Overcoming the World

1Jn 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
1Jn 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?


Overcoming the world.


G3528
nikaō
nik-ah'-o
From G3529; to subdue (literally or figuratively): - conquer, overcome, prevail, get the victory.


Conquering the world.
Prevailing against the world.
Getting the victory over the world.


The world is our enemy. You only need to conquer an enemy. You only need to prevail against opposition. You only get victory when there is something to be victorious over, something to win and if something is won it's a given that something is lost. The world is the loser.


Our enemy, our opposition- the world.


A never ending battle is what we exist in. The war is raging on and the casualties are mounting even though the battle has been won.


Just recently during a study it was mentioned that on the cross the victory was won- Satan's head was crushed- the 'death blow' was given and yet Satan is still alive. Satan truly is the living-dead. Satan was defeated at the cross there is NO denying that, however until Jesus comes and the millennium passes Satan will live. The person giving the study made a good point using David and Goliath. A lot of people think that Goliath was killed by the stone that David threw from His sling but that's not true. The stone gave the death blow- incapacitating Goliath but it was David cutting off Goliath's head that finished him off. Cutting off a head doesn't make for a good children's story though- at least it didn't when I was a child. As a child the stories I heard were of David and his sling, the stone killing Goliath. I didn't see any pictures in my books of David cutting off Goliath's head, not a single one and yet that's what killed Goliath.


In Genesis 3:15 the prophecy is given- Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.


Hatred would exist between Satan and God's people. Hatred would exist between the seed of Satan and the Seed of God's people. The Seed of God's people would bruise the head of Satan, but Satan would only bruise the heel of the Seed of God's people.


Satan had Jesus- the Seed of God's people killed yet Jesus by the power of the Father was raised from the dead. Jesus has bruised Satan's head- the death blow has been given to Satan and all that remains is to cut off his head.


People wonder why God has allowed Satan to rule so long after Jesus won the victory at the cross. To everyone that has wondered and to everyone that continues to wonder- just their being alive and in a position to wonder, to question God is the answer. You and I, are the answer and it's not for some sadistic purpose on God's part. The entire story of our existence if put in some fantasy movie would have us cheering for the heroes- God's people, the good guys. We would watch this movie with fascination as these humans were brought to life and then fell from grace through the help of an enemy of the Creator. We would see them struggling to survive as this enemy infects as many people as he can trying to destroy all of mankind. We'd watch as the Savior was brought into the world and killed by the enemy- only to be brought back to life- winning! Then we'd be able to see the world continuing on and on as the enemy who has been defeated tries to take as many humans with him as possible. Ultimately we'd come to the grand finale where the enemy is wiped from existence and the good guys win by the victory of their Savior. What a fascinating move that would be- in fact people have used the theme countless times. There is an end to this existence, we are living in this story. Every single person has their part to play and in time it will all play out. Why this has gone on so long is because we are ALL precious to our Savior. We are all in this world able to wonder at all by the grace of our King. How can we debate our own existence? We can't, not really would wouldn't exist by our own logic. And if we really can't debate our existence we can't debate anyone else's. Each person that is born deserves life as much as we do, they deserve to exist.


Overcoming this world is a fact of our existence. Or rather a fact of the existence to those who wish to follow their Creator, their Redeemer. Those who choose to be friends with the world and not fight, not long to overcome the world ruled by Satan, won't. In fact the lovers of this world are in league with Satan and he will use them against us in any way he can.


This is a real war and though people might want to believe it's crazy to' believe' it's true and only wackos believe then those same people must classify Jesus as a wacko as well. Jesus didn't belong to this world and time and time again I know I touch on this point, but I can't help but do so.


Joh 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
Joh 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.


We overcome this world through our Savior and ONLY through our Savior.


1Jn 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
1Jn 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?


Belief in our Savior. Faith in the Son of God and HIS victory on our behalf.


Let us cling to our Savior and live for Him, not for the world, not for anything in this world except for Christ and those who are His.


In His love!


Amen.