“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.”
I John 5:4 NKJV
“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”
Romans 8:11 NKJV
This is Resurrection Sunday. I cannot help but be drawn to the idea of victory. In fact, considering the environment of the first century church, the whole discussion of overcoming and triumph would seem at best futile and at worst a cruel hoax. The cruelty and brutality of the first century world was astonishing. If you have never read the classic, “Foxe’s Book of Martyrs”, then it should be required reading for every believer the initial year of their spiritual journey. It will not be easy reading as the stories are all too vivid concerning the sacrifice of those early disciples, yet their courage and sense of triumph in the midst of it is inspiring and important.
From cover to cover in the Bible I find this concept of victory. Those who align themselves with Yahweh (or Whom we now know to be Jesus) finds themselves in the camp of the victorious. If it manifested for those early followers, then I can rest assured it will manifest for me too. These weeks of quarantine have not felt victorious. However, I know the inconveniencing of my schedule is nothing compared to the selflessness of the first century church. What did they possess that I need to be reminded of today? I believe John reminds me of several important considerations…
First, those who are “born of God” are created to overcome the world. I am reminded that victory is reserved for those who are “re-born”. There was a book recently written asking the question as to whether one was a “fan” or a “follower” of Jesus. There is a difference between those who dabble around with Christianity and those who are born of God; those who cheer for the great Miracle worker and those who follow their Savior to a Cross. Usually, Resurrection Sunday is attended by what has been described as C-E-O people (Christmas – Easter – Only). I’m not sure how Easter services will be accessed this year. I’m not sure if the CEO’s will access online alternatives or not. My hope is obviously they will and be drawn from being a fan to becoming a follower. Again, I rejoice in those evangelistic accounts which I have already heard. That said, victory begins with becoming born-again. One who has been transferred from death unto life by the power of the Spirit is uniquely equipped to overcome the “world” and everything in it. The half-hearted, the unrepentant, the culturally religious are not promised such victory. Only the “born of God” overcomes the world.
Second, to overcome means that I must exercise my faith. I have been relentlessly pounding this point through the pandemic that adversity must be confronted with faith. Faith obviously means my belief system is in operation, but it includes how I speak and my corresponding obedience to what I say I believe. I must operate this hour in faith.
Third, I must believe that Jesus provided both the power and the principles for me to overcome and be victorious. Jesus said that the works He was doing, I too, could do and even greater works (John 14:12). I am incredibly cognizant that I am not Jesus (not even close). I do not have His hypostatic nature, nor His unique relationship within the Godhead. I am very much aware that He is the King, and I am not. That said, I can read of His abilities as a man and watch as He demonstrated to me and all His followers what it means to overcome. I read the commissioning commands and statements in Scripture that He made to His early disciples and realize that He is a no respecter of persons (Romans 2:11). What He provided for them; He likewise provides for me. Just as Jesus was raised from the dead, I too, one day, shall arise. Honestly, I see no asterisk in the Scripture which state that somehow, I have been exempted from those possibilities.
Yes…I can overcome the world…
Not on my own…
But rather through the same Spirit which raised Jesus Christ from the dead…
The same victory which radiated that day from an empty tomb…
Is radiating on the inside of me…
It’s radiating inside all of those…
Who have been born of God…
Overcomer…
Triumphant…
Victorious…
That’s me….
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