Overcoming The World

Therefore, this whole idea of tolerance is one-sided, and it’s on the side of Satan, the spirit of the world, which is diametrically opposed to the Spirit of God.

Also, what we are told in the Bible that we overcome by fearing God more than man. King David said, “In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” (Psalm 56:11 NKJV)

Those that overcome the world are no longer careful in trying to secure the favor of the world or its system, nor are they careful to avoid its displeasure. Frankly, being spoken well of by the world is a small matter to them, but instead it makes them more evangelistic and less politically correct.

Jesus said, “Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” (Luke 6:26 NKJV)

So, for every believer in Jesus Christ, our chief concern is not to commend ourselves to man or to the world, but rather to God. And no one will ever be an overcomer until that issue is firmly settled in their minds and in their hearts.

Now we get to what makes us overcomers.

What Makes us Overcomers: Faith

“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:4-5 NKJV)

In our verse, the Apostle John is saying that it is our faith in Jesus Christ, that He is truly the Son of God, and it’s this that overcomes the world. We become overcomers by trusting in Jesus and not ourselves or the philosophies of the world.

Now, belief or faith in itself doesn’t win this victory, rather it is who our faith is in. It is only in Jesus Christ and the work He did upon the cross for our salvation that our faith needs to be in. And so, the victory that overcomes this world comes from having our faith and trust in Jesus.

Yet, if we do not believe and obey, that is, to do what God has told us in His word, then we will never be overcomers, and we will never enjoy the victory God says is ours. Therefore, faith and obedience are key to overcoming, as the Apostle James point out that faith without works is dead (James 2:17-19).

Hebrews 11:30 says, “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.” (Hebrews 11:30 NKJV)

Here we see that the people believed and followed some pretty weird instructions, but by doing so, by faith following God’s word, the walls of Jericho came tumbling down.

Faith trusts in God and His promises, and in the process, faith obeys God’s commands, exactly, immediately and with great delight.

To Joshua, the Lord said, “Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:7 NKJV)

Faith then is the key. But I’m not talking about an irrational faith, but a faith that acts upon what is true. And what is true is that God keeps and fulfills His promises and when we believe His word, and act upon it despite what it may look like, then the world cannot trap or deceive us.