Victory Over the Darkness: Realize the Power of Your Identity in Christ

by Neil T. Anderson

"You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32 niv).

It's Jesus's promise to you--the promise that you will live triumphantly. But what keeps you from really walking in the joy of the Lord? The powers of darkness attack us daily. But, as Dr. Neil Anderson shows in Victory Over the Darkness, you can have the power to conquer them by knowing who you are in Christ. In this book, you will learn how to
- realize the power of your identity in Christ
- find freedom from the burdens of your past
- stand against the spiritual forces of this world
- win the battle for your mind
- become the victorious person you want to be
- discover the truth about God's view of you

Victory Over the Darkness spells out practical ways to experience Christian growth based on Christ's promise. Learn to apply the truths of Scripture as a base from which to renew your mind and become the person Christ empowers you to be.

Study guide and DVD also available.

Genres: Christian, Christian Living, Nonfiction, Christianity, Faith, Spirituality, Religion

224 pages, Paperback

First published March 31, 1990

About the author

NEIL T. ANDERSON is founder and president of Freedom in Christ Ministries. He was formerly the chairman of the Practical Theology Department at Talbot School of Theology. He holds five degrees from Talbot, Pepperdine University and Arizona State University and Arizona State University and has authored several bestselling books on spiritual freedom, including Victory Over the Darkness and The Bondage Breaker.

Reviews

[Honeybee · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my top-ten all-time favorite books, next to the Bible. I try to keep copies on hand to give away to others. This book systematically addresses the lies we believe and the conflicts it causes, versus the truth about who we are in Jesus Christ.

My husband and I were first exposed to this book in a Sunday school class. I fought it tooth-and-nail. When I got to the diagram that showed the three ways we typically handle rejection in our lives, the truth finally sank in. It was the beginning of real change in my life. Years later, we went to a conference featuring Dr. Neil Anderson. Trained counselors led us through the 7 Steps to Freedom in Christ, and our lives were forever transformed. I couldn't believe what burdens I had carried all those years as a Christian. Now I was truly free!

Please get a copy of this book and read it for yourself. Also read the follow-up book, THE BONDAGE BREAKER. It's best to process it chapter-by-chapter with other trusted Christians in a Bible study or Sunday school class. You may find it helpful to get the workbook, as well. Don't live another day in a prison of lies!

[Nathan Slonaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Your Christian walk is the direct result of what you believe. If your faith is off, your walk will be off. If your walk is off, you need to take a good look at what you believe... People may not always live what they profess, but they will always live what they believe. If your behavior is off, you need to correct what you believe because your misbehavior is the result of your disbelief.”


Anderson addresses lies we’ve been so conditioned to believe and how to respond to them with the truth of our identity in Christ in such a clear, practical, and moving way. There’s an insane amount of wisdom in this book that answers a lot of questions that I feel most Christians never even ask. This is one that I’ll continue to review and reference throughout my life. Who am I in Christ? How is sin overcome? Aghhhh!! So freakin’ good.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing insight! So much of this book felt directed right to me, like he was reading my mind... Which is strange because I can't even read my mind.

[Cindy Rollins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again I am reviewing a book I would not have read except it was a gift from someone I love enough to read their gift books. Gift books are the worst. So much pressure!

I am a bit of theological stickler also so I was not expecting to come away impressed but I did. This book was a perfect complement to my Christian and Missionary Alliance upbringing and my conservative Presbyterian leanings today.

It helped me make sense out of a few confusing areas of my life and relationships and also helped me recognize as attacks from our enemy (Shh, don't tell the Presbyterians) things like jealousy which come out of no where.

Chapter 7 was my favorite part of the book reminding me to be faithful without letting outcomes make me depressed or start to lose faith in God. I am not responsible for anyone but myself, therefore, I am not in control of others either. Isn't that the hardest thing for a mother to do? But so freeing when we grasp it.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! i was given this book to further my walk with my Lord, Jesus. I thought "13 Chapters, I will return it by the end of the week." I am here to say that it took over 6 weeks.

It has really made me see things in a new perspective. Not only my relationship with my family, but everyone i come into contact with. It has also made me look into myself and deal with things that i didn't even know where holding me back. I am a new Christian and it helped to put things in a better order of what God really wants from me. Not just from the seat on Sunday morning,but every morning. I would recommend this if you are stumbling on your new road to a more intimate relationship with Christ.

[Abbie Riddle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plagued by doubt, burdened by fear, held captive by worry, trudging in the darkness of depression, shackled by the shame of the past, uncertain of your true identity? Are you searching for the confirmation of who you are - wondering what it is that defines you?

