How to overcome the world
“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”
1 John 5:4
There is a current in our culture that is working to pull us contrary to the ways of God. It’s working overtime to get us to go with the flow of its tide. Just a few moments spent in the media, news outlets, or advertisements and you can feel the sales pitch vying for your attention and submission to its narrative. But there is the higher reality of God’s narrative and a victory that overcomes the sway: it’s called faith.
Recently, I was watching the kids tv show “Wild Kratts” with my boys. It’s a show that jumps between cartoon and reality and two brothers teach kids about wildlife. This particular episode was about wild salmon.
As you may know, on their way to lay eggs, the salmon swim upstream rivers and even leap up waterfalls! It’s part of their nature to swim against the current and overcome the force of the waters.
That’s pretty amazing in itself, but I realized that this is what we’re called to as believers. We’re not called to go with the flow of the world’s current around us, but we’re called to go against the tide and leap over the hindrances to holiness.
Looking at the scripture above, we see that it’s in our nature as believers to overcome the world! How does that happen?
Let’s look at it:
1. Don’t get caught in the sway
It’d be good to know what we’re overcoming so, let’s define the world.
In Greek, the word is kosmos. It speaks of an entire world system that is without regard for and in direct opposition to God, and it’s under the dominion of the devil.
1 John 5:19 says: “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.”
It shows up in obvious ways: hatred, unforgiveness, bitterness, sexual immorality, witchcraft, fits of rage, and the like.
Then there’s the more subtle ways: It’s a “successful” life without God. One commentary said it’s an “...egocentric world-system that is hostile to God”. Its central aim is self-enjoyment and making yourself great, all the while in disregard to God, or even hostile towards Him.
Even more, there’s the hardly noticed ways: Religion without Christ. A Christianity that tells you you have to earn God’s love and acceptance. It’s harder to notice because you’re doing all the right things on the outside, but in your heart, you’re ridden with guilt and shame.
All of it is the kosmos. Or the sway. Its goal is to keep you separated from the life of God. If we’re not careful, we could get caught up in the sway and not even notice it.
It’s like going to the beach, facing the waves, having fun - and then turning around and not recognizing where you’re at! What happened? You got caught up in the tide and went north 100 yards.
The key to breakthrough was turning around and getting realigned. That’s what repentance is. Recognizing you’re off and getting back on track.
Everyone faces the battle, but you weren’t meant to be conquered by the world - You were meant to conquer the world!
2. You have an overcoming faith
There may be a struggle, but there’s also a VICTORY.
The victory that conquers the sway is faith.
Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Faith comes from hearing God’s Word. God’s word is His thoughts or His narrative.
The “sway” has a narrative, but God’s Word is His narrative.
Whoever holds the narrative in your life holds your perception of reality. Whoever holds your perception, also holds your functionality, and ultimately your destiny. (More on that here)
His word fuels our faith and our faith anchors us in a higher reality. It gives us the thoughts of One who’s above it all.
Jesus said in John 16:33 NIV, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
In other words, the sway tried to get Jesus too, but He overcame it.
When He said to “take heart”, He was alluding to the fact that not too far off from that moment, He was going to move into them and empower them to overcome. They would have a new nature.
2 Peter 1:4 NLT says it like this: “And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.”
3. Victory is in Jesus
It seems like it would go without saying, but it’s important to note.
It’s not just “faith” in general
Not faith in yourself.
Not faith in principles.
Not faith in the “universe”.
Not faith in being a good person.
Not faith in good luck.
It’s faith in JESUS that overcomes the world.
1 John 5:5 NIV says, “Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” Earlier in verse 1, John said that it’s believing that Jesus is the Christ.
Jesus is the Christ - the Rescuing King, the Messiah - who delivers us from the enemies too strong for us.
Jesus is the Son of God - He is Deity. He is God made flesh.
God says when you believe that, you’re born of God. You get a new nature. And that new nature wants nothing to do with the world and everything to do with God.
This is how you overcome the world.
Question: How have you seen this “born of God” nature at work in your life? Comment below!
For the full message I preached at Centerpoint Church, click here.