1 John 5:4,5 - Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

Bible Comments

The True Christian Overcomes By His Faith in Jesus the Son of God (1 John 5:4-5).

‘For whatever is begotten of God overcomes the world. And this is the conquering power that has overcome the world, even our faith. And who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?'

Being begotten of God not only results in our loving those who have been begotten by Him, but enables us also to overcome the world. Those who are begotten of God do not follow the ways and desires and hopes of the world, rather they triumph over them. And what causes them to triumph? Even their faith, their faith in the human crucified and resurrected Jesus as being also God's Son.

Indeed this faith has already enabled them to overcome. It is the conquering power that has already given them the victory, because He in Whom they believe has gained the victory. We are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us (Romans 8:37). We commence from a position of victory, because we commence in Him..

Thus the true Christian is a guaranteed overcomer. He overcomes the Evil One (1 John 2:14), he overcomes antichrist (1 John 4:4), and he overcomes the world. This is because his faith is set on Jesus Christ, God's Son, Who lifts him above the world, gives him conquering power, and reveals to him the inadequacy of the false teaching about the non-human, mythical ‘Christ' of the false prophets, and the deceitfulness of the Evil One. He enjoys royal protection.

1 John 5:4-5

4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?