Overcoming The World
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” ...“Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God” (John16:33; 1 John 5:5)
Jesus had earlier told John and the other followers that the will of God was to raise to life all who God had given to him…
“…it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day” (John 6:32-40)
Various religions restrict the "those he has given me" to those who join their group. But there is nothing about joining anything. It is about God joining you to Jesus at the resurrection. It is the "resurrection" that John and the other followers of Jesus were told to preach in all the world…and it is “God’s grace” that brings the dead back to life. It is our faith in the resurrection of Jesus that “overcomes the world” and all its “trouble”.
“…you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth…With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God's grace was so powerfully at work in them all” (Acts 4:33)
The "resurrection" is the blessed "hope" of the world and all those who live in it. Paul told Felix in front of the Jews that the resurrection has been promised to both the "righteous and the wicked".
“I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.” (Acts 24:15)
Our "hope" of resurrection is meant to give peace to those who hear and believe it in this age, not divide mankind into the saved and the lost. All are lost and all will be saved. Paul included the idol worshiping Athenians among the "children of God" when he said to them on Mars Hill...
"Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man. Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent (think differently about God), because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness (not wrath) through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.” (Acts 17:29-31)
Paul later wrote to Titus…
“For the grace of God has appeared bringing salvation to all people. It teaches us to say No to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. These, then, are the things you should teach.” (Titus 2:11-15)
The good news of our future resurrection "to do what is good" is simple and it is the "blessed hope" for "all people". When one grasps this good news he is comforted and finds PEACE in this world filled with "trouble".
Jesus had earlier told John and the other followers that the will of God was to raise to life all who God had given to him…
“…it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day” (John 6:32-40)
Various religions restrict the "those he has given me" to those who join their group. But there is nothing about joining anything. It is about God joining you to Jesus at the resurrection. It is the "resurrection" that John and the other followers of Jesus were told to preach in all the world…and it is “God’s grace” that brings the dead back to life. It is our faith in the resurrection of Jesus that “overcomes the world” and all its “trouble”.
“…you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth…With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God's grace was so powerfully at work in them all” (Acts 4:33)
The "resurrection" is the blessed "hope" of the world and all those who live in it. Paul told Felix in front of the Jews that the resurrection has been promised to both the "righteous and the wicked".
“I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.” (Acts 24:15)
Our "hope" of resurrection is meant to give peace to those who hear and believe it in this age, not divide mankind into the saved and the lost. All are lost and all will be saved. Paul included the idol worshiping Athenians among the "children of God" when he said to them on Mars Hill...
"Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man. Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent (think differently about God), because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness (not wrath) through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.” (Acts 17:29-31)
Paul later wrote to Titus…
“For the grace of God has appeared bringing salvation to all people. It teaches us to say No to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. These, then, are the things you should teach.” (Titus 2:11-15)
The good news of our future resurrection "to do what is good" is simple and it is the "blessed hope" for "all people". When one grasps this good news he is comforted and finds PEACE in this world filled with "trouble".