Discover who you are in Christ - open the pages of this book, and study the work book. This darkness and doubt that presses on the human race can be brushed away. Christ has called each of us to a life of victory free of the burdens of the past, courageous in the battle field for our souls, strong against the forces of evil. In this book the reader is taught to find their identity in Christ. Anderson explores what God truly thinks about each of us. He uses the scripture to shed light on the dark places of bondage in the readers life and challenges readers to confront the lies of the enemy - to no longer be defined by the lies but to embrace their identity in Christ. He further instructs readers on how to use scripture to form a firm foundation on which to build and renew their lives - leading to ultimate victory over the enemy.

Thank you Gospel Light for this review Copy.

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

The theological foundation for who we are in Christ was decent - the first half of the book establishes who we are in relationship to God and includes common lies we believe. Overall, though, the tone of this book felt trite and triumphalistic, with the author including a lot of stories that were shallow explanations of his point. He includes a number of letters he received from people who received prayer. They had terrible situations, prayed once, and then everything was hunky dory. I don’t think prayer ministry is that simple (and he doesn’t explain techniques or methodology to pray) and so to wrap it up so nicely in a book communicates that if anyone continues to have difficulty post-prayer, that’s not possible.

[Erin Duensing · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely incredible. It’s an essential read for anyone struggling in their faith or with difficult life circumstances. Neil Anderson writes with pragmatism and deep compassion to help Christians come back to the truth of who they are in Christ and how that reality touches and brings healing to every broken place even down to the deepest darkness. I am forever grateful for this book in my time of need.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read on becoming more grounded in a Christian's identity in Christ and breaking free of spiritual strongholds. This book's targeted approach is to find healing in Christ, highlighting the spiritual side but perhaps underscoring the physical and emotional components to health.

The good: most who are in the faith do not even know who they are. We live under the title of sinners yet the Bible informs us that the title of "sinner" belongs to unbelievers. We are in fact saints, not by our own righteousness but through Christ. If we continue to identify ourselves as sinners, we continue to perpetuate this cycle of sin. If we view ourselves as losers, we will fail, etc. Other good nuggets of truth are in this book.

The lacking: As far as counseling is concerned, all areas (spiritual, emotional, physical) need to be addressed to gain a further sense of where the person is at and what it will take to find wellness. Sometimes the answers to a problem can sound trite. It's not always appropriate to respond to someone hurting with a "Sunday school-type answer." On a similar thread, not everyone who will come for counsel will have a Christian presupposition.

Even though I felt some areas were lacking, this is still a worthwhile read to solidify who you are in Christ and grow in maturity to bear fruit.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll be honest--I thought I would rip through this book, halfheartedly nodding my agreement through most of it and occasionally grunting my disagreement. To my surprise, I found the content deceptively deep. "Deep" because the truths are profound, life changing, and timeless. "Deceptively" because it's simply written. It lacks the frills I've grown accustomed to with writers like Murray, Spurgeon, Lewis, Keller, Piper, Voskamp, and Elliot. Don't get me wrong--I love frills--but I've grown to appreciate clear, lean writing because not everyone has patience for the lacy stuff. The first three chapters are a goldmine, all dealing with our identity in Christ. Anderson explains how our understanding of who we are in Jesus determines the authenticity and depth of our walk with Him. It's something we know (if we read the Bible) and yet fail to live. My plan is to use the lists in these chapters to guide my scripture memorization for the next few months. I want the truths worked deep into my soul and psyche. As I read on, The Lord showed me where I have room to grow, what He wants to work right now. I thought of people who need the book as much as I do. I'm looking forward to passing it around and recommending it to friends as it was recommended to me.

[Ashley · Rating 1 out of 5]

The author is pretentious. Rather than showing the reader how this has helped in his life he instead insists on showing how he has helped other people. He doesn't recognize the struggle that it would be to change one's belief system and presents the information as if it is as simple as changing your socks. I felt much of what he was saying was short sighted and under developed. I didn't mind it at first but just about halfway through the book I felt I was being criticized, not loved.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

awesome book! great study at church.

[Kathryn Fairlamb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book blew me away. I was encouraged and challenged to grow in believing whole-heartedly who I was in Christ. I learned so many things but the overarching take away was "Your understanding of who God is and who you are in relationship to Him is the critical foundation for your belief system and your behavior patterns as a Christian."

