Overall, faith, love, and victory over the world are essential for a Christian because they form the basis of our relationship with God and guide our behavior toward others.
By embracing these principles, we can experience the abundant life that God intends for us to live.
Let’s unpack what John has to say about faith, love, and victory and apply it to our lives.
Born of God: Faith and Love
We become members of God’s family through faith. As family members, we take on the characteristics of our heavenly Father.
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child (1 John 5.1).
Most people remember the time when they placed their faith in Jesus and became a member of God’s family. As family members, we have the awesome privilege of knowing God as our heavenly Father.
This relationship is real, personal, and transformational. In this relationship, we will take on God’s central characteristic, which is love.
Obeying God’s Commandments: Love and Faith
God doesn’t leave us wondering if we are his loving children. Our actions will gauge the level of our love.
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.
For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome,
For whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith (1 John 5.2-4).
Our obedience to God’s commandments reveals that love is more than a sentimental feeling, but a loving act for God and others.
Take the example of love between husbands and wives. The love between a husband and wife can be demonstrated through a wide range of actions, both big and small, that show care, respect, and commitment to the relationship.
From showing affection like holding hands to active listening, love is demonstrated by our actions.
Shared responsibilities, making time for each other, and acts of service are more displays of love that reveal the active nature of love.
Acts of love for God and other people are not a burden, because love lifts the load of activity.
We may not particularly enjoy cooking a meal, doing laundry, or taking care of children, but love makes us willing to put our family’s needs first.
The same can be said about our relationship with God. What God asks of us may be very difficult. The persecution, poverty, and oppression that the early church faced were not a walk in the park.
However, God’s love for us and our love for him makes the load lighter.
Conquering the World: Faith and Victory
It is fairly easy to conquer the world’s system when you are like me – retired and writing an article on a beautiful day while sitting in an easy chair.
Being victorious over the world’s system is far more difficult when faced with persecution, poverty, social pressures, or some other issue.
We need victory over the world and John shows us the way.
Who is it who conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 John 5.1)
Like love, faith in Christ is more than a feeling. I have recently finished studying Isaiah 7-39 for my morning prayer time. These chapters highlight how important faith is for victory over the world.
The central theme of Isaiah 7-39 was captured in a statement from Isaiah to King Ahaz.
“If you do not stand firm in faith,
you shall not stand at all.” (Isaiah 7.9)
The point is that God will ensure that humans stand if they fully rely on Him.
Conversely, if humans place their trust in the nations or systems of the world, they will fall.
Our actions demonstrate our trust in either God or the world’s system.
Israel, for instance, formed alliances with the nations and often accepted their idols, demonstrating their trust in the nations rather than in God.
The interplay of faith and love is a beautiful thing, wherein faith – a complete trust in God – empowers us to triumph over the challenges of the world.
When we experience God’s love, our faith grows stronger and our affection for Him makes it easier to rely on Him completely.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross and I continue our study of 1 John today. Our video can be found on the Bob Spradling YouTube channel.
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