I John 5:4-5. Sermon 34. Those Born of God Overcome the World

on December 8, 2024

The greeting.

Grace to you.

The scripture.

Turn in your Bible to First John chapter five. Let me read from verse one to verse twelve, the sermon will come from verses four and five, hear the holy word of our holy God – read.

I John 5:1. Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. ² By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. ³ For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.

I John 5:4. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world– our faith. ⁵ Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

I John 5:6. This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. ⁷ For there are three that testify: ⁸ the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. ⁹ If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for the testimony of God is this, that He has testified concerning His Son. ¹⁰ The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son. ¹¹ And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. ¹² He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.

The prayer.

Please go with me to the throne of grace in prayer – pray.

The evidences of spiritual regeneration.

If you remember we have said previously about this passage that God has given us a number of effects or evidences of spiritual regeneration.

Those born of God believe in Jesus Christ.

In verse one and verse four John says “those born of God”. This is to be spiritually reborn by God the Holy Spirit. (Jn.3:1-9, Titus 3:5) This is separate from our physical birth. (Jn.1:10-13)

The first and most fundamental of evidence that of a person has been gifted new spiritual life by the Holy Spirit is that person then believes in Jesus as the Christ. We have been born again unto conversion to Christ. (Jn.3:16, Eph.2:1-9)

I want you to think about the believing in Christ and converted to Christ truth.

We cannot make too much of the place of Christ Jesus in our holy religion. We have been born again unto Christ, we live by the power of Christ in us, our life is a devoted thank offering unto Christ, we labor to live a life worthy of Christ, and we spend our life in eager anticipation of going to be with Christ.

And related to our sermon, we overcome in Christ, we overcome by Christ.

Next week, we will look at the testimony of Christ or the testimony to Christ.

Jesus Christ is a real person, the true God-Man and we by faith have a real relationship with Him. He is not a mere idea, or a mere symbol, or a philosophy, or just a good example. He is Immanuel our true life. (Col.1:25-28)

You cannot have a Christ-less form of Christianity. I mean, it is possible, but such a form is not Christianity at all.

Christ is the key to understanding the Scriptures. Without understanding the true person and the true work of the true Christ, the Bible is a closed book.

Those born of God labor to obey Jesus Christ.

So, from that first effect of believing and professing Jesus Christ is Lord, the second effect is that we labor to obey His Lordship by obeying the commandments of God. Faith begets faithfulness. (Mt.7:17-20)

We obey God as our grateful response to all the grace and mercy Christ lavishes upon us. Every true Believer wants to please Jesus Christ out of love for Him. And we please Him as we conform our thoughts, words, and deeds to His moral law.

Those born of God overcome the world in the name of Christ.

In verses four and five the third effect of being born again by the Spirit is that Believers in Jesus Christ overcome the world.

This is the doctrine that we shall unpack this morning.

I John 5:4. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world– our faith. ⁵ Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

The doctrine – triumphal.

Those born of God are victorious overcomers.

Rightly understood Biblical Christianity is a triumphalistic religion. Christ is Victor. We in Christ are victors. As I say, this must be rightly understood.

In part, the apostle John is answering a potential criticism made against professing Christians by non-Christians. And remember the true Christian is the tiny minority in the midst of the overwhelming majority of unbelievers. (Mt.7:13-14, Rom.9:26-29, Isa.6:10-13)

And the criticism is something like this, if you believe in Jesus Christ then you are a fool. And if you actually believe in Jesus Christ enough to try to obey Him in this world, then you are an even bigger fool. (Acts 26:24, Jn.18:38, 2 Pt.3:3)

You see the unbeliever does not value or respect the Believer, in their hearts they think we are the dregs of the earth. That is what God inspires the apostle Paul to write about in I Corinthians 4 and in 2 Corinthians 4.

Paul says to the unbelieving, call me a fool, I am a fool for Christ’s sake. (I Cor.4:10)

As an aside this was the early motto of the early founders of the Methodist movement, willing to be considered as fanatical fools for Christ by the larger society and even by the larger church. This is overcoming while people declare that you are losing.

God says to His people, you who Believe will never be put to shame in the eternal estate. You are in the right – before Me. (Ps.50:7, Ps.31:17-19, 34:5, Rom.10:11)

The language – martial.

Related to this victory-truth see that John uses military language here, overcomers, victorious overcomers.

The language implies that his readership is involved in a war, and they are on the side that prevails. More on this as we move through the sermon. (Eph.5:1-10, 6:10-18, I Tim.6:12, Rom.8:13, I Pt.2:11)

The outline.

We can outline the passage along the lines of something like this.

1. Who overcomes. 2. What is it to overcome. 3. What is being overcome. 4. And how we overcome. So, the who and the what and the how.

Who shall overcome – true Believers in the true Christ.

The who part is what we have been saying for weeks now, those born of God. These are the true Christians. True Christians as opposed to non-Christians and as opposed to merely outward and formal Christians. (2 Tim.3:1-10)

All of humanity is divided into two parts, those in Christ by faith, and those apart from Christ by unbelief. (Rom.3:1-18)

And this applies to those outside of the visible church and also to those inside the visible church.

A merely formal Christian is a person that is a Christian merely by outward profession, or by water baptism, or joining the church or something like this, but without the spiritual renewal of God the Holy Spirit.

Judas was a formal Christian.

The mere formalist does not overcome the world, he or she is of the world. (2 Tim.3:1-9, Acts 8:12-24)

But John is not writing to or for the mere formalist Christian.

Who shall overcome – those under the banner of Christ in the spiritual war.

John is writing to encourage true Believers.

Beloved, the gospel promises of God are all true. All of the comforts procured by Jesus Christ are all true.

But the blessings of God are not possessed by all people indiscriminately.

As I just said, the unbeliever, the rejecter of Jesus does not have every promise as yes-and-amen. The unbeliever shall not overcome. The victory does not belong to the unbeliever.

But to the Believer in Jesus, every good gift of God belongs to us – in The Beloved.

Remember John himself is a true Believer. He is writing for the good of his spiritual brothers and sisters, brothers and sisters that are involved in the same spiritual warfare that he is engaged in. (I Tim.6:12-16, Eph.6:10-18)

John is writing to encourage his brothers and sisters “in arms”, soldiers in the army of Christ, as it were. (Phil.2:25, 2 Tim.2:3-4, Philemon 1:2)

This is like the apostle Paul the older soldier writing to Timothy the younger soldier and telling Timothy, gird your loins, be a man, fight the good fight of faith. (2 Sam.10:12, 2 Tim.4:1-8) Know the victory is already won! By Christ. For us. (Josh.6:1-2, I Jn.4:4, Prov.21:31)

John knows experimentally what he writes about.

Remember the apostle John is writing to Believers circa A.D. 85-95.

The Roman emperor at this time was Domitian (Titus Flavius Domitianus). He ruled from A.D. 81 until A.D. 96.

The church historian Eusebius states that “the successor to Nero’s (military) campaign of hostility against God was Domitian.” The church of Christ went from living under one Christ hater Nero to be succeeded by another Christ hater Domitian. (see Eusebius “Ecclesiastical History”, book 3, chapters 17-20)

The apostle John himself was sent to a prison island under the reign of Domitian for the charge of serving Christ.

This is what John writes,

Revelation 1:9. I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

John writes in the book of Revelation about the fate of some Christians at this time in the Roman empire. Eusebius again calls Domitian a “Nero in cruelty”.

Revelation 2:12. And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this: ¹³ ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

His reign was one of terror. He ruled by the sword. And he died as he lived, violently. (Mt.26:52)

He was assassinated by a group of his court officials that stabbed him to death on September 18^th A.D. 96. He was 44 years old.

And John’s message to his fellow Believers is the Neros and the Domitians of the world come and go, they oppose the people of God, the Lambs of Christ for a time, and then God sweeps them away into a Christ-less eternity – but the church of Christ remains. (Rom.9:17-18)

The gates of hell will not prevail against the church of Christ. The terrors of anti-Christ will not prevail against the lovers of Christ. We shall overcome because we are found in Him that has overcome. Jesus says so. (Mt.16:16-18, WCF 25.5)

John 16:33. These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

What does it mean to overcome.

Now let’s define this overcome and this victory that God inspires John to write about.

The Greek word for overcome is nikao. (νικάω) This word means to conquer, to prevail, to overcome, and to be victorious.

What this word implies is as we said earlier that there is some combat, some war between two warring parties. And one side comes out the winner, while the other party is defeated. (see I John 2:13, 4:4)

The result of this overcoming is obviously a victory.

The word John uses for victory is a derivative of vikao, he uses the word nike. (νίκη)

There are two truths here that we should mention.

Activity.

The first one is activity. The Bible presents the Christian life, and I mean, the life of all those in Jesus Christ as an active life. The Christian life is not a passive life.

Believing in Jesus and following Jesus in an anti-Jesus culture is depicted as a battle, as a race, as a wrestling match, as a boxing match, as a pilgrimage in a desert land, and so on. (Heb.11:1-40)

Christ Himself tells us if we want to follow Him (as our Lord and Savior) then we are to pick up our cross, deny ourselves, and follow Jesus where He leads us. (Mt.16:24-26)

Antithesis.

The second truth represented by these words nikao and nike is the truth of antithesis.

Antithesis means a contrast between two things and an opposition between two things.

The idea is right from wrong, true and false, in Christ, apart from Christ.

We will see this more as we consider what we overcome.

The devil is trying hard to erase these lines of religious and moral distinction.

Much of the modern church has been duped by the anti-Christ world to deny this Biblical truth of anti-thesis. We are taught to believe that religiously and morally everyone is right, and no one is wrong. Everyone is going to heaven. Everyone is a child of God.

God says, one is either a child of light or a child of the darkness. And we are in a spiritual war.

We overcome the world. We do not become one with the world. We do not emulate the world. We evangelize the world. (James 1:27)

God calls us to separate ourselves religiously and morally from those that oppose God. (2 Cor.6:14-18) And to gather with those that gather for Christ. (Mt.12:30)

Beloved, there are only two sides to be on, and they are opposed to one another. Whose side are you on? (Josh.24:15, Exod.32:26-29)

What shall be overcome.

Now let’s consider what shall be overcome by Believers in Jesus.

What – the definition of the world.

For us to understand what God is telling His people in His book, let’s define what is meant by the word “world” here in this usage.

The Greek word used twice in verse four and once in verse five is the same word, the word kosmos. (Note: gaia, gay, gayn means “earth” or “land” – i.e the dirt, Mt.2:6, 20, 21, Mt.5:5)

Now this word kosmos can mean different things based on context.

The physical universe.

Kosmos can mean the entire physical universe, so creation beyond this planet to all created planets and stars and suns and galaxies and so on.

Acts 17:24. The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; (Rom.4:13, I Cor.3:22, 8:4)

The physical earth.

This word can mean the physical earth of visible things and also of unseen elements. So, strictly speaking the earth and the things of the physical earth. (Jn.12:25, I Tim.6:7, Rev.11:18)

Mark 16:15. And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.

The inhabitants of the physical earth.

Kosmos can refer to the people that inhabit the physical earth. The idea is the whole world of mankind, without inferring believing mankind or unbelieving mankind. Sometimes angels would also be participants of this world-earth. (Mt.13:38, 18:7, Jn.1:10, 1:29)

I Corinthians 4:9. For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.

John is not writing about Believers overcoming physical creation, earth and sky and so on.

So this is not a physical overcoming or a physical victory by physical means.

The ungodly inhabitants of the physical earth – unconverted sinners.

John is writing about a religious and spiritual and moral overcoming, against spiritual, religious, and moral opponents.

Kosmos can refer to the men and women and boys and girls that are unconverted and dead in their sins and trespasses. And therefore, these people are anti-God, anti-Christ, pro-Satan, and pro-sin. (Jn.17:9, I Cor.1:21, I Pt.5:9, 2 Pt.1:4, 2:20)

So “world” in this sense stands for worldling, a person alienated from the life of God, those not born of God. Again these people are against Christ and against the cause of Christ, and the church of Christ, as so on.

John 7:7. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil. (see John 15:18-24)

John 14:27. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

And by this term “world” the idea is that the enemy against us is massive, worldwide, in the majority.

The unholy spirit controlling the unholy inhabitants of the earth – Satan.

As I said, the unconverted person is “of the world” he or she is still under the control of the fallen “god” of this world, i.e. Satan. (2 Cor.4:4, Eph.2:1-3, Eph.6:12, Isa.14:12-14, Lk.10:18, Rev.12:1-10)

And this is why the Bible speaks about unbelievers overcoming the evil one, meaning they overcome the people led by the evil one, meaning human and spirit servants of Satan.

Listen to John earlier.

I John 2:13. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father. ¹⁴ I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

The affairs of this world – enticements to sin.

Another usage of kosmos is related to the one we just mentioned, and that is the world as in worldly affairs, the things of this world. (Gal.6:14)

The meaning here is earthy goods, earthly riches, and honors and endowments, advantages, and pleasures, etc.

The notion here is that we will overcome against all temptations to use lawful things unlawfully, to put our chief affection upon the creation rather than the Creator.

To use Luther’s summary of our spiritual enemies, we overcome the world, the flesh and the devil.

How we shall overcome – by faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God.

Now let’s consider how we overcome, and how we have the victory.

Outwardly, physically, and often materially the Christ is not very powerful at all. Believers are often the weakest in the world’s eyes.

But we do not overcome sin and Satan by the flesh. We do not conquer the anti-Christ forces against us by force. Jesus taught Pilate that His kingdom is different than an earthly kingdom. (Jn.18:37)

By Spirit-wrought and by Spirit-gifted faith we are “in’ Christ. Remember, apart from Christ we can do nothing, we are spiritually powerless. (Jn.15:5) But in Christ we can do all things. (Phil.4:13)

We overcome by faith, by faith in Jesus Christ, which unites us to the Triune God. And in Whom we have constant fellowship – by faith in Him. (Gal.2:20)

Of ourselves we are not strong. Our Christ is strong. In Him and by Him (in us) we oppose all that is against us.

Satan cannot defeat the Believer in Christ. Christ has defeated Satan on our behalf.

The fallen Satan-led world cannot defeat the Believer in Christ, the Spirit of Christ in us is stronger than those engaged against us.

The temptations to sin pressing against us from this anti-Christ world will not overcome us.

Our own indwelling sin cannot take us from Christ, Christ will perfect the work He began in us.

No weapon formed against any true Believer in Jesus will prosper eternally. (Isa.54:17)

Even death will not the defeat the Christian. (I Cor.15:50-58)

Listen to God’s promises to Believers in Jesus,

Romans 8:37. But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I Corinthians 15:54. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. ⁵⁵ “O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” ⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; ⁵⁷ but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁵⁸ Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. (Eph.6:16, 2 Cor.2:14)

Revelation 12:10. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. ¹¹ “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

The conclusion.

Let me conclude our sermon on overcoming by referring to a song about overcoming.

There is a song entitled “We Shall Overcome”. Originally this was a gospel song.

The exact author is not known. But it is believed this song came from a Methodist minister, the son of a former slave, by the name of Charles Albert Tindley the author of “I’ll Overcome Some Day”. (1851-1933)

Another one of his songs with similar sentiments was “Take Your Burden to the Lord and Leave it There”. He is often referred to as “the grandfather of gospel music”.

Later it was used by social-political-cultural activists as a “protest song”. The version I am most familiar with is by Peter Seger, and then later by Joan Baez.

Here are the lyrics. Remember the original author was a Christian minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ. By faith we know what he sung about.

We Shall Overcome, we shall overcome

We shall overcome someday.

Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe, (by faith – Heb.11:3, 4, 5, I Jn.5:4-5, Jn.3:16)

We shall overcome someday.

We are not afraid, we are not afraid, (Jn.14:1-6)

We are not afraid today.