[Kevin Halloran]

A really helpful and potentially life-changing book on how knowing who we are in Christ changes everything. I loved the testimonies scattered throughout the book of how a deeper personal understanding of our identity in Christ breaks the chains of darkness in our lives.

It's easy for me to find my identity in what I do for Christ, not who I am in Christ. I'm praying that God would change that, helping me to see who I am in Him and having that be fuel for the ministry I do.

[Fredreka Irvine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good to me! Just what I needed! I loved it so much. Last quote about loving people...GREAT!

[Nathan Albright · Rating 5 out of 5]

[Note:  This book was provided free of charge by Bethany House Publishing in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.]

It is perhaps little surprise that in the contemporary world identity politics should loom so large.  But what identities are most important for us?  The world would have us believe that our most important identities relate to ethnicity, gender, or sexuality.  After all, it is these identities which serve to make some people view themselves as privileged and to be hostile to the dignity of others whose identity is different.  The author correctly writes this book under the knowledge that our dignity results from the identity that we have as children of God and thoughtfully explores some of the implications of that identity.  It is not that identity politics themselves are inherently wrong, it is just that identity cannot help but be warped when one looks at the question in the absence of our creation in the image and likeness of God as well as the consequences that being created in such fashion result when it comes to our own conduct towards others while we are here on this earth.  Fortunately, it can be said that the author does not neglect these implications and indeed makes them an important part of his book, which makes this an easy one to cheer on.

This particular book is about 200 pages long and it is divided into twelve chapters.  The author begins with acknowledgements and then an introduction that discusses the importance of hope in the Christian life.  After that, there is a discussion of the identity of the believer as a child of God (1) as well as a discussion of the whole Gospel (2) and a need for people to recognize who they really are (3).  After that the author talks about something old and something new (4), the importance of becoming the spiritual person that God wants us to be (5), and the power of believing the truth (6).  This leads to a discussion of how we cannot live beyond what we believe (7), God's guidelines to the walk of faith (8), and the importance of winning the battle for our minds (9).  Then the author talks about how one must be real to be right (10), the importance of healing emotional wounds (11), and the importance for believers to love each other (12).  After this there is a discussion of a data-driven investigation of steps to freedom in Christ as well as some books and resources and an index.

What does freedom in Christ mean?  What is it that we are supposed to be free from?  These are by no means the simplest of questions to ask or to answer but it is certain that a great many people who profess to be Christians nevertheless are not feeling the sort of victory in their lives that one would hope for in areas like fear, anxiety, anger, depression, and negative habits.  This book has a characteristic approach to spiritual warfare that will be familiar to anyone who has read the writings of the Pentecostals, and adds to the usual approach to the subject of demonology a discussion of the statistics of various problems among believers in different areas.  It would appear that there are some statistical differences in the sort of struggles that believers face on a geographical basis, which has some interesting repercussions when it comes to the pastoral approach that will best help believers to equip them for the challenges of their lives.  At any rate, this book provides some thought-provoking discussion about an important subject and is a worthwhile book to be sure.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I reviewed Neil Anderson's memoir (Long Road to Freedom) for my blog at the beginning of this year. In a couple of months I'm slated to review a book by someone else from the ministry he founded (Freedom in Christ). It made me want to dip back into the organization's foundational literature.

My first exposure to Victory over the Darkness was about twenty years ago, when it was fairly popular in the Christian publishing world. When i was in seminary, Anderson wasn't talked about much, except to offer a friendly critique of his approach. Dipping back in, I read appreciatively:

1. A focus on our identity in Christ and the freedom that, that brings.
2. A belief in sanctification (Jesus did just come to send us to heaven, but to make us holy).
3. Advice about dealing with sinful strongholds in your life and an exhortation to hold to God's purposes for us.

Of course I found stuff to disagree with, but by in large I found that Anderson articulates a helpful and compelling vision of freedom in Christ.

[Ciera · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book discusses the joy and peace of discovering our identity in Christ Jesus. For me, this came at an opportune moment in my life. The beautiful words of truth were so sweet for me to read...

Anderson makes the point that if we have accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior, we have been redeemed. We have become "saints." Though we still sin, we are no longer defined by our sinful nature. Instead, we have been covered by the blood of Jesus.

Though I usually read novels, it was refreshing to read a book on my faith, a book that offered encouragement.

Light will always conquer over the darkness. God will always listen when we call out to Him. And when we realize our identity in Christ, we can be VICTORIOUS.

I pray that you all may find victory over the darkness of sin, past pain and memories. I pray that you may find yourself in Jesus.

