For Everyone Who Has Been Born of God Overcomes The World

"For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith." (1 John 3:4)

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world.  We are born of God by the Word and our faith is born of God through the Word. So John writes, and this is the victory that has overcome the world -- our faith. Our victory is over sin and death and hell, . . . And the world of unbelief around us. Our victory is over the prince of this world and all of his evil schemes. And it is a victory that was won on the cross. That is why John says that the victory has overcome the world - not can or will or does, but has. Jesus has already won the victory, and we share in it by grace through faith. That is our victory, and it is given to us. Jesus won it on the cross and we have it as a gift through faith. It is not faith that wins, but Christ, and He has chosen to share His victory through faith, giving forgiveness, life, and salvation to all those who believe. That is the meaning of the words of our text, And who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? It is a total victory. It is the victory of forgiveness. Our sins are no longer held to our account, and the justice of God has been satisfied for us by Jesus Christ. It is, therefore, the victory over the devil, whose plot against us began in the garden of Eden. His work, aimed at our destruction, has been thwarted.

"In the conflict between the believer and the powers of darkness, the inner chamber is the place where the decisive victory is obtained." (Andrew Murray)