23rd February 2024

23rd February 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (1 John 5:1-5)


Message (Alan Burke)


To overcome means to succeed, to archive victory, so when we are told here that we will overcome the world it means that for the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ we have the victory through faith. This victory is ours through what the Son of God, Jesus the Christ has done on our behalf. While we battle on in fallen sinful bodies, that bear the reality of the fall every day, minds that are testament to that sin but as we love and obey, we overcome. You may wonder really, how is that possible, I am a miserable Christian, even when I try to do what is right I still fail. Well on this side of glory we will all fail, but it is not that that defines us, it is who we are in Christ Jesus, we overcome not because of us, there is a sense in which we have already overcome the world because we are in Christ that we have been born again. That moment that we came to salvation in a sense we already overcame the world as we were transferred kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of God and are now a child of God (Col 1:13). 


That moment when we came to faith, whether that was as a nursing infant or well into old age, whether we have never known anything different than love of him or we can put a date and a time that we were aware that God had brought salvation to us, we have overcome, we have everything we need, for the battle has already been won. It may seem far from the case in your daily walk but as we grow in Christian maturity then the word of God will work within us, overcoming the world is a working out what we already have, for we have all that we need, we are strong because in us God is at work in us. We all need to know this and be reminded of this from time to time, because there will be days that we wonder how can I keep going, is it really worth it, when we have no assurance because life is tough and we have fallen out with our own shadow, when we seem to fall into sin. Then we need to know before anything else that we are secure in what Christ has done, for his name’s sake, we are in a position to face what ever comes our way, we will overcome. The victory has been won, we need to look to Christ and know what he has done.


John in all of this is trying to help the believer to know and understand the genuineness of their faith. None of these things earn salvation but they are indicators, signposts, tests, yardsticks, whatever way you want to put it, that help us to discern if our faith is genuine. These things though are only indicators, signposts, tests, yardsticks because when it comes down to it that is all they are, for ultimately our assurance rests not on us but on the finished work of Christ Jesus, who showed us what love is by laying down his life for us who are by our nature his committed enemies, unlovable, sinners and through him we have overcome this world. That means when we face life's final hurdle death, that our souls will be made perfect in holiness, immediately passing into glory (2 Cor 5:1,6,8, Phil 1:23, Lk 23:43). That is the hope of the believer, we have overcome and will overcome. 


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC
Q76 Which is the ninth commandment?
The ninth commandment is, Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. (Exod. 20:16)
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