The Pulpit Commentary — 1 John — Section 163

lo,e (cf. eh. iv. 7). 1 2. Resembla111ce to the cl1rwcu;ter o.f God. 3. PossesRion of the filial Bpfr.:t i:n relation to God. 4. The title to a glorious inheritancefrom God. "We are children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-hoirs with Christ" (Hom. ,iii. 16, 17); God "bath begotten us again unto a livoly hopo, by the resur- rection of Jesus Christ from the dead, unto an inheritance incorruptible," eto. (1 Pet. i. 3-5). II. IK ITS CONFLICT. Our text speaks of overcoming, and overcoming is suggestive of struggle. "Victory" implies combat. The Divine life in man and the life of the ungodly world are essentially antagonistic.9 Satan is "the prince of this world"- " t.h0 god of this world." "St. John constantly teaches," says Canon Liddon, "that the Christian's work in this state of probation is to conquer' the world.' It is, in other word,-, to fight successfully against that view of life which ignores God, against that complex system of attractive moral and specious intellectual falsehood which is marshalled and. organizc>d by the great enemy of God, and which permeates and inspires non-Christiani:i:ed Rociety. The world's force is seen especially in • the lust of the flesh, in the lust of the eyes, and in the pride of life.' These three forms of con- cupiscence manifest the inner life of the world," and against them the Christian has to contend. It is the battle of truth against error, of light llgainst darkness, and of love against hatred. Ill. IN ITS CONQUEST. "Whatsoever is begotten of God overcometh the world; and this is the victory that hath overcome the world, even our faith." The Divine life in the children of God is by its nature mightier than the life and spirit of the unchristian world. There is conflict, but the conflict issues in the victory of the child of God. He is not overcome of evil, but overcomes evil with good. He is not led a,,tray by " the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, or the vain-glory of life," but rises superior to them. In proportion as he who" is begotten of God" participates in the life of God, he vanquishes the world and its temptations, both its seductions and its tribulations. And all the evil world, of which the apostle wrote, is destined to be completely conquered by the life of God working in and through men. IV. IN THE SECRET OF ITS POWER. " This is the victory that hath overcome the world, even our faith.. .And who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God ? " Notice: 1. The nature of this faith. It is not the mere intellectual acceptation of a theological proposition or propo- sitions; '' not that heartless assent which never touches the practice nor moulds the affections." This faith is quite as much a moral as an intellectual act; it is of the heart as well as of the head ; and it infuses courage, moulds character, and directs conduct. 2. The Object of this faith. "Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is tbe Son of God?" (1) Faith in Jesus as truly human. St. John, in thus mentioning Jesus, evidently took for granted that his readers believed in the reaiity of his human life. We must believe in him as toiling and tired, tempted and tried, suffering and sorrowful, persecuted and crucified, risen and ascended. Yet he was never the vanquished, but always the Victor. Even on the cross he conquered. (2) Faith in Jesus as essentially Divine. Not that he is a son of God, but "that Jesus is the Son of God"-" His only begotten Son'' (eh. iv. 9), If the Christian would overcome the world, "he must have a strong faith," as Canon Liddon says-" a faith in a Divine Saviour. This faitb, which introduces the soul to communion with God in licrht, attained through communion with his blessed Son, exhibits the world in its true ~ours. The soul spurns the world as she clings believingly to the Divine Son." We ha'l'e said that Jesus was always victorious. As we truly believe in him, we are par- takers of his life and sharers in his victory. This is in accordance with his own word to his disciples: "In the world ye have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." Says Dr. Stier, "Our faith in him is the victory which has lllrea<ly overcome the world. • The conflict and suffering which we now have is not tbe real war, but only the celebration, a part of the glory, of this vi.ctory' (Luther)." So St. Paul, "ln all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved w;." "I can do all things in him that strengtheneth me." 3. The exclusiveness of this faith as the means of victory over the world. "Who is he that overcometh the world, 1 See this e.nd the following points more fully stated in our homily on eh. iii. I. • On ihe meaning of" the world" ui this Epistle, aee our homily on eh, ii, 15-17, ou. v. 1-21.] THE FIRST EPIS'l'LE GENERAL OF ,JOHN. 161