(Text Only)
Title: Overcomes the World
John today revisits an idea that we looked at some time ago in I John and offers a world of personal encouragement, not only to his original audience, but to anyone here today who is feeling, or has felt particularly “beaten” by the world.
So if you have had a rough week, if you are having a rough month, take heart, today I hope to encourage you with John’s message.
- “Overcome”
Greek: Nakao (Nuh-kay-o)
1) to conquer
a) to carry off the victory, come off victorious
1) of Christ, victorious over all His foes
2) of Christians, that hold fast their faith even unto death against the power of their foes, and temptations and persecutions
- when one is arraigned or goes to law, to win the case, maintain one’s cause
The reason this word is noteworthy as it appears in chapter five of I John is because we’ve seen this word earlier in John’s letter. Way back in Chapter 2, which we studied almost a year ago, January 25th to be exact, we looked at I John 2:13 where John says, “I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one.”
So what does it mean to overcome, to conquer the world? Well, if we look at the definitions of Nakao, we see that it means a victory for Christ over his foes, and that is tied directly to we, as believers, holding fast to our faith, even unto death.
Think of what Christ says in Luke 12:5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!
Who is Luke describing? Well, obviously not Satan. Satan has no power in judgement over our souls. So we’re talking about God, right? And we’re certainly not talking about man, or anything of or in the world, for nothing of the world has power to judge us and cast us into Hell. So that leaves one explanation. God. And what is interesting about Luke 12:5 if we are talking about God?
That God has killed.
Do you think Luke has an extremely high view of God, and God’s providence? No where does Luke say God is doing something “Mean” or “Wrong” or “Vindictive.” He simply gives ultimate power to God, to kill, to judge, to cast into Hell. And Luke message is abundantly clear: Don’t fear man, don’t fear Satan, fear God!
- What’s the qualification?
So the next question becomes, okay, who are those who overcome the world? Who are those who have a victory for Christ over their foes by holding to their faith, even unto death?
The answer is found in 5:4 “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.”
And how does this tie in to us? Well, we are described by John several times as “The Children of God,” “The Children of the Light”. Paul calls us the adopted sons and daughters of the faith, heirs to the kingdom.
Once we were born of the world. At one point we were destined for destruction. But then something miraculous happens.
Think of John in his gospel recording the secret conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus. What does Jesus tell Nicodemus is necessary for him to be saved? He says:
“You must be born again.”
Why? When we look at what John writes here today, why must Nicodemus, or any of us be born again to be saved?
Because when we are born again, we are born not of this world, but born into the adoption of the next world. Our passage is guaranteed to that next world. Man has no power to stop us from going to our heavenly home. Satan has no power to cast us into Hell with him.
And what is the qualification for being born of God? John tell us in the next verse: he who believes that Jesus Christ is the son of God.
So the entire qualification circles back around to one question and one question alone. It is the most important question that anyone can answer in their life, it is the question that we are called to ask people after we have shared our faith with them.
The question: Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God?
- A Contextual Note
It is extremely likely, because of the the time and circumstance of John’s letter, that John is writing to a group of believers that have experienced, and are continuing to experience persecution on a daily basis.
If we understand John’s audience, we can sense not just a theological teaching in these two verses, but a word of personal encouragement as well. John is reminding them of a few things:
- You believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
- Therefore, you are born of God as a child of the adoption.
- Therefore, you WILL overcome this world!
And, can we apply these same lessons to our lives today? Are we qualified to receive this same encouragement? Well, I believe we can, provided that we have one thing in common with John’s audience. All it takes is one thing: Faith in the belief of the identity of Jesus Christ.