Answer
In 1 John 5:1–12, the apostle John discusses the victory of the Christian faith. Genuine Christians believe Jesus Christ is the incarnate Son of God and Savior of the world, and they demonstrate that faith through loving God the Father and obeying His commands. Such faith holds a special reward, which is victory over the world: “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (verse 4, NKJV).
Being “born of God” literally means “to be fathered of God.” Redeemed, “born of God” believers have the divine nature within them through the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 3:5–8). Those who put their faith in Jesus Christ “become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God” (John 1:12–13).
The verb translated as “overcomes” in 1 John 5:4 is a favorite of John’s (see 1 John 2:13–14; Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21). It refers to winning a victory over something or someone, as in a contest or military conflict. Christians are overcomers not because of any particular virtue of their own but because they are born of God, having the Spirit of Christ living inside them. This indwelling spiritual source is greater than any power in this world (1 John 4:4).
There are different types of conflicts in the Christian life that believers overcome. “The world” here in 1 John 5:4 refers explicitly to the worldly system, comprised of those living in sin and rebellion against God and ruled by satanic powers of darkness (see John 3:19–20; Galatians 1:4; 1 John 2:15–16).
Christians are engaged in a real battle against the devil and his spiritual forces. Believers are “not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12, NLT; see also 1 Thessalonians 2:18; 1 Peter 5:8–9). Jesus Christ, through His death on the cross, disarmed these spiritual forces and gave us victory over them (Colossians 2:15). Jesus broke the devil’s powerful death grip upon us (John 11:25–26; Hebrews 2:14; 1 Corinthians 15:22–23, 54–57).
Nevertheless, in Ephesians 6:11–17, the apostle Paul teaches believers that they must continue to overcome the world through prayer and spiritual warfare, staying alert and on guard against surprise attacks from the devil: “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (verse 11; see also 1 Peter 5:8–9).
Overcoming “the world” also refers to the believer’s victory over sin: “No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God” (1 John 3:9; see also 1 John 5:18; Romans 6:11–14; 7:24–25). John isn’t saying we will never sin again as Christians (see 1 John 1:8, 10). Instead, he is encouraging a lifestyle of careful, consistent resistance to sin (Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 15:34; 1 Peter 2:11; Hebrews 3:13; James 1:21) so that, when we fall short, we humbly confess our sins and receive His cleansing forgiveness (1 John 1:9). When we fail, we don’t give up. When we fall, we stand back up, firm in our confession of faith until the end (1 Corinthians 16:13; Galatians 5:1; 1 Thessalonians 3:8). When we are tempted, we resist the devil (James 4:7; Romans 6:13; Ephesians 4:26–27) and look for the way of escape that God always provides (1 Corinthians 10:13; Hebrews 2:18; 4:15–16). Every day, we depend on God alone for strength, grace, direction, purpose, and wisdom to live for Him and follow His plan (Proverbs 3:5–6; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Titus 2:11–13; 2 Peter 1:3–4).
We who are born of God overcome this world as we endure afflictions, troubles, trials, suffering, and heartache (John 16:33; James 1:12; Romans 8:35–39). Through it all, the ever-present love of Christ sustains us, and “despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us” (Romans 8:37, NLT). Ultimately, we receive the victor’s crown of eternal life (1 Corinthians 9:25; James 1:12; 2 Timothy 4:7–8; 1 Peter 5:4; Revelation 2:7, 10; 4:4, 10).
