"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."
1 John 5:4
As God’s children, we realize that God has expectations of us. One of them is that we love Him, and because of our love for Him, we are willing to do what He tells us to do.
“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous” (1 John 5:3).
We are willing to do what He tells us because “His commandments are not grievous,” they are not a burden to us. And the reason His commandments are not a drudgery is found in our verse for today.
“For whatsoever is born of God.”
The power to do “His commandments” comes from our new birth. Our unique relationship with Christ is the source of our victory. We are “born of God” when we put our trust in Jesus Christ for our soul’s salvation.
“Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him” (1 John 5:1).
“Overcometh the world:”
John said that “whatsoever is born of God” will “overcome the world.”
“John begins with a principle that is so simple, yet so powerful – if we are born of God, we will overcome the world. The idea that anything born of God could be defeated by this world was strange to John, and it should be strange to us” (Guzik).
God means for us to be “overcomers.” His plan for His child is to overcome this world. This is possible because of what Jesus has done.
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
“I write unto you, fathers because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one (1 John 2:13-14).
“And this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”
“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
Believer, as you look at this wicked world, how do you see it? As a menace that is likely to swallow you up in it? Or can you look at this old world in faith, knowing that Jesus has overcome it and He calls for us to do the same? Remember, “we walk by faith, and not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).
Faith is the victory![1]
Faith is the victory!
O glorious victory,
That overcomes the world.
[1] The chorus of “Faith is the Victory,” lyrics by John Henry Yates (1837-1900), music by Ira David Sankey (1840-1908). Copyright status, Public Domain.