Overcoming the World

Introduction

A. Our study of 1 John and John other epistles is quickly coming to a close. It is important that we recap what we have learned up to this point. John writes to a group of people who have been shaken in their faith. Some have withdrawn from them. Those who withdrew believed that they were more spiritual and had greater spiritual insight than others. Their departure has produced doubt and uncertainty. John writes to bring confidence and assurance. His readers are in fellowship with God. Those who pulled away are the ones who have severed fellowship with God’s people and thus have severed fellowship with God.

B. John is writing from a post-salvation point of view. He does not discuss how one comes into fellowship with God. He mentions several times, however, proof that one belongs to God — loving each other, caring for each other, believing that Jesus has come into the flesh, believing that Jesus is the Messiah. Furthermore, he uses these proofs to emphasize the confidence that one can have in their fellowship with God. When we love as God loves then we can be confident of our fellowship; when we doubt in our hearts, God is greater than our hearts and reassures us that we belong to him.

C. John isn’t speaking of perfection, but confidence. The purpose of the letter is to bring confidence to those saved. This confidence allows the readers to no longer fear. Those who withdrew challenged the validity of the faith of the readers. For John there is no question about who belongs to God and who doesn’t. His readers who listen to God; acknowledge Jesus is the Christ; and who love each other should rest confident that they belong to God. In our text this morning, John continues his thought but uses a little used word in this letter — the word “faith.” This text is again designed to bring confidence to his readers about their relationship with God. May we gain confidence as well.

Faith

A. As John has done frequently in this letter, he puts things in a post-salvation view. In verse 1, he does not say “to be born of God one must believe that Jesus is the Christ.” Instead, he says that the one who is born of God believes that Jesus is the Christ. This is in reference to those who have pulled away because they do not believe that Jesus is the Christ. The word “believes” carries the idea of “to place confidence in something.” Believing that Jesus is the Christ means that one’s confidence is placed in who Jesus is and the person’s life is changed because of that belief. John’s point is that those who pulled away deny that Jesus is the Christ. Those who read his letter still believe and place confidence in Jesus as the Christ; thus, they are born of God. Although confidence in Jesus exists, John says so must love for one’s siblings.

B. John has made this same point in previous texts. Loving each other demonstrates that one has fellowship with God. When we love each other then our confidence soars. John uses the illustration of a natural family to make his point. The natural order is that siblings love each other. John writes practically. Our minds may want to contest the thought especially if we are not particularly fond of our siblings. But the point isn’t lost. Children born of the same father will love not only the father but each other because of that shared heritage. Those who pulled away have demonstrated that they do not love their siblings thus they cannot love the Father either.

C. In verse 2, John makes a transitional statement but has an odd order. One might expect John to write “this is how we know that we love God by loving his children and carrying out his commands.” But the focus is on relationships. “This is how we know we love the siblings — by loving God and keeping his commands.” The commands are a broad reminder that we are to love each other.

D. John then picks up the natural order in verse 3. Loving God equals keeping his commands. The commands would include the command that John has discussed several times — love each other. John adds that these commands are not burdensome. It is not a burden to love each other. We have the same Father. We share in the same belief — that Jesus is the Christ. It is no burden to serve one another. It is an opportunity. It is a joy.

E. In a statement of triumph, John says that being born of God brings with it victory. In verse 4, he uses the word “overcome.” This is the third time he has used this word. In 2:13 & 14 he uses the word to say that the young men have overcome the evil one. In 4:4, the entire group has overcome those who antichrists. Now here the group has overcome the world. The word “overcome” means to conquer. The means to conquer the world is our faith. The power to overcome has come from God. We have been born of God. That relationship means that our faith has won.

F. As John says in verse 5, the one who believes, whose life is changed, that Jesus is the Son of God or the Messiah are the ones who overcome the world. Not those who have pulled away and denied that Jesus is the Christ, but his readers whose faith remains intact.

Application

A. Two lessons. First, believing in Jesus requires change. To believe in Jesus means that your life is changed because of that belief. There are those who say they believe in Jesus but live life at odds with that belief. One born of God will live life demonstrating that Jesus is the Christ. Trusting him; finding your security in him; listening to him; C.S. Lewis in his book A Grief Observed wrote: You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death. It is easy to say you believe a rope to be strong as long as you are merely using it to cord a box. But suppose you had to hang by that rope over a precipice. Wouldn’t you then first discover how much you really trusted it? John writes to a group whose confidence has been shaken. His reminder is that their life is wrapped up in Jesus. Those who deny him cannot be in fellowship.

i. How is it that we will listen to those who deny the Lordship of Jesus and trust their judgment? When those at school want you to do the wrong thing, why listen to one who denies that Jesus is the Messiah.

ii. When co-workers undermine you, it is then that you decide if you listen to the doubt within or the promise of God.

iii. This belief isn't mere words; it is changed life in which you hold to Jesus.

B. Second, overcoming the world is a present reality. It isn’t a matter of the day will come when we will overcome. For John it is now. It is our belief that Jesus is the Christ that makes this true. Jesus is the source of the power that allows us to say “no” to this world. As one writer conveyed the thought, to the one who doesn’t believe that Jesus is the Christ then evil seems uncontrollable; to the one whose faith is weak temptation is irresistible but to the believer the world is defeated. It is done. Again, our confidence soars.

i. Temptation comes to us all. The temptation isn't evil. We all give in at times to temptation. But as those who have overcome the world we can say "no" to sin.

ii. There isn't great spiritual insight needed. John's words assure us that our faith in Jesus results in our victory. We can say to Satan "Talk to Jesus and if it is okay with him then I will do it."

iii. The victory is ours already. What do you believe about Jesus? Have you been born of God? Invitation.

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