2 BY THIS WE COME TO KNOW
(RECOGNIZE AND UNDERSTAND) THAT
WE LOVE THE CHILDREN OF GOD: WHEN
WE LOVE GOD AND OBEY HIS
COMMANDS (ORDERS, CHARGES)—
[WHEN WE KEEP HIS ORDINANCES AND
ARE MINDFUL OF HIS PRECEPTS AND
HIS TEACHING].
3 FOR THE [TRUE] LOVE OF GOD IS THIS:
THAT WE DO HIS COMMANDS [KEEP HIS
ORDINANCES AND ARE MINDFUL OF HIS
PRECEPTS
AND TEACHING]. AND THESE ORDERS
OF HIS ARE NOT IRKSOME
(BURDENSOME, OPPRESSIVE, OR
GRIEVOUS).
4 FOR WHATEVER IS BORN OF GOD IS
VICTORIOUS OVER THE WORLD; AND
THIS IS THE VICTORY THAT CONQUERS
THE WORLD, EVEN OUR FAITH.
5 WHO IS IT THAT IS VICTORIOUS OVER
[THAT CONQUERS] THE WORLD BUT HE
WHO BELIEVES THAT JESUS IS THE SON
OF GOD [WHO ADHERES TO, TRUSTS IN,
AND RELIES ON THAT FACT]?
The word you is the understood
subject of that sentence. You
overcome evil. How? If God, in His
WORD, says overcome, then we can
overcome. Now let's go to 1 John 4:4
and shout the victory!
What does that have to do with
overcoming? Everything! Nehemiah 8:10
says the joy of The LORD is your strength.
That's not referring to physical strength.
It's referring to inner strength—
overcoming strength.
Let's read Romans 12:21:
12 BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO ENDURES
TEMPTATION; FOR WHEN HE HAS BEEN
APPROVED, HE WILL RECEIVE THE
CROWN OF LIFE WHICH THE LORD HAS
PROMISED TO THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.
21 BE NOT OVERCOME OF EVIL, BUT
OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD.
Dear LORD! Read that fifth verse again:
4 LITTLE CHILDREN, YOU ARE OF GOD
[YOU BELONG TO HIM] AND HAVE
[ALREADY] DEFEATED AND OVERCOME
THEM [THE AGENTS OF THE
ANTICHRIST], BECAUSE HE WHO LIVES
IN YOU IS GREATER (MIGHTIER) THAN
HE WHO IS IN THE WORLD (AMPC).
If that doesn't set you on fire, your
wood's wet! However, like they say in
TV commercials, "But wait! That's not
all!" Remember, Jesus said, "Be of
good cheer; I have overcome the
world" (John 16:33)?
Now, let's look at 1 John 5:1-5 (AMPC).
1 EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES (ADHERES
TO, TRUSTS, AND RELIES ON THE FACT)
THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST (THE
MESSIAH) IS A BORN-AGAIN CHILD OF
GOD; AND EVERYONE WHO LOVES THE
FATHER ALSO LOVES THE ONE BORN OF
HIM (HIS OFFSPRING).
5 WHO IS IT THAT IS VICTORIOUS OVER
[THAT CONQUERS] THE WORLD BUT HE
WHO BELIEVES THAT JESUS IS THE SON
OF GOD [WHO ADHERES TO, TRUSTS IN,
AND RELIES ON THAT FACT]?
You are a world overcomer, whether
you're overcoming or not. YOU ARE A
WORLD OVERCOMER! Believe it, NOW!
You're a sickness overcomer. You're a
debt overcomer. You're a sin overcomer.
So, start overcoming!
And don't forget Revelation 12:11:
