1 John 5:1-21

Overcome the World

We talked a few days ago about the World System. It is a false system to be sure but it seems so real. You may recall that it is made up of the lust f the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life. We are immersed in this system by means of our birth in the flesh. How can we overcome it?

There is a famous verse in today’s passage (actually there are several) which reads: “This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” This verse is often taken in isolation and taught in such a fashion as to imply that in order to overcome the world “I” have to exercise “my” faith which will then require the circumstances of this world to bend to “my” will. It is true that “I” have to choose to believe, but the rest of that line of reasoning has nothing to do with what John is saying here.

Faith isn’t an object, it is a modifier. True, it is a noun, but it cannot exist in a vacuum. To say that someone has faith really tells you nothing. Faith in Christ? Faith in the devil? Faith in Money? Faith in a political party? Faith in a football team? Shall I go on? There are many people who have faith in each of these things but faith in four of them, as well as literally thousands of other things people have faith in, will do absolutely nothing toward helping you overcome the world. 

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. Yes our faith overcomes the world because everyone who believes that Jesus is the Son of God overcomes the world. The focus is never me. The focus is always Him. John heard Jesus say it Himself on the night before the cross when He told the disciples that in spite of tribulation in this world they were to be of good cheer because “I have overcome the world.” My faith overcomes the world only when I place it in the One who has overcome the world - Jesus Christ.

Therefore, dear children, keep yourselves from idols.