Overcoming the World

 

“For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”

—1 John 5:4

To Christians, the term “the world” represents all that is wrong in life: sin, degradation, distrust, abuse, and evil. In fact, the terms: “the world, the flesh, and the devil” are set in sharp contrast to the Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The former ends in eternal death, while the latter leads to eternal life.

Notice these words of instruction that the Apostle John gives to the “Christ’s-ones” to whom he is writing, as recorded in 1 John 5:4:

For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.

The new birth in Christ that followers of Jesus experience leads us away from “the world” and into the new world that awaits us because of Jesus’ death on the cross, His resurrection from the grave, and His ascension into heaven. His blood has cleansed us from our sins. He has given us newness of life.

As we begin a new day, we should remember that the world cannot bring us to destruction. Rather, through Christ, we have overcome the world. It no longer has any hold on us. We are free from the bondage that the world would impose on us.

I grew up in the 1950s and 1960s singing a lovely gospel hymn written by John Henry Yates with a truly sprightly tune written by Ira David Sanke. The hymn was titled “Faith is the Victory.” Here are the words:

Encamped along the hills of light,
Ye Christian soldiers rise,
And press the battle ere the night
Shall veil the glowing skies;
Against the foe in vales below
Let all our strength be hurled;
Faith is the victory, we know,
That overcomes the world.
Faith is the victory!
Faith is the victory!
O glorious victory,
That overcomes the world.

His banner over us is love,
Our sword the Word of God;
We tread the road the saints before
With shouts of triumph trod.
By faith, they like a whirlwind’s breath,
Swept on o’er every field;
The faith by which they conquered death
Is still our shining shield.
Faith is the victory!
Faith is the victory!
O glorious victory,
That overcomes the world.

On every hand the foe we find
Drawn up in dread array;
Let tents of ease be left behind,
And onward to the fray.
Salvation’s helmet on each head,
With truth all girt about,
The earth shall tremble ’neath our tread,
And echo with our shout.
Faith is the victory!
Faith is the victory!
O glorious victory,
That overcomes the world.

To him that overcomes the foe,
White raiment shall be giv’n;
Before the angels he shall know
His name confessed in heav’n;
Then onward from the hills of light,
Our hearts with love aflame,
We’ll vanquish all the hosts of night,
In Jesus’ conqu’ring name.
Faith is the victory!
Faith is the victory!
O glorious victory,
That overcomes the world.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

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