>>>
1 John 5:4 - Faith of Overcomers.

1 John 5:4 - Faith of Overcomers.

1 John 5:4 (ESV) For everyone who has been born of God overcomes 
the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our 
faith.  

1 John 5:4 (CWR) Everyone born of God can overcome the world. 
And this is what gives us victory over the world: our faith in God. 
 

1 John 5:4 (TLB) for every child of God can obey him, defeating 
sin and evil pleasure by trusting Christ to help him. 

INTRODUCTION

When you are born of God, you are born to win (vv. 4-5). Your 
first birth made you a sinner and a loser, but your second birth makes 
you a conqueror. The world wants to entice you (2:15-17) and the 
devil wants to seduce you (Gen. 3:6), but Christ will give you the 
victory you need if you trust Him. [Chapter by Chapter Bible Commentary 
by Warren Wiersbe] 

To overcome the world is to gain victory over its sinful pattern 
of life, which is another way of describing obedience to God (v. 
3). Such obedience is not impossible for the believer because he has 
been born again and the Holy Spirit dwells within him and gives him 
strength. John speaks of two aspects of victory: (1) the initial victory 
of turning in faith from the world to God ("has overcome"); (2) the 
continuing day-by-day victory of Christian living ("overcomes"). [NIV SB] 

COMMENTARY

Many people equate faith with wishful thinking, but it is much 
more concrete than that. Faith is believing what God has said, not 
merely hoping for something. It is rooted and grounded in God's 
purposes and promises. It is taking God at his word and acting 
accordingly. That's faith. [NIV Once A Day Bible re Gen. 6:22 mod]  

The core meaning of "faith" is a personal relationship 
established by trust and trustworthiness. For a Christian to say, "I believe 
in Jesus," is not so much a statement affirming certain beliefs 
about Jesus as it is an affirmation of trust. It is a confession that 
the Person, Jesus Christ, about whom I learn in the Bible, has 
become more than a historical figure to me. I have recognized Him as a 
real and living Person, and I have not drawn back in fear. Instead, I 
have confidently placed all I am and all I hope to be in His hands. 
Faith is abandoning ourselves and our efforts and resting in Jesus' 
promise of forgiveness and transformation. [Victor Teacher's 
Commentary] 

   Our response to God must be the response of love; and for 
love no duty is too hard and no task too great. That which we would 
never do for a stranger we will willingly attempt for a loved one. 
What would be an impossible sacrifice, if a stranger demanded it, 
becomes a willing gift when love needs it.  
   There is an old story which is a kind of parable of this. 
Someone once met a lad going to school long before the days when 
transport was provided. The lad was carrying on his back a smaller boy who 
was clearly lame and unable to walk. The stranger said to the lad, 
"Do you carry him to school every day?" "Yes," said the boy. "That's 
a heavy burden for you to carry," said the stranger. "He's not a 
burden," said the boy. "He's my brother." Love turned the burden into no 
burden at all. [Barclay Commentary] 

   Love for God makes obeying easy. "Want to" is always easier 
than "have to." As long as we feel that we are forced against our 
will to do certain things that God demands, those things will be 
burdensome to us. But if we eagerly want to do those same things, they seem 
to us to be a delight. 
   You can easily check the state of your love for the LORD 
using this principle. If you find you want to do those things that you 
know please Him, you can be sure that your love for God is alive and 
well. [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary] 

The power that set the galaxies spinning, that holds the earth 
in place, that calmed the seas, that turned water into wine--that 
power is in your life. Why would we go through life trying to do 
things in our own strength? And yet, so many of us fall into that very 
temptation. Be different. Thank God for his power at work in your life and 
on your behalf. Rely on him instead of yourself. [The One Year 
Bible for New Believers re Eph.1:19, 20] 

EXAMPLE

   As Louisa Stead, her husband, and their young daughter were 
enjoying an oceanside picnic one day, they noticed a young boy struggling 
in the surf. As the drowning boy cried out for help, Mr. Stead 
rushed to save him. Unfortunately, he was pulled under the waves by the 
terrified boy and both drowned as Louisa and her daughter watched 
helplessly from the shore.  
   In the sorrowful days that followed, the grief-stricken widow 
began to put pen to paper and the result was a hymn now known to 
millions: 
   "Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His 
word, just to rest upon His promise, just to know, 'Thus saith the 
Lord.' 
   "O how sweet to trust in Jesus, just to trust His cleansing 
blood, just in simple faith to plunge me 'neath the healing, cleansing 
flood! 
   "Yes, 'tis sweet to trust in Jesus, just from sin and self to 
cease, just from Jesus simply taking life and rest and joy and peace. 
   "I'm so glad I learned to trust Thee, Precious Jesus, Savior, 
Friend; and I know that Thou art with me, wilt be with me to the end." 
   Trusting Jesus, Louisa went as a missionary to Africa, where 
she served the Lord for 25 years! 
   When we place the tragedies of our lives into God's hands, 
and trust in Him, He can turn them around for His glory and our 
gain! [God's Little Devotional Bible] 

CLOSING THOUGHT

Christians are those who overcome the world through their 
relationship with Christ. [Word In Life SB] 

GLORIOUS SONG OF FAITH AND LOVE: [maybe an initial distracting 
ad - sorry for that] 

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xs5o7n