1 John 5:5 Commentary

Navigator

1 John 5:5

Comments

Faith overcomes the world, and specifically it takes hold of the great central truth of the gospel that Jesus is the Son of God. Faith does not in itself seem to be something strong, but it draws on the strength of Jesus Christ, and it is his power working in us through faith that overcomes the world. It addresses the root of the problem – the false claim that service of the world is profitable and is to be preferred above the service of God, and that no harm comes from breaking God’s commandments. Faith appropriates the salvation of God in Christ our atoning sacrifice, our righteousness, our resurrection, and our eternal life. It unites us to Christ so that all these benefits become ours, and Satan’s kingdom is destroyed at a stroke.

Application

To overcome the world is indeed a remarkable victory, because the world has defeated so many members of our race. The idealism of youth convinces many in each new generation that they will be different – they will not succumb to the sins of their parents’ generation – but the world sets to work on them and soon they too have been defeated. They discover they have overestimated their own strength and failed to account for their own fallen hearts, and they too succumb to broken relationships, lack of integrity, greed, and self-centredness.

We cannot say we truly believe in Christ when we continue to listen to the same ungodly music, read the same unwholesome literature, enjoy the same immoral entertainment, and make the same life choices as we made before we believed.

Questions

Outline

Purpose

Introduction

1 John 5:5 Commentary and Bible Study