1471. We Know by Our Victory Over the World
We Know by Our Victory Over the World
"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" (1Jn_5:4-5).
"He that is born of God overcometh the world."
We do not mean that all Christians live a life of absolute separation, or of absolute victory. All too many Christians stumble and follow the world.
What we do mean is this: Every believer, because he is born of God, has within his reach a victory, supreme and complete, if he, by faith, will claim it. This much is sure–all overcomers may know they are born of God.
This life of victory is altogether impossible to the unregenerate; they cannot, under any condition, overcome the world. They are of the world; yea, they are the world.
In these days, when so many are walking arm in arm with the world, it will prove helpful to consider, once more, the believer's attitude, Scripturally, to the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life–the things which dominate the men of the world.
1. The believer is called out of the world, and is commanded to "love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (1Jn_2:15).
2. The believer is not of the world; his citizenship is not of the world; his treasures are not of the world. He is in the world, but the world must not be in him. He may possess things that worldly men possess, but these things do not possess him; they must not form the pulse and purpose of his life.
3. The believer should crucify the world; this is his glory: "God forbid that I should glory, save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world" (Gal_6:14).
In truth, those who are in Christ, walking in Him, "have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts" (Gal_5:24).
4. The believer is promised victory over the world. Through Christ Jesus "we are more than conquerors" (Rom_8:37).
In Christ Jesus, we are made partakers of "His triumph" (see 2Co_2:14).
Jesus Christ met satan and vanquished him: He spoiled him and all of his principalities and powers; therefore, He assures His victory to His born-again ones.
When this victory is realized in a believer's life, he knows that he is born of God.
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR