What does 1 John 5:4 teach us

1 John 5:4

4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

What does 1 John 5:4 teach us:

Context - The apostle John who was speaking to the early Christians who were dealing with false teachings. 

God is contradicting the false teaching that we can overcome the world by ourselves. The only way to share  in the victory of overcoming the world is by putting faith in Christ Jesus who overcame the world by dying on a cross and resurrecting 3 days later defeating sin, death, and the grave. This verse puts focus on what Jesus has done for us and takes focus off of what we try to do for ourselves.   

Let’s dive in deeper:

1 John was written by the Apostle John to early Christians dealing with false teachings, especially Gnosticism, which denied Jesus’ humanity and distorted the gospel. The letter emphasizes core marks of true believers—faith in Jesus, love for others, and obedience to God. John's purpose was to reassure believers of their salvation and encourage them to stand firm in truth and faith.

2 Timothy 3:16 says

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

And this is how we should look at scripture to see what God is telling us through scripture. 

What is God teaching us?

God is teaching us that he is an overcomer, a redeemer, that even though the world has drifted into sin that He has already overcome the world through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

Let’s break this down phrase by phrase:

“For everyone” - This is an inclusive statement. It shows that gospel is not just for one type of people, or people who haven’t done certain evil in their lives, but shows an inclusivity to anyone who puts their faith in Jesus and proclaims the name of the Lord. 

“Who has been born of God” - We are obviously already born and so this is referring to a rebirth that is done within us through what Jesus did on the cross. By putting our faith in Him we are then reborn of God, adopted into Christ’ family and can then enjoy the privileges that come along with being apart of the children of God. 

“Overcomes the world” - The world is drowned in sin. The wages are sin is death. Everyone in this world that does not believe in Jesus will receive the wage of their sin which is death or eternity away from Christ. But the great thing is that the story doesn’t end their. God loved us so much that He gave us a way to overcome the world. A way that isn’t about us or our power, or righteousness, or strength, but about Jesus Christ dying on the cross and taking our sins and then rising 3 days later defeating death and the grave so that each one of us who will believe will have eternity with Christ. Thus overcoming the world.

“And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith” - There is no way to share in this victory without putting your faith in Christ. 

What reproof is found in this verse? 

We find all throughout history and even now people are searching for all types of ways to be enlightened or to be saved or to converse with a higher power. All the ways that are not Christianity teach you that you save yourself or overcome the world by yourself. This is not true. It is a lie from the pit of hell that so much good work or good deeds or knowledge or meditation or karma or whatever can allow you to overcome the world. Jesus is replacing this lie with the gospel truth that only through him can you truly be saved and we have that saving because Christ alone has overcome the world. 

What correction can be found in this verse? 

This verse is urging us not to lean on our own understanding or power and to rest in the power, faithfulness, and righteousness of God. There is a lot of evil in the world and facing it alone can seem daunting. Satan would like us to believe that we have to face it alone because of past sins and failed test. However, that is not true. Jesus constantly has a hand that is reaching out for us to grab onto. Despite our past despite our present circumstances Jesus wants us to grab that hand and abide in Him. Why? Because He has overcome the world and with faith through what Jesus did we don’t stand against the evil in this world alone. We stand with the only one who has declared victory over the evil and the world. 

Finally what can we takeaway from this scripture to train our in righteousness to remain complete and equipped for every good work? 

Through faith in what Jesus did on the cross we show that we have been born of God and therefore share in His victory which has overcome the world.