Contemplation #163
Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 1 John 5:5
The question John raises can be answered in several ways depending on what is meant by “overcome the world”. But John, because he has only one idea in mind about what it means to overcome, identifies the only way this occurs. John talks about escaping, not from the world, but from its enticements and ways (1 John 2:15-17). While living very much in the now, to overcome the world is to break free from the dead end and downward paths of satisfying the physical senses, of only meeting fleshly cravings, and to have hope for life which is much more fulfilling. It is to find the larger and richer story which is being told by God, and to discover our place in it.
Contemplation #164
Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 1 John 5:5
If we are to have horizons beyond those dictated by the limited perspective of a physical existence, entrapped within a world defined by our sensual desires, the way will be opened up to us only through trusting in Jesus as the Son of God. Why is this? To place our whole confidence in the divinity of Jesus, to trust that Jesus was God Himself walking, eating, sleeping, working, and living in this world is to see a way not to escape this world, but to live like God within it. Jesus lived out a story written by God, a story that echoed Israel’s (another story composed by God) and shows us that this greater narrative is possible. Trusting Jesus as God in the flesh means living out a different kind of existence that is beyond, that overcomes, that has purpose far greater than simply this world’s mandate that we satisfy our flesh.
Contemplation #165
Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 1 John 5:5
John is not telling us that we will go to heaven because we believe in Jesus, though this is true. John is saying that when we believe that in Jesus God was present, then we see how to live in a way that exceeds the world’s destructive self-centeredness. We have to trust the life of Jesus that is presented to us in the gospels. We have to believe the teachings of Jesus about how to live – about loving our enemies, giving without expecting in return, blessing and not cursing; about doing good, about loving God above all while not seeking the necessities of the body. We have to believe that Jesus is the Son of God and so live the life that he taught and modeled if we are to overcome this world. This is no mere mental belief, or conviction of the heart, but a belief that is expressed in daily discipleship to the way of Christ.
Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 1 John 5:5
The question John raises can be answered in several ways depending on what is meant by “overcome the world”. But John, because he has only one idea in mind about what it means to overcome, identifies the only way this occurs. John talks about escaping, not from the world, but from its enticements and ways (1 John 2:15-17). While living very much in the now, to overcome the world is to break free from the dead end and downward paths of satisfying the physical senses, of only meeting fleshly cravings, and to have hope for life which is much more fulfilling. It is to find the larger and richer story which is being told by God, and to discover our place in it.
Contemplation #164
Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 1 John 5:5
If we are to have horizons beyond those dictated by the limited perspective of a physical existence, entrapped within a world defined by our sensual desires, the way will be opened up to us only through trusting in Jesus as the Son of God. Why is this? To place our whole confidence in the divinity of Jesus, to trust that Jesus was God Himself walking, eating, sleeping, working, and living in this world is to see a way not to escape this world, but to live like God within it. Jesus lived out a story written by God, a story that echoed Israel’s (another story composed by God) and shows us that this greater narrative is possible. Trusting Jesus as God in the flesh means living out a different kind of existence that is beyond, that overcomes, that has purpose far greater than simply this world’s mandate that we satisfy our flesh.
Contemplation #165
Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 1 John 5:5
John is not telling us that we will go to heaven because we believe in Jesus, though this is true. John is saying that when we believe that in Jesus God was present, then we see how to live in a way that exceeds the world’s destructive self-centeredness. We have to trust the life of Jesus that is presented to us in the gospels. We have to believe the teachings of Jesus about how to live – about loving our enemies, giving without expecting in return, blessing and not cursing; about doing good, about loving God above all while not seeking the necessities of the body. We have to believe that Jesus is the Son of God and so live the life that he taught and modeled if we are to overcome this world. This is no mere mental belief, or conviction of the heart, but a belief that is expressed in daily discipleship to the way of Christ.
posted by Greg at 8:41 AM
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