Resource Detail

2026 1 John Lesson 7

FAITH THAT OVERCOMES THE WORLD

1 John 5:1-21

Key Verse: 5:4

1. What relationship is described between loving God and loving God’s children (1–2)? What does it mean in practical terms to love God and carry out His commands (2–3a)? Why might God’s commands not be burdensome to those who are born of God (3)?
2. What does it mean to “overcome the world” (4)? What is the relationship between faith in Jesus and victory over the world (4-5)? How does believing that Jesus is the Son of God strengthen you in difficult circumstances?
3. What is meant by Jesus coming “by water and blood” (6)? Why are the Spirit, the water, and the blood presented as witnesses to Jesus Christ (7–8)? Why is God’s testimony about His Son the foundation of Christian assurance and salvation (9–12)?
4. What are those who believe in Jesus meant to know, and why was this assurance especially important (13)? What confidence can believers have when they pray (14-15)? In what ways can we seek God’s will more intentionally in our prayers?
5. What might John mean by “sin that leads to death” and “sin that does not lead to death” (16–17)? How are those who are born of God protected from the evil one (18)? How does knowing the true God help us resist the influence of the world and keep ourselves from idols (19–21)?

2026 1 John Message June 28, 2026

FAITH THAT OVERCOMES THE WORLD

1 John 5:4-5

“For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”

Many of you have probably heard about the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela this past Wednesday. Two massive earthquakes hit the country—first a magnitude 7.2, and then, just 39 seconds later, an even stronger 7.5 earthquake. It was one of the most powerful earthquakes Venezuela has experienced in more than a century. The hardest-hit area was the coastal state of La Guaira. Entire apartment buildings collapsed. As of today, more than 1,400 people have died, over 3,200 have been injured, and more than 55,000 are still missing. Tens of thousands have been displaced from their homes. In many neighborhoods, there are still not enough rescue workers or heavy equipment. In some places, families and neighbors are digging through concrete with their own hands. At the same time, many people have no clean water or food, and in the middle of all this, looting has broken out, making the situation even worse.

By God’s grace, almost all of our brothers and sisters in Venezuela UBF are safe. But one of our sisters, Marisol, who is 66 years old, was missing. The apartment building where she lived collapsed completely. She was inside when the earthquake struck. M. Juan & Susanna Baek and Shep. Hugo went to the building as soon as they could. What they found was heartbreaking. The entire building had collapsed into a pile of rubble. Yet no rescue team had arrived—not even as the critical first 72 hours were slipping away. They climbed onto the debris and shouted, “Marisol! Marisol!” Again and again, they called her name. But there was no answer. There was nothing they could do except cry, pray, and keep calling her name. They searched nearby hospitals. They searched emergency shelters. There was still no sign of her. The next day, several brothers from Venezuela UBF returned to the site. Still no rescue equipment. So they began moving the rubble with their own hands, stone by stone, searching for Marisol. But they could not find her. And I heard last night that her body had been found.

When I think about what is happening in Venezuela, my heart is deeply saddened. I pray that through these difficult times, many Venezuelans will seek the Lord, return to Him, and become His people. Let us continue to pray for the people of Venezuela and support them with the love of Christ.

Today, we come to the final chapter of 1 John. I titled today’s message, “Faith That Overcomes the World.” Let’s read verses 4 and 5 together: “For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” Did you notice that in just these two verses, the phrase “overcomes the world” appears three times? So, what does it mean to “overcome the world”?

Before we answer that question, we first need to understand what John means by “the world.” In 1 John, “the world” refers to the fallen world system that lives in rebellion against God. It is a world that rejects Christ and is under the influence of the evil one. It refers to the values, priorities, and ways of thinking that are driven by Satan. It is a world characterized by lies, hatred, and death. That is why John commands believers in 2:15, “Do not love the world or anything in the world.” And near the end of this letter, in 5:19, he makes this serious statement: “The whole world is under the control of the evil one.”

Let me ask you a question. How do you see the world we live in today? Do you think this world is a wonderful place, full of beauty, opportunities, and things to enjoy? Or do you think it is such an evil, broken, and painful place that it is hardly worth living in? Or perhaps you would say it is both. There is beauty and joy, but there is also darkness and suffering. Or maybe you have never really thought about it.

If we believe this world is the place to find happiness, then naturally we will invest our lives in succeeding here. We work hard to get into a good college, find a good job, earn a good salary, buy a luxury house, drive a nice car, get married to the person of your dreams, raise a happy family, and enjoy a comfortable life. Many people, especially those of us living in a developed country like the United States, may find it easy to think this way. We still have opportunities and hope. If we have enough money, we can travel to beautiful places, stay in luxury hotels, and enjoy wonderful food. In the summer, we can go sailing on a beautiful lake or scuba diving in the Caribbean. In the winter, we can go skiing, snowboarding, or ice skating. Throughout the year, we can play golf or tennis, attend concerts or Broadway musicals, cheer for our favorite professional sports teams, or spend time with friends at nice parties. There is so much in this world that is enjoyable. Please don’t misunderstand me. I’m not saying that Christians should give up everything they enjoy in this world. I enjoy playing tennis. I enjoy watching the World Cup, even though I’m frustrated by how the Korean national soccer team is playing. Lately, I’ve even been getting frustrated because the Korean national soccer team hasn’t been playing very well! The point is not that these things are evil. There is beauty in His creation. There are good activities, meaningful relationships, and moments of genuine joy. When we look at life this way, the world doesn’t seem so bad. Then, loving the world doesn’t seem like such a serious problem either.

But let’s look at the other side of the world. Think about countries like Venezuela, where a devastating earthquake struck just last week. It is difficult for people living there to have such an optimistic view of life. Or think about places like Afghanistan, Sudan, or Myanmar. For many years, people in these countries have lived through war, extreme poverty, hunger, political instability, and civil conflict. Life is a daily struggle. Think also about the people living through the Russia–Ukraine war, which has now entered its fifth year. For many people, life in this world feels more like constant suffering than living in peace. If you lived in a place where no matter how hard you worked, you could never escape poverty, would you still believe this world offers hope? If everything you spent your whole life building could disappear overnight because of war or a natural disaster, how optimistic could you be about this world? That is the reality for millions of people today. Many have been forced to leave their homes and become refugees. They have lost their families, their homes, their jobs, and everything that once gave them a sense of security. They travel from country to country simply looking for a safe place to live. For people like them, this world does not look attractive. It looks broken. It is filled with suffering, injustice, and hopelessness. They do not love this world. Instead, they long for a different world—a world where there is no war, no hunger, no injustice, no tears, and no death.

Yet regardless of where we live or what generation we belong to, God’s Word gives us the same command: “Do not love the world or anything in the world.” Why? Because God is not asking us to see the world from a material or worldly perspective. He is not asking whether life is comfortable or difficult, whether we are rich or poor, or whether we live in peace or in hardship. Instead, God calls us to see the world from a spiritual perspective. Apostle John says, “The whole world is under the control of the evil one.” Behind the visible world, there is an invisible spiritual reality. There is an enemy who is constantly at work, trying to draw people away from God. The evil one tempts believers to sin. He wants us to become spiritually distracted, compromised, and ultimately separated from God. There are constant voices in our culture telling us to live for ourselves rather than for God’s glory. We are constantly encouraged to pursue comfort, pleasure, and success as the ultimate goals in life. Instead of loving God and loving our neighbors, we are taught to love ourselves above everyone else. Self-centeredness has become one of the defining values of our culture. The world also tells us that money is the key to happiness.

So, what should we pray for as we live in this world? Please look at verse 4 again. “Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” Our prayer should be, “Lord, help me overcome the world.” People who belong to this world naturally want to succeed in this world. They pursue wealth, recognition, influence, and power. They believe that if they can just achieve enough, they will finally be happy. But we, as children of God, are different. We are living in this world, but we don’t belong to the world. Therefore, our desire should be to overcome the world, rather than to be successful in the world.

What does it mean to “overcome the world”? The word “overcome” comes from the Greek word nikaō (νικάω). It means “to conquer,” “to overcome,” or “to be victorious.” Interestingly, in Greek mythology, the goddess of victory was named Nike (Νίκη). That is where the famous sportswear brand Nike got its name. So, when John says, “overcome the world,” he is talking about conquering the world.

To “overcome the world” means that although we live in this world, we refuse to let this world define the way we think, the way we live, or the way we make decisions. John describes the character of the world with three phrases: “the lust of the flesh,” “the lust of the eyes,” and “the pride of life” (2:15–17). Those same values are still with us today. The world promotes materialism, the love of money, pleasure, self-centeredness, secularism, and endless consumerism. To overcome the world means refusing to let those values become the foundation of our lives. Instead, we place Christ at the very center of our hearts. We seek God’s glory instead of our own. We measure success not by what we possess, but by our faithfulness to Christ. To overcome the world also means overcoming sin. Every day we face temptation. Every day, sin tries to pull us away from God. The Christian life is a daily battle against the power of sin. Overcoming the world means overcoming evil with good. We overcome hatred with love. We overcome darkness with light. That is how the kingdom of God defeats the kingdom of darkness. To overcome the world means refusing to be defeated by the world. The early Christians faced hostility from the world. They were rejected, threatened, and persecuted because they followed Jesus. The world wanted them to become afraid. The world wanted them to give up. The world wanted them to deny Christ. But they refused. Even in the midst of hatred and persecution, they remained faithful to Jesus. They did not allow suffering to destroy their faith. Instead, through faith, they overcame the world.

Polycarp was a disciple of the Apostle John. He later became the bishop of Smyrna and faithfully served the church for many decades. When he was about eighty-six years old, the Roman authorities arrested him. The Roman governor gave him one final opportunity to save his life. He said, “Declare that Caesar is lord. Curse Christ, and I will release you.” But Polycarp looked at the governor and replied, “Eighty-six years I have served Jesus, and He has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?” Because he refused to deny Christ, Polycarp was sentenced to be burned alive. From the world’s perspective, it looked as if the Roman Empire had won. But from God’s perspective, Polycarp overcame the world. The Roman Empire is gone. But Polycarp’s faith still inspires us to overcome the world.

