The Faith that Overcomes the World: 7) Those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God overcome the world.

This is the tenth and final segment of my sermon on 1 John 5:1-5, entitled "The Faith that Overcomes the World", delivered to College Group at College Church on 8/2/09.

Before reading on, make sure you've read 1 John 5:1-5.

7. Those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God overcome the world.
John asks it as a rhetorical question: "Who is it that has overcome the world, if not the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" The resounding answer that we should be screaming at the top of our lungs here is, "Of course, those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God must, must, must overcome the world." Here we have come full circle. It is belief in Jesus, both as Messiah (v. 1) and as the very Son of God, that ensures victory over the world.

God encourages us to fight this battle against the world by promising us the victory. Oh that we would know this confidence! That you and I would know in our souls how the battle is already won before we've begun! With what bravery would we then charge into the fray, with what steadfastness undergo the onslaught, with what peace of mind extinguish the flaming arrows of our Enemy! Like Christ we would sleep in perfect tranquility as the tempest rage about the boat. Like him we would walk through the valley of the shadow of death, fearing no evil, but entrusting our souls to our faithful Creator. Like him we would humble ourselves, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. To know the battle is won before we've even begun! What a joyous privilege!

So, how does this help us know that we have eternal life? Well, if we know that those who believe in Jesus overcome the world, then all we need to ask ourselves to assure our hearts of eternal life is, "Do we believe in Jesus?"

And really that's what John's been saying throughout this entire passage, and in a sense this entire book. He's writing this book to us who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that we might know that we have eternal life. And it is my hope and prayer that the Holy Spirit has done his work through this passage to warm many of your hearts and to testify within you that these things are in fact so for you, crying out "Abba, Father!"