Verse of the Day 7/25

Verse of the Day 7/25    

1 John 5:4-5

English Standard Version

4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Our Tuesday Morning men's Bible study will be covering this passage tomorrow.  There are several things in these verses and in this passage that all Christians need to be reminded of from time to time.  

The author, John, also wrote the gospel of John and Revelation.  Written late in his life, he has seen enough of the trials and challenges of life to know what he was talking about.  John is well known for many verses going back to John 1:1 "in the beginning was the Word" ; John 3:16 and "for God so loved the world"; the 7 "I Am" statements such as "I am the way the truth and the life".  Now, later in his life he is encouraging every believer that they are "overcomers".

Notice how in this passage that 3 John uses the word "everyone" 3 times pertaining to those who believe that Jesus is the Christ.  Everyone who loves God "has been born of Him".   This goes back to John 6:44 "no one can come to me unless the Father draws him".  Finally, "everyone born of God overcomes the world" and the conduit to being overcomers is "our faith".

John Piper writes, "Satan wants to catch us at a time when our faith is not firm, when it is vulnerable. It makes sense that the very thing Satan wants to destroy would also be the means of our resisting his efforts. That's why Peter says, "Resist him, firm in your faith" (1 Peter 5:9). It is also why Paul says that the "shield of faith" can "extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one" (Ephesians 6:16).  The way to thwart the devil is to strengthen the very thing he is trying most to destroy — your faith."

A key component in strengthening your faith is to know and take these verses to heart, realize that through Him, you are an overcomer and can overcome the world.

His banner over us is love,   Our sword the Word of God; We tread the road the saints before   With shouts of triumph trod. By faith, they like a whirlwind's breath,   Swept on o'er every field; The faith by which they conquered death   Is still our shining shield. Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory! O glorious victory,   That overcomes the world.

Blessings,

Mike

Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV

1 John 5:1-5

English Standard Version

Overcoming the World

5 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?