[Mauricio Muñoz-Cano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book... completely changed my perspective as a Christian. I am currently in College getting a degree in engineering which can be stressful at times leading me to points where I am confused and lonely. Victory Over the Darkness points out the simplicity of who we are in Christ and how we must understand our identity to be able to grow further with Him which will in turn help others through His grace...

I now recieve the peace which surpasses all understanding... thank you Father for your love and peace, and thank you Mr. Anderson for being a light and listening to the Father in writing such an important book.

[Megan Helmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know even how to leave a review for this book. It's a life changer. No matter where you are at in your relationship and belief in God, you will find so much value in every aspect of this book.

[Vincent Lesner · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only thing that I have against this book is the teaching of single nature in believers. I understand the motivation behind the teaching, but I desired to see more technical exegesis presented to defend his theological argument.

[Lisa Fischer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good stuff. Lots to digest. Underlined and dog-eared throughout.

[Adam Callis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding. This is the first book in a long while to have a palpable Spiritual impact on me. The ideas in this book are life-changing, and I can only imagine what they might do for someone who is locked in sin, suffering in their relationships, or struggling to truly grow in Christ. Anderson's writing style is fantastic, and his stories and illustrations had me underlining constantly.

This quote gives a thesis of the book:
"A Christian, in terms of his or her deepest identity, is a saint, a spiritually born child of God, a divine masterpiece, a child of light, a citizen of heaven. Being born again transformed you into someone who didn't exist before. What you receive as a Christian isn't the point; it is who you are" (47).

He gives an incredible illustration of ornamental orange trees, which are much hardier than navel orange trees, but don't bear good fruit like navel orange trees do. Because of their strong root stock, ornamental orange trees can grow in a place like Arizona, because they are strong enough to resist the colder temperatures. Later, once their roots are well-established, the arborists graft live navel orange branches onto the ornamental stock, and the ornamental trees will later begin bearing good oranges, even in a climate like Arizona. Anderson's point is this: once those trees begin to bear fruit, no one refers to them as merely root stock or ornamental orange trees—they are now good, navel orange trees, simply because they bear fruit. In the same way, once we are in Christ, our past sins no longer define us—even if we stumble in sin, our identity is no longer "sinner"—we are saints, and when we walk by the Spirit, the Spirit's fruit in our lives confirms our identity. Life-changing.

[Daniel G Keohane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Layout/Format was a little overly-formal for my tastes but I'm glad I didn't let that stop me. I've never highlighted a book more than I did, everywhere. So much great words of wisdom here on personal views of faith, how God says he sees us and how to combat the lies we're told about our worth as Christians. All put together succinctly and without much repetition. If you want to move to a new level in your personal faith, I highly recommend this book

[Brooks Lemmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for sure!

Since I joined my church a couple of years ago it has seemed like every leader that I look up to has mentioned this book at least once a month. It’s almost as though in order to be a real member you need to read this book. Our men’s group has been reading this book the last couple months and I gotta say… It’s incredible!

If we don’t know who we are in Christ we are lost. Plain and simple. In order to live a fruitful life we have to know our identity. This book lays an incredible foundation for learning about our identity and how to live it out every day.

[Ricky Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book focuses on identity in Christ and that being the most important thing about us. It was integral in seeing myself as a child of God and living out of that posture. I don't have to see myself as just a sinner but as God sees me - as a saint who sins. I would recommend it to anyone. It was so important for me to recognize my identity as a follower of Jesus and how that plays out in my life.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full of helpful counsel but doesn’t hit with the force of his Bondage Breaker. This one requires closer reading and covers many aspects of maturing in Christ. Nonetheless, I benefited personally from every section, but found it be harder to apply.

I certainly resonate with the simple power of taking the Word of God and believing what God says about us.

[Emily Boyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was such an encouragement and lovely reminder that I am not who I say I am, but who God says I am— which will never change. It also served as a lovely reminder that I have His strength and His Spirit in me as my defense against the daily pressures of the world. God doesn’t leave us to our own defense; He has given us a good and perfect Helper who can show us victory over our sin.

[Marcus Goncalves · Rating 5 out of 5]

An awesome excellent book for those stuck in a religious pool and drowning, as it lays out the truths of gospel very well. This book is also a great resource for assisting others who are searching for their identity in Christ and have many strognholds that have kept them from truth.

[Joseph Bianchi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big 90s energy with a couple questionable metaphors, but the teaching is top-notch and has the potential to change your life.