JULY 29
FAITH THAT OVERCOMES THE WORLD
1 John 5:4-5
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world: your faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (WEB)
In Revelation chapters 2-3, Jesus addresses seven churches. With each church, there is a promise for all who overcome. In the past, I have been intimidated by these promises because I felt they were somewhat conditional... 'If' I overcome, I will receive a new name... 'If' I overcome, I will receive a white stone, etc.
In today's Scripture reading, the Apostle John tells us that anything born of God overcomes the world. The only requirement to be considered an overcomer is our faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ, period. There is nothing we can add to what Jesus has already done, and there is nothing we can do to take away from it either.
All we are called to do is believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and our Heavenly Father handles the rest. Because we are connected to Jesus, our victory is safe and secure in Him. Our ability to overcome on our own doesn’t matter. The truth is, we are already overcomers because we have been born into an overcoming family.
My prayer today is that every believer understands that their faith in Christ overcomes the world, not their confidence in their own ability to stay saved. It began with our elder brother, and it will conclude with Him. The more we believe this to be the simple truth of the gospel, the better we can surrender to the overcoming power already working in our lives.
The truth is that we are 'more than conquerors through Him who loved us' (Romans 8:37). May we all start living our lives based on this truth rather than according to the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10), who is constantly lying about our true nature in Christ (John 8:41-44).
Ephesians 2:8-10
for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them. (WEB)
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world: your faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (WEB)
In Revelation chapters 2-3, Jesus addresses seven churches. With each church, there is a promise for all who overcome. In the past, I have been intimidated by these promises because I felt they were somewhat conditional... 'If' I overcome, I will receive a new name... 'If' I overcome, I will receive a white stone, etc.
In today's Scripture reading, the Apostle John tells us that anything born of God overcomes the world. The only requirement to be considered an overcomer is our faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ, period. There is nothing we can add to what Jesus has already done, and there is nothing we can do to take away from it either.
All we are called to do is believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and our Heavenly Father handles the rest. Because we are connected to Jesus, our victory is safe and secure in Him. Our ability to overcome on our own doesn’t matter. The truth is, we are already overcomers because we have been born into an overcoming family.
My prayer today is that every believer understands that their faith in Christ overcomes the world, not their confidence in their own ability to stay saved. It began with our elder brother, and it will conclude with Him. The more we believe this to be the simple truth of the gospel, the better we can surrender to the overcoming power already working in our lives.
The truth is that we are 'more than conquerors through Him who loved us' (Romans 8:37). May we all start living our lives based on this truth rather than according to the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10), who is constantly lying about our true nature in Christ (John 8:41-44).
Ephesians 2:8-10
for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them. (WEB)