Who can overcome the world?
1. Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God can overcome the world.
- 1 John 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
OBSERVATION:
- According to John's writings, it is very important to know and to believe that Jesus is the Son of God. Notice John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name
QUESTION:
- How could believing that Jesus is the Son of God help us to overcome the world?
2. To believe that Jesus is the Son of God means you are born of God. And those who are born of God can overcome the world.
- 1 John 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
- 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.
OBSERVATION:
- Notice the following verses on "born of God"
- 1 John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
- 1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
- 1 John 5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
QUESTION:
- What does it mean to overcome the world? What world?
3. "World" is lust and pride.
- 1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
OBSERVATION:
- Jesus said, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." (John 3:6)
- Naturally it is impossible to overcome the world because we are born of the flesh. Therefore we must be born of the Spirit (born of God) so that we can overcome the world. And we can be born of God if we believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
QUESTION:
- How did John explain that Jesus is the Son of God?
4. Jesus was vindicated as the Son of God at His baptism and at the cross.
- 1 John 5:6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
OBSERVATION:
- "by water" means baptism of Jesus.
- "blood" means the death of Jesus on the cross.
- Why baptism and the cross prove that Jesus is the Son of God or the Messiah?
- The prophecy in Daniel chapter 9 explains this. 70 weeks prophecy clearly shows the timing of the anointing (baptism) of the Messiah and the "cut off"(death) of the Messiah. (Dan. 9:24-26). Therefore this is the strong prove that Jesus is the Son of God based upon the Bible prophecy.
INTERESTING POINTS:
- At Jesus' baptism, the Father made the announcement that Jesus is the Son of God. Matt. 3:17 "This is my beloved Son"
- At Jesus' death, the centurion made the confession that Jesus is the Son of God. Matt. 27:54 "Truly this was the Son of God."
QUESTION:
- What does it mean to believe on the Son of God?
5. Believe on the Son of God means to have the Son of God.
- 1 John 5:10-12 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.11And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.12He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
OBSERVATION:
- Do you see the connection between "believeth on the Son of God" and "he that hath the Son"
- What does it mean to have the Son of God? I believe it is the same as God dwelling in us. 1 John 4:15 "Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God."
- What does it mean to dwell in God and God in us? It means to dwell in the love. 1 John 4:16 "And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him."
- Therefore when you have the Son of God, you dwell in love. Therefore if you believe on the Son of God then you are dwelling in His love.
- What does it mean to dwell in love? It means to love one another. 1 John 4:12 "No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us."
- What else? Read the next text. 1 John 4:13 "Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit." If you have the Son of God then God dwells in you. And God dwells in you is connected to receiving the Spirit of God. Notice how the following verse is very similar. 1 John 3:24 "And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us."
- So, believe on the Son of God means means to have the love of God dwell in us. What does it mean to have the love of God dwell in us? It means to share your goods for the need of others. 1 John 3:17 "But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?"
CONCLUSION:
- Who can overcome the world? Those that believe that Jesus is the Son of God. What happens when you believe that Jesus is the Son of God? You are born of God and God's love dwells in you. And when God's love dwells in you then you are willing to sacrifice your goods for the need of others. And this is how you can overcome your lust and pride. Therefore if you close up the "bowels of compassion" towards your brother then you do not believe in the Son of God and the world is in control over you.
APPLICATION QUESTION:
- What is easier for you? Believe that Jesus is coming soon or to help your brother in need as soon as possible?
- Do you know any brother who is in need of your compassion?
- How do we allow God to dwell in us all the time?
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