You Can Overcome the World!
The challenges, trials and troubles of the world can do great damage to our faith. But it doesn’t have to be this way. There is a path that leads us to overcome the world! You can be an overcomer!
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5:1-5 (ESV)
This passage suggests to us grace, truth and response.
Grace
The first point of grace: Jesus was born of God – he is the incarnate Son of God. He is one with the Father and his ministry was in perfect accord with God’s will. He became one of us because of God’s love for us in order to teach us and demonstrate the compassion of God.
The sacrifice of his life was an act of grace for our redemption; his resurrection displayed his power but also provided hope for our eternal life; and his plans for us are perfect.
Truth
The first point of truth is that Jesus is the Christ. Christ literally means anointed one. Jesus had a unique anointing as prophet, priest and king. As a prophet he boldly declared the very words of God. As priest he intercedes for us before the throne of God and as king he reigns with all authority in heaven and earth.
The second point of truth is that victory is tied to our faith. Faith is essential to a life of following Jesus just as it is essential to a life of victory. Our faith is based on the overwhelming evidence of God’s truth and plan as revealed in the Bible, the work Jesus did on earth and the work the Holy Spirit continues to do. Faith becomes the basis for all our life’s decisions.
Response
The first response is to believe that Jesus is the Son of God. We accept the reality of the biblical witness and embrace that witness. This means that we believe in every aspect of the life and ministry of Jesus, his death and resurrection.
The second response is to love God and one another. To love God is the greatest commandment. We express our love through worship, service and honor. To love one another is a core value of every follower of Jesus. Therefore, we encourage, respect and bless one another.
The third response is to obey all he has told us to do. He has told us to do many things but among them are to love, serve, disciple, evangelize and engage in the kingdom work we are called to.
Grace, Again!
This all brings us to the second point of grace. This point of grace is that we overcome the world. This is grace because we don’t have the power to do it!His power in us makes this possible. His love through us makes it a reality.
There are two levels at which we overcome the world: personally and corporately.
It starts with us personally. God enables us to overcome the influence of the world in our lives. He saves us from sin and cleanses our hearts. He changes our motivations and his power makes it possible to live victoriously. His word promises that we never have to be defeated by temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13).
As we overcome the influence of the world in our lives we join together to corporately overcome the world. God commissions us and empowers us to change our world. As we are obedient, we can observe the reality that the Kingdom of God is filling the world. Throughout history, every earthly power that has opposed his kingdom and tried to destroy it has failed.
Together, we overcome the world by allowing Jesus to live through us in the power of the Spirit. As we continually follow Jesus, he will manifest his power through our lives to speak boldly, act miraculously and express supernatural, transformational love.
God’s gracious work in our lives makes us overcomers when we respond to believe, love and obey.
Will you be an overcomer? It is your privilege. If you believe it will become your reality!
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