Temptation OVERCOMING THE WORLD
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 1 John 5:4.
If we could all overcome sin, it would surely cut down on the tragedies we experience in this world, wouldn't it? I am interested in overcoming sin, aren't you? And we know that it will happen only as we focus on Jesus. The Bible has some things to say about sin and how to overcome it.
God has only one kind of victory over any kind of sin, and that is natural and spontaneous victory, for the one who is abiding in Christ. All of the forced victories are the ones that we do ourselves. And what we call victory in that case is only external. The Bible definitely has made it clear that God has power that He wants to give us to keep us from sinning. He has also made provision to forgive those who fall and fail while they are growing. We can be thankful for both truths today.
The righteousness of Christ includes both God's forgiveness and His power to overcome. However, we need to remind ourselves that anyone who overcomes sin is not going to go around advertising it, and is not going to be claiming that he is sinless. In 1 John 1:8 we read that anyone who says he has no sin (or sinful nature) is deceived. But this doesn't do away with the Bible truth that we can overcome sin.
Have you ever heard anyone say that you won't stop sinning as long as you live on this earth, but so long as you hate it, everything is OK--that's all God expects? Do we say this to the murderer? Do we tell him to do the best he can not to kill too many people, but that so long as he hates what he's doing, there's no problem, that's the best God expects of him? Do we give that advice to the thief or the drunkard or the adulterer? Then should we take comfort in that idea for our "little" sins?
In 1 John 5:4 we find one of the key factors in overcoming sin: "This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." When we learn that faith is a byproduct of the faith relationship with Christ, that faith is trust in someone whom we know is trustworthy, then it becomes clear that the way to victory is through ongoing fellowship and communion with Christ. This is the avenue that He uses to bring us to true obedience.
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 1 John 5:4.
If we could all overcome sin, it would surely cut down on the tragedies we experience in this world, wouldn't it? I am interested in overcoming sin, aren't you? And we know that it will happen only as we focus on Jesus. The Bible has some things to say about sin and how to overcome it.
God has only one kind of victory over any kind of sin, and that is natural and spontaneous victory, for the one who is abiding in Christ. All of the forced victories are the ones that we do ourselves. And what we call victory in that case is only external. The Bible definitely has made it clear that God has power that He wants to give us to keep us from sinning. He has also made provision to forgive those who fall and fail while they are growing. We can be thankful for both truths today.
The righteousness of Christ includes both God's forgiveness and His power to overcome. However, we need to remind ourselves that anyone who overcomes sin is not going to go around advertising it, and is not going to be claiming that he is sinless. In 1 John 1:8 we read that anyone who says he has no sin (or sinful nature) is deceived. But this doesn't do away with the Bible truth that we can overcome sin.
Have you ever heard anyone say that you won't stop sinning as long as you live on this earth, but so long as you hate it, everything is OK--that's all God expects? Do we say this to the murderer? Do we tell him to do the best he can not to kill too many people, but that so long as he hates what he's doing, there's no problem, that's the best God expects of him? Do we give that advice to the thief or the drunkard or the adulterer? Then should we take comfort in that idea for our "little" sins?
In 1 John 5:4 we find one of the key factors in overcoming sin: "This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." When we learn that faith is a byproduct of the faith relationship with Christ, that faith is trust in someone whom we know is trustworthy, then it becomes clear that the way to victory is through ongoing fellowship and communion with Christ. This is the avenue that He uses to bring us to true obedience.
RSS Feed
