GET REAL
Part 11
Chapter 13
“Faith That Overcomes”

“Everyone who is believing that Jesus is the Christ has been begotten of God, and everyone who is loving Him who begot, also loves him who is begotten of Him.”—1 John 5:1

As we have seen, the Gnostics of John’s day denied that the person whom the early Church knew as Jesus was also the Christ. You will remember that Christ is the English spelling of the Greek word christos, which means “the anointed one.”

The prophets predicted that the anointed one would be God in the flesh, born into the human race by a virgin. John is stating clearly that Jesus was that predicted Christ, whose substitutionary death satisfied God’s need for justice, and made a way for salvation for all who placed their faith in him.
John is further making the case that anyone who embraces Jesus as the Christ is also begotten of God.

“Him who begot” refers to God, while “him that is begotten of Him” references the child of God.

John tells us that the person who loves God as His heavenly Father should also love God’s children. If you love the dad, you should love his kids. We’re all in the same family.

“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and follow His commandments.” 1 John 5:2

“When” is from a word meaning “whenever.” Our love toward the brethren is developed whenever we exercise love and obedience toward God. Whenever God’s people obey the commandments of God, it reveals a love for the saints, since obedience to God’s commands will always place us in a right relationship to our brethren.

For example, Paul wrote:
“I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.
19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. 21 It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. 22 Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.”—Romans 14:14–22

“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.”—1 John 5:3

“The love of God” is more accurately translated as “the love for God.” So, our love FOR God is revealed by keeping his commandments. Our motivation for walking in the truth should be our love for God, not guilt, fear, pride, or anything else.

“Grievous” comes from the word “heavy” and describes something that is burdensome, severe, stern, violent, cruel, or unsparing. Our love for God makes keeping his commandments a delight, not a severe, cruel, or stern burden!

“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.”—1 John 5:4-5

The word translated “overcomes” here is from a Greek word meaning “to carry off the victory, come off victorious.”

It implies a battle with the forces of the world system of evil, the flesh (totally depraved nature), the devil, and the pernicious age surrounding the saints.

Each of these forces constantly attacks the Christian’s life and testimony to ruin or stifle it. Never forget that Satan and this evil world system want to ruin you. In fact, you’ve probably heard this verse quoted often:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”—Jeremiah 29:11

We can restate that verse from the opposite perspective, and have the devil’s version:

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says Satan, thoughts of evil and not of good, to ruin your future and destroy your hope.”
The word “overcome” is in the present verb tense, meaning the believer is constantly and on-goingly overcoming the world.

“Our faith” refers to our confession that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. So, this verse might read,

“Who is he who is constantly contending with the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

A heart confession that Jesus is the Christ, resulting in obedience to His word, brings the believer ongoing victory over the world!

In this instance, the verb “confesses” is in the aorist tense, making the act of confession both definite and for a lifetime, representing a sustained attitude of the heart.

NEXT TIME we finish!