Overcoming Through Faith

“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.” 1 John 5:4-5

The apostle John uses the Greek word, nikao, which means one who “overcomes”, to set forth a picture of the power of faith. It is a word denoting victory and conquering power. We would understand it as a crushing victory. The word reflects a superiority that leads to overwhelming success. Perhaps you can recall those epic movies like Cleopatra or Ben Hur, where there is a triumphal parade/march and the hero rides up in pomp and grandeur. This is the image John is trying to present to us. He wants us to know that this results from the believer’s union with Christ. As Christ has been victorious so too does the faithful believer share in Christ’s victory thereby overcoming the world. The word “overcomes” in the original language conveys the idea that the believer’s faith has continual victory over the worldwide system of deception and wickedness. While the world would try to have us forget God and abandon the standards of God, our faith is a conquering faith that enables us to conquer the world. It is the power of our faith in God, in Jesus Christ, in the incarnation, Jesus’ life, death and resurrection as the victor that gives us the victory.

Prayer Focus: Jesus, we see that in Your commandments, which are not burdensome or heavy, that there comes relationship and power to overcome. To obey You is to receive an opportunity to demonstrate our love and is a privilege. Thank You for granting to us this conquering faith and for Your continual presence in our lives.