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. 5Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
There are various things we must overcome in life: hardships or trials, difficulties or troubles. All of these have negative connotations. So what does John mean when he says that “those who have been born of God have overcome the world”? Most of us have overcome something, like illness or negative attitudes. But to overcome the world either seems wildly ambitious, or paints the world in a pretty negative light.
In fact, John does paint the world in a negative light. But the world he is referring to is the fallen world, characterized by sin and corruption. It is the world governed by the devil, and is opposed to the love of the Father (2:15). It is the world that is the source of the lust of the flesh, eyes, pride of life (2:16), and which is passing away (2:17). This world does not know God (3:1), and hates those who do (3:13). It is filled with false prophets (4:1) and antichrists (4:3). Nevertheless, Christians can take heart, because He who is in us is greater than him who is in the world (4:4). In fact, Jesus was sent and came into the world (4:9) precisely to be the savior of the world (4:14).
So, the world is, in fact, something that needs to be overcome. But not by bold, type-A, over-achievers. It is too big, even for them. We overcome the world by believing that Jesus is the Son of God (v. 5). He conquered all of the corruption and sin of the world when he died on the cross for our sins and rose again to live and reign in glory. This victory, again, was too great for us. We do not overcome the world through conflict or struggle. Christ has done all of the fighting for us. The victory that overcomes the world is our faith (v. 4) in what He has done. And overcoming is not just an optional, add-on to the Christian life. It’s for all of us. “Everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world (v.4).”
For John, overcoming the world is not about boldness or confidence or victorious living, but about simple obedience. He brings up overcoming immediately after discussing God’s commands. “God’s commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world (vv. 3-4).” And obeying God’s commands is a demonstration of our love for Him (v. 3). What an amazing thing, that God loved us so much, that He not only saved us in Christ—overcame who we were—but also gave us what we need to love Him more! He enables us to overcome inertia and our past way of life so we can obey His commands to love Him and love our neighbors. So, by faith in Christ, we live and love and overcome. Praise Him!
by Tom Hoffman