has taught me so much! I've always struggled with the passage in Romans 7 and the struggle between the flesh (sinful nature) and the Spirit, and this book uses the most humble of illustrations to communicate how we can live in freedom by living in the Spirit. You have to get past some slightly corny and maybe outdated examples, but it has changed the way I understand daily interaction and how Christ lives in me. Definitely plan to re-read this book through different lenses especially as I continue to (informally) learn more about psychology and spirituality and grow in faith!
August 4, 2020
Great book that explains the full gospel and what it means to live our lives in Christ. The author gives a number of analogies and stories to help the reader understand what it means to live out our live in the flesh. God's plan was not to give life to our old nature but rather to exterminate it and exchange it for a new life. Satan wants us to keep trying to live our lives independently on our own. Once we realize that we are dead to our old self and alive to Christ, everything changes but the only way is through faith and obedience. Overall, a great reminder of these truths with some practical advice for how to live these out.
December 7, 2025
Let's get something out the way first: This is written by a man fully part of his time and place. So his examples range from folksy to outright cringy. But I think we can show him some grace and listen to the meat, which is explaining what our salvation has truly given us: Christ's life. If you're a Christian, you've heard those words enough that they might not strike you as the wondrous thing they are. Let this book help you (and cheerfully spit out the bones).
August 27, 2018
This is definitely one of the top 5 Christian book bible study books to read. It has helped me to have a deeper relationship with Christ. I cannot recommend this book enough.
December 31, 2018
One of my favorite books about yielding to the Holy Spirit vs. walking after the flesh. Christ is in us, but we are also in Him.
April 24, 2020
A remarkably helpful description of how to live the Christian life. Based on Colossians 2:20, Romans and Galatians.
May 25, 2020
This was a great book, it helped me on my journey to understand more about the flesh in my walk with Christ. I highly recommend this book
November 17, 2020
Game changer for Christian living.
November 28, 2023
S2V1L1
March 7, 2025
Gillham does an excellent job at explaining and breaking down parts of Scripture. Not only thought-provoking, but eye-opening. A must-read for Christians.
September 15, 2025
I wish I could give this book 10 stars. I have read it and led groups in our at least 10 times. this is one of the greatest books for learning what Good has already done for you when you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
December 30, 2014
Excellent thought-provoking concepts and ideas, with diagrams that really help flesh out his Bible teaching. The subtitle of this book is "Making your Christian Life Work and What to do when it doesn't" which pretty much sums up the book. The 3 stars are for the content and theology of this book - superb. But his folksy style and "cute" little phrases I found annoying, and thought they detracted from the content. However, for others, they may respond more positively to this style, instead of a more scholarly tone.
January 18, 2023
I have read this book so far 2 times since 1989 and am starting on my third time! It is not a super relaxing read but it is the only book I will have read 3 times and everything in it is amazing to think about and totally kept my interest. If I could put into practice and have a deeper understanding of all that is said in this book my life would be so much easier because I would be living victoriously through Christ. Each time I read it, everything makes more and more sense. I will not say anymore...you'll just have to read it!
May 26, 2016
The sub-title is "Making Your Christian Life Work and What to Do When It Doesn't." The back cover: "Jesus is the only one who has ever truly lived the Christian life, and He wants to do it today - in you." That about says it all.
March 1, 2010
This book was life changing for me... it gets to be a little wordy and academic, but there are some principals that are foundational to Christian growth.
November 21, 2012
This book was really good. Have patience with yourself while reading this book because lots of the concepts are difficult to understand. It takes time to really know them.
December 19, 2013
Read this with my kids during our worship times. I don't usually take too much to modern twists on Biblical truths, but this is one good book.
October 23, 2014
How to get a handle on your life as a believer in Jesus Christ.
January 30, 2015
Incredible book. Incredible insights...worth reading again and again. Am buying many copies to share!
August 7, 2017
Every Christian needs to read this book!!!!!
July 10, 2010
Love, love this book. I revisit it often!
April 14, 2014
Great manual on the victorious life and how to live your identity in Christ.
May 12, 2014
Meh.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews