VICTORY THAT OVERCOMETH

Morning Meditations 1/12/16

I want us to look this morning at First John 5:4: “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”

First our text says, “For whatsoever is born of God.” This is a qualifying phrase. “Whatsoever” (pas) is the translation of a word meaning, “each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, everything.” This is Strong’s definition. The word “whatsoever” covers all who have been born again. If you have been saved, you are included in this “whatsoever.” The words “is born” (gannao) is a perfect passive participle. The perfect tense represents completed action in the past, that completed action having present results. The passive voice is where the subject is acted upon. He is the receiver of the action. The subject is “whatsoever” and he is not the cause of the action, he is the recipient of the action. God is the cause. He is the One who births us into His family. It can be said that the new birth happened to us. The perfect tense also means that what happened in the past remains true. John is addressing those who had been born again in the past, who were still born again as a result of that past act.

Second, our text says, “Over cometh the world.” This tells us what happens to those who are born of God. The word “overcometh” (nikao) means, “to conquer; to carry off the victory, come off victorious.” This is a present active indicative verb. It means that they continue to overcome (to conquer, to be victorious) in the present tense. The word “world” here means world system. It is the same world that Jesus has already overcome (john 16:33}. It is the world that we as Christians are told not to conform to: Romans chapter 12 and verse 2 says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Third, our text says, “And this is the victory that overcommeth the world, even our faith.” The word “overcometh” has already been defined. In this case it is an aorist active participle. The aorist tense refers to a point of time. It is also a once-for-all act at that point of time. The secret here is what point of time is this verse talking about. That point of time is described in the words “even our faith.” When did this born again person exercise faith? When he believed the gospel.

Fourth and last our text says, “even our faith.” Not even our works or a church membership or something else. It is faith on our part that receives Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour. Even that faith is a gift of God. Faith is that non meritorious capacity that God has given every man to relate to Him and receive from Him. Faith and victory are connected in this verse. It is like Faith is the Victory. Or, like faith is the substance in Hebrews 11:1. In other words don’t look for victory somewhere else. Faith is the victory!

This means that the believer is not to work for victory but work from victory. I am in the world but not of the world that is victory. I have tasks to perform for Him in this world. I am performing them from the stand point of victory. Will our Red Seas open for us? Absolutely. If God has brought you to a Red Sea and it is His will for you to cross, the sea will as surely open as it did for Moses. It is already opened so far as God is concerned. Faith on our part is the opening of the Red Sea before it is opened.

We have already overcome the world in the Overcomer, i.e., Jesus. He has overcome the world and His overcoming it includes us.. That is positional. Jesus overcame the world for every person who would every put their trust in Him. But what about the practical. What about the victory that overcomes the obstacles down here? Those victories are ours and are there for the believer. Ephesians chapter 1 and verse 3 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:” The words “hath blessed” is an aorist tense verb form and means it has already taken place. It is there for faith to receive.

1 John 5:4: “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”

How does one reconcile this statement with the dismal failure of many Christians today? When we fail, it is a faith failure. We are just not living by faith. The victory has already been obtained by Jesus. Faith reaches out in the spiritual realm of His presence and brings the victory that He has already provided for us into the realm of the seen.

God bless the words to our hearts.

In Christ

Earl White