Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
1 John 5:1-5
Our Faith Overcomes the World
Our faith overcomes the world! How?
Christian churches destroyed. Christian people persecuted, even dying for their faith. Christian morals mocked. Christian forgiveness is in short supply. It doesn't look like "believing" is doing a bit of good, much less "overcoming the world."
If we are looking to see proof that faith overcomes the world, then we are not talking about faith anymore. "Faith is being certain of what we do not see" (Hebrews 11:1).
The apostle John wants us to understand that our faith is anchored in Jesus, the Son of God, the Christ. Faith rests, relies, trusts that the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus have done what he claimed, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
Whatever difficulty and opposition Christians face in this unbelieving world, Jesus' victory gives them peace. He took away the curse of sin by his death, and he overcame the power of death by his resurrection. Ascended to heaven, he now rules with all power for the good of his believers with the goal of bringing them out of this dark world to the glorious light of heavenly joy.
Jesus wins another victory. He overcomes sinfulness in me. I do not consider obeying his commandments as the greatest and best expression of love. I certainly wouldn't say that these commandments are "not burdensome." I chafe under the rule that I must love my enemies. I cannot see that each commandment calls on me to "fear and love God." But by his death and resurrection Jesus has won forgiveness for my sins. By faith in Jesus, there is instilled in me a love for God and a willingness to obey his commandments.
Jesus has overcome the world. And by faith in him as Savior and Lord, his victory is ours. "This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith."
Prayer:
Gracious Lord Jesus, fill me with your Spirit that by faith I rejoice in the victory you won over sin and death. Amen.
The devotions on Thursdays and Fridays in September, October, and November are based on the book of 1 John.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
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