In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 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.

-1 John 5:3-5

I have been reflecting on this verse quite a bit this last week.

What does it mean to overcome the world?

Does it simply mean that we have something to look forward to once we are no longer in this world? Or does it mean that we can have victory today?

This world, this life, can bring us a multitude of troubles, trials, surprises, heartache and pain. But for the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God, who obeys God’s commands to love Him and love our neighbor, for the one who has faith, victory is here, now.

Overcoming the world means we can experience joy and hope and life in Christ in a world filled with sin and death. But the victory belongs only to those who believe, and this too, we owe to God.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
-Ephesians 2:8

-Nate