Overcome

theidolbabbler

1 John 4:1-6
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.”

We (Christians) have overcome the spirit of antichrist?

Yep!

An unfortunate reality within the body of Christ is that it is so easy for us to forget the Gospel (who God is, and what He has done). Too often we are taught by “false prophets” that it is our job to overcome. Too often we also burden each other with the false idea that if we don’t overcome, our adoption by the Father will be voided. The problem with such false ideas is that it is not our job to overcome. It is Christ’s job to overcome; and He already did that 2,000 years ago, on the cross, in Palestine.

Where does such arrogance come from, to think that it is our job to overcome?

The pit of hell.

It is our job to remember and know the Gospel (who God is, and what He has done). It is our job to then share and proclaim, or to evangelize the world with the Gospel (who God is, and what He has done). It is our job to then disciple and encourage those who have repented and trust in Christ, and teach them to do the same. None of this could happen unless Jesus had already overcome for us (Christians).

There is so much talk about antichrist in the modern church, so much so that I think we often forget about Christ. “False prophets” have gotten many of us to focus on our overcoming, instead of Christ’s overcoming. Notice how John says that we “have overcome them”, because we (Christians) are “from God”, “for He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” Brethren, we must be watchful for the false teachings that we are to overcome, when it is Christ who has already overcome for us. I repeat: we must be watchful for the false teachings that we are to overcome, when it is Christ who has already overcome for us. The antichrist spirit will stop at nothing to make us think that it is in our power to overcome. Be careful of those who teach such.

Remember, it is Christ’s arms which were raised in overcoming victory on the cross, not ours.

I will leave you with these comforting words of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ:

John 16:33
“I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Godspeed, to the brethren!

FOLLOW theidolbabbler.com ON TWITTER!!

Published by theidolbabbler