Robin Hardy Online
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"Overcome" is the key word of this epistle. The key word of Matthew is Righteousness, of Mark it is Service. Of Luke it is "Son of Man," of John it is "Son of God," of Hebrews it is "Better," but of this epistle it is "Overcome."
I. What It Means to Overcome the World
1. If the scientist should give us an answer, he would say, "It is mastering the physical forces." He would solve every riddle, and find a remedy for every ill, and a solution for every problem.
2. If the mystic should answer it he would doubtless say, "It is adopting a proper philosophy of life." One would run away from life's conflict, like the monks. Another would laugh them out of existence, as the Christian Scientist. Still another would call them Fate, and bow the head in humble submission to them.
3. But what does the Bible mean by overcoming the world?
a. It recognizes the conflict between the spiritual life and the physical. There is a war in the soul. We can hear the battle-cry, and feel the throb of marching forces in our soul.
b. It warns us that many good men have fallen, and we are not sufficient within ourselves to win the victory, that better men than we are have lost in the struggle with evil.
c. But it holds up victory as a possibility for each one who will turn in trustfulness to Christ, as the Captain of our salvation.
d. It means that in spite of the presence of evil, men can be good by the help of God. That in spite of the inherent weakness of men they can be strong in Christ. "I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me.)
II. In What Sense Is Faith the Conquering Weapon?
1. It does not mean that our faith lessens the difficulties, but it enables us to bear them better. A person who has faith may be sick as if he did not have faith; but he can bear his sickness with a victory, and the spirit of a conqueror.
2. Faith makes us master of our circumstances. But fear and doubt make us slaves of our circumstances.
3. Faith is no substitute for effort and common sense, but it is a stimulus to these things, and invigorates them with a new spirit.
4. Faith overcomes the outward difficulty by changing the inward circumstance. A sickly calf does not have to have his long, dead hair clipped off, just feed him and tone his system up and he will shed his long, dead hair.
5. Faith is the unshaken confidence that drives us to the desired goal. In the physical world it has been often rewarded by inventions, discoveries, and reaching new ideals. In the spiritual world it finds its goal in salvation, uprightness of life, and undisturbed peace of mind.
from Sermons in the Making by W.W. Melton; posted July 28, 2007
