In the last program we saw that our faith in Jesus Christ is tested by our love. In these verses we will see that our faith is also tested by moral power. This scripture tells us that, “Everyone born of God has overcome the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believers that Jesus is the Son of God.” (1 John 5:4-5 NIV).
A true follower of Christ is one who has accepted the teaching of Christ. Because he has become faithful to Christ’s teaching, he has been endowed with a new life from God. He has been “born of God.” (1 John 5:4) And this new life has given the follower of Christ unique moral power through the Holy Spirit. The Apostle John has already reminded the followers of Christ that God, “has given us of his Spirit.” (1 John 4:13). In the letter which he wrote to the followers of Christ in Rome, the Apostle Paul called this unique moral power, “the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13) The Apostle John has called the Holy Spirit, “the Spirit of God” (1 John 4:2), “the Spirit of truth” (1 John 4:6) and “his [that is, God’s] Spirit” (1 John 4:13) The power which the Holy Spirit gives to the one who follows Christ makes it possible for him to lead a life of moral victory. He has a victory which “overcomes the world.” (1 John 5:4)
The Apostle John has already told us what the word ‘world’ means. He said “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vainglory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” (1 John 2:15-17 RV)
If these three elements are still among the passions which move us, then we have no victory over the world. Thus, we do not have the faith which John speaks of and, therefore, do not have that redeeming relationship with God which results in new life.
To make the analysis even clearer one should read the catalog of victory which is given when God’s Spirit dwells in a person. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control; against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23 RV)
The moral power of faith is clearly stated in the words, “This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” (1 John 5:4). However, not just faith in anyone or faith in anything has this power. It has to be a proper faith. Therefore John wrote, “Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” (1 John 5:5 NIV).
But then the question arises, How do we know which Jesus “is the Son of God?” Christ’s Apostle John answers, “This is the one who came by water and the blood – Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.” (1 John 5:6 NIV)
“Faith in this truth is the only faith that can overcome the world and give eternal life.” (A. Plummer, The Epistles of St. John (University Press, Cambridge, 1894), p.157) The words, “the one who came by water and the blood” (1 John 5:6) refer to “the Baptism with which His public work began and the bloody death with which He finished it.” (A. Plummer, The Epistles of St. John (University Press, Cambridge, 1894), p.159)
About the baptism of Jesus Christ, John the Baptist, the one who baptized him, said, “I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.” (John 1:33-34 NIV)
About the blood, the prophet Isaiah, by a divine message, made it clear that the true Savior of the world would have to die for all people. He wrote, “Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. … he poured out his life unto death …” (Isaiah 53:4-5, 12 NIV) It is no wonder that, “the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, [when he] heard his cry and saw how he died, said, ‘Surely this man was the Son of God!” (Mark 15:39 NIV)
In addition to the witness of Jesus’ baptism and the witness of his death, there is a third witness. The Apostle John wrote, “And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood: and the three are in agreement.” (1 John 5:6b-8 NIV)
Jesus had said that the Holy Spirit, “will testify about me.” (John 15:26 NIV) Jesus also said about the Holy Spirit, “He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.” (John 16:14 NIV)
“When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’” (Luke 3:21-22 NIV)
If we want victory over the lust of the flesh, over the lust of the eyes and over the vain glory of life, we must believe in this one whom God sent into the world and about whom he testified by water, by blood and by the Holy Spirit that this is the Savior of the whole world!