Q.
I John 5:4-5 says, “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 the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”
Would you please share your thoughts on what it means to overcome the world, and the way that faith is the source of that overcoming – ie what does this practically look like?
Thank you,
Irene
A.
Hello Irene,Great passage! Thanks for your question.
Jesus encouraged his disciples, “Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). There is only one true overcoming life—His name is Jesus, and this Jesus lives in us.
We have divine life in us in a twofold sense. Those who are “born of God” have been regenerated with divine life in their spirit. The unregenerated spirit called the old man died with Christ and was raised with Christ the new man. This new man is the new creation (2 Cor. 5:17) which is created after God in righteousness and holiness (Eph. 4:24). This is God’s nature implanted in us (1 John 3:9). Then the Holy Spirit moved in and indwells our regenerated spirit. This is an even greater truth. The Holy Spirit streams the life of the enthroned Christ right into us.
The Bible tells us Christ lives in us…by faith (Gal. 2:20). Jesus lives in us every moment, and this overcoming life of Jesus is accessible by faith. But without faith we miss out on the full benefit of Christ living in us. When we do yield to His leadership and power, the Spirit imparts to us the very life of Christ. When we are animated by the life of Jesus, we experience Jesus. Jesus overcomes because He is the overcoming life Himself. Thus, through faith in Him, we overcome.
Jesus is the victory (1 Cor. 15:57) and yet faith is the victory (1 John 5:4-5). But this is not a contradiction. Faith is not a work; faith depends on the worker—Jesus. When temptations and trials come our way, we have the privilege of looking to Jesus as our overcoming life. Just like when we looked to Jesus in faith to save us, we can look to Jesus to keep us. The text in 1 John 5 literally says, “And this is the overcoming that overcomes the world, even our faith.” Faith overcomes by trusting in the overcoming life of Jesus.
John
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I was reading 1 John this morning and had a question I have had many times before. These verses seem to be saying that everyone who is saved will overcome the world. In chapter 3 verse 9, it seems to be saying that everyone who is saved cannot sin. Is this only referring to making a habit of sin? Obviously to say that those who are saved are perfect is inconsistent with the rest of Scripture, but I’m not confident in any other interpretation and would like to hear your perspective.
I believe that’s talking about the spirit part of us that can’t sin. We are made up of three parts, body, soul, and spirit. Where the Spirit is now in dwelling that part of us is 100% holy because the Holy Spirit is there. In verse 9 it says His seed remains in him. That part of us can not sin because the Spirit is not going to share a room with sin. It truly is our new identity if we could only look to that it would effect us in sinning less. I’m sure that’s not as detailed as… Read more »
Thanks for your comment. Randy is on the right trail. In 1 John 3:9, the “he” that “cannot sin” refers back to “God’s seed.” The new man that is created after God in righteousness and holiness is God’s seed or nature implanted in us. This part of us (the regenerated spirit) cannot sin because obviously God’s nature cannot sin. But just as obviously, we can ignore our provision and commit sin. That is why faith is the victory. Faith depends on the Holy Spirit to whom our new man is joined to impart to us the overcoming life of Jesus.
Thank you. That makes sense.
Thank you, brother. That is very clear- especially the connection with John 16:33