Post by stluee on Dec 21, 2015 16:49:32 GMT -6
December 21 ~Daily Devotional~
For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our Faith (1 John 5:4).
We are emphatically told in this Passage that it is "our faith" that gives us victory over the world.
What exactly does John the Beloved mean by the phrase, "our faith"?
To understand the type of faith of which John speaks, i.e., the Faith that overcomes the world and guarantees victory, we must understand what the Object of this Faith must be. John tells us in Verses 6 through 8 of this same Chapter.
John says, "This is He Who came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ (this refers to the Living Word becoming flesh [1 John 1:1, 4], which is symbolized by 'water,' and then as the Lamb of God, Who took away the sin of the world, which was effected by the shedding of His Blood on the Cross of Calvary) ; not by water only, but by water and blood (testifies to the fact that the Incarnation, within itself, although absolutely necessary, was not enough; the phrase also testifies to the absolute necessity of the Atonement). And it is the Spirit Who bears witness, because the Spirit is Truth (the Holy Spirit bore witness to the Divine Birth of Christ and to the Divine Sacrifice of Christ [Matthew 1:18; Hebrews 9:14]).
"For there are Three Who bear record in Heaven (the Law has ever required the Testimony on two or three witnesses [Deuteronomy 17:6; 19:15; Matthew 18:16;
2 Corinthians 13:1]), the Father, the Word (Jesus Christ is the Word [John 1:1]), and the Holy Spirit: and these Three are One (the only sense in which Three can be One is in essence and unity, which is clear in John 17:11, 21-23).
"And there are Three Who bear witness in Earth (as in Heaven, so on Earth.), the Spirit, and the Water, and the Blood (speaks of the Holy Spirit; the humanity of Christ, while never ceasing to be Deity; and the Atonement, i.e., 'the Cross'): and these Three agree in One. (These Three agree that Christ is Very Man, while at the same time being Very God, Who died on the Cross to redeem fallen humanity [1 John 5:6-8].)"
All of this tells us that our Faith must be anchored in Christ as the Source of all things which come from God to us, and the Cross is the Means by which all of this is done. "Jesus Christ and Him Crucified" must be the Object of our Faith. Such faith, properly registered, will guarantee victory that we overcome the world in every respect
(1 Corinthians 1:23; 2:2).
Take up the Cross Daily†
Luke 9:23-24
For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our Faith (1 John 5:4).
We are emphatically told in this Passage that it is "our faith" that gives us victory over the world.
What exactly does John the Beloved mean by the phrase, "our faith"?
To understand the type of faith of which John speaks, i.e., the Faith that overcomes the world and guarantees victory, we must understand what the Object of this Faith must be. John tells us in Verses 6 through 8 of this same Chapter.
John says, "This is He Who came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ (this refers to the Living Word becoming flesh [1 John 1:1, 4], which is symbolized by 'water,' and then as the Lamb of God, Who took away the sin of the world, which was effected by the shedding of His Blood on the Cross of Calvary) ; not by water only, but by water and blood (testifies to the fact that the Incarnation, within itself, although absolutely necessary, was not enough; the phrase also testifies to the absolute necessity of the Atonement). And it is the Spirit Who bears witness, because the Spirit is Truth (the Holy Spirit bore witness to the Divine Birth of Christ and to the Divine Sacrifice of Christ [Matthew 1:18; Hebrews 9:14]).
"For there are Three Who bear record in Heaven (the Law has ever required the Testimony on two or three witnesses [Deuteronomy 17:6; 19:15; Matthew 18:16;
2 Corinthians 13:1]), the Father, the Word (Jesus Christ is the Word [John 1:1]), and the Holy Spirit: and these Three are One (the only sense in which Three can be One is in essence and unity, which is clear in John 17:11, 21-23).
"And there are Three Who bear witness in Earth (as in Heaven, so on Earth.), the Spirit, and the Water, and the Blood (speaks of the Holy Spirit; the humanity of Christ, while never ceasing to be Deity; and the Atonement, i.e., 'the Cross'): and these Three agree in One. (These Three agree that Christ is Very Man, while at the same time being Very God, Who died on the Cross to redeem fallen humanity [1 John 5:6-8].)"
All of this tells us that our Faith must be anchored in Christ as the Source of all things which come from God to us, and the Cross is the Means by which all of this is done. "Jesus Christ and Him Crucified" must be the Object of our Faith. Such faith, properly registered, will guarantee victory that we overcome the world in every respect
(1 Corinthians 1:23; 2:2).
Take up the Cross Daily†
Luke 9:23-24