Now let’s read verse 5 together. “Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” Who overcomes the world? “Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” There is only one person who has perfectly overcome the world—and that is Jesus. The world rejected Him. It hated Him. It nailed Him to a cross. From a human perspective, it looked like the world had won. But on the third day, God raised Jesus from the dead. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus completely defeated the power of sin, death, and Satan. And Jesus shares His victory with everyone who believes in Him. Jesus Himself said in John 16:33, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Our victory does not come from our own strength, our own power, or our own efforts. We overcome the world because we are united with the One who has already overcome the world.

So, what should our attitude be toward the world? If John says, “Do not love the world or anything in the world,” does that mean we should withdraw from society? Does it mean Christians should isolate themselves from the world? Not at all! God never calls us to escape the world. Instead, God calls us to engage the world with the gospel and overcome the world. We are called to live among people, to love them, to serve them, and to bring the good news of Jesus Christ wherever we go. Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” We shouldn’t adopt the patterns of this world, its values, its priorities, or its way of thinking. Instead, we should be transformed by the renewing of our minds. As the Holy Spirit renews our minds through God’s Word, we begin to think differently and live differently. Instead of following the values of this fallen world, we begin to imitate the character of Christ. And as transformed people, we are sent back into the world to transform this world. This is our calling—to live as children of God in the midst of this world, so that through our lives and our witness, more people may come to know Jesus and change their lives.

William Borden was born in 1887 into one of the wealthiest families in America. He was the heir to an enormous fortune. When he graduated from high school, his parents gave him a graduation gift—a trip around the world. As he traveled through Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, he encountered a very different world from the one he had grown up in. He met people living in deep poverty. He saw countless people who had never even heard the name of Jesus Christ. During that journey, he became convinced that God was calling him to become a missionary. When he returned to America, he wrote two simple words in the back of his Bible: “No Reserves.” Those words meant, “Lord, I hold nothing back from You. My wealth, my comfort, my future—they all belong to You.”

William later entered Yale University. Most of his classmates dreamed of successful careers, financial security, and positions of influence. But William had a different dream. He began inviting fellow students to study the Bible and pray together. By the time he graduated, hundreds of students were regularly gathering for Bible study and prayer. After Yale, he enrolled at Princeton Theological Seminary to prepare for missionary service. He believed God was calling him to take the gospel to Muslims in northwestern China. Many people thought he was making a terrible mistake. They asked him, “Why would you choose that kind of life?” “You could have a successful career and a comfortable life in America.” But William had already made his decision. In his Bible, he wrote another short phrase: “No Retreat.” He would not turn back from God’s calling.

Before traveling to China, William went to Cairo, Egypt to study Arabic. But while he was there, he contracted cerebral meningitis. Within a few weeks, he died. He was only twenty-seven years old. Many people looked at his life and said, “What a waste.” “He gave up everything and accomplished nothing.” “Why surrender such a promising future only to die so young?” But after his death, another phrase was found written in his Bible. “No Regrets.”

From the world’s perspective, William Borden was a failure. He never inherited the family fortune. He never enjoyed a long life. He never even reached the mission field in China. But his life inspired thousands of young men and women to dedicate their lives to Christ. Numerous missionaries have testified that William Borden’s story challenged them to follow God’s call. William Borden did not conform to the pattern of this world. Instead, he was transformed by the renewing of his mind. Through faith, he helped transform the world. That is what it means to overcome the world by faith.

I am not saying that Christians should never succeed in this world. Success itself is not evil. In fact, I hope our HBF students are accepted into top universities. I hope those of you who are looking for jobs receive excellent job offers with good salaries. I hope some of you become successful business owners. I hope all of you become outstanding doctors, nurses, teachers, engineers, professors, or leaders in your fields. There is nothing wrong with excellence and success. But I want you to remember one very important truth. Success in this world is not the purpose of a believer’s life. The purpose of our lives is to glorify God. Our purpose is to be used by God so that His will may be done on earth. God may allow us to succeed in this world for His glory. Or He may call us to suffer for His glory. God may entrust us with great wealth so that we can generously support His kingdom. Or He may call us to live simply, even in poverty, while faithfully serving Him. God may give us influence, recognition, and respect. Or He may ask us to live unnoticed, misunderstood, and even rejected by the world. The question is never, “Will I be successful?” The real question is, “Will my life bring glory to God?” If success helps you glorify God, then praise God for your success. If suffering allows you to glorify God, then praise God even in your suffering. Whether God gives us much or little, recognition or rejection, comfort or hardship, our calling remains the same. We don’t belong to the world. We belong to Christ. We live for His glory. And that is what it means to overcome the world. May God give each one of us the faith that overcomes the world. Amen.