The First Epistle of John: Lesson Fifty-Seven

"To him who overcomes

I will grant to sit with Me on My throne,

as I also overcame and sat down

with My Father on His throne."

Revelation 3:21

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Hello again! Let's pray.....

"Holy Father God, as we look today at what it means to overcome the world, let us be eternally thankful to You because You have overcome the world and its ruler so that we can have true liberty from the bondage of sin. Thank You, Father, that because of Your sacrifice we now have freedom.

I ask the forgiveness of my sins today, Lord, because I know my sins keep me from having communion with You. I pray that You will wash me clean this day and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

I pray for each lady reading this study today that she will learn that she is an overcomer. That she will be encouraged by reading what it means to overcome. I pray that You will bless her with every spiritual blessing and giver her peace.

In Jesus' name....amen."

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Obedience by Faith

Overcomers are the topic in this lesson today. It is obvious that John wants his readers to remember what Jesus said:

"And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved." Matt 10:22

Enduring to the end....sounds easy now because we are not suffering for our faith. But what happens when we will be "hated by all" ? John gives us encouragement to be overcomers as Jesus was.

Please read:

Rev 2:7

Rev 2:11

Rev 2:17

Rev 2:26-28

Rev 3:5

Rev 3:12

Rev 21:6-8

What does Jesus say about those who will overcome?

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It is most important for the Christian to be obedient even to the point of death for Jesus.

John 16:33

Rom 8:37

As a result of Jesus overcoming the world, we are now conquerors too. When it comes time for us to suffer for our faith, the Lord has promised that if we endure.....He will save us.

Rev 17:14

Jesus wants us to remember that we are conquerors now with Him:

Rom 12:21

After reading these verses, what conclusions can you draw about overcomers and overcoming?

I know that I have learned that we cannot overcome anything on our own, but that through Christ we will overcome.

Phil 4:13

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Now that we have gone over some key words in this final chapter of 1 John, in our next lesson we will begin a verse by verse study of what John is saying to us.

So, by next time, please read through chapter 5 one more time in preparation.

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Life Application

No one likes to lose. No one likes to be on the losing team. Heck, even Satan knows he loses in the end so he is trying to take as many of us with him as he can. His main goal is to destroy God's creation as much as he can because he knows he is a loser in the end.

But Jesus calls us Overcomers. He tells us that if we obey His word and do His works....we will overcome. And look at all the rewards that await us!

Manna

A New Name

Life in Paradise

Sitting on His throne with Him

Power over the nations

White garments

Praise God indeed!

Hard times are definitely coming for Christians in this country. We have been blessedly spared persecution in our generation. Many Christians are suffering now for their faith in many other countries....but soon it will be our turn.

Stay in God's word daily. Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. Stay in fellowship with other believers. Do the works of the Lord. Obey the commandments.....

So that way you will endure until the end....and the good news is, we win!

"And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved."

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Until next time....

"So the reason we get anxious about food and clothing is because we don't want to lose physical pleasures or human praise or life. To this fear Jesus responds: if you are gripped by anxiety over these things, you have lost sight of the greatness of life. Life was not given primarily for physical pleasures, but for something greater -the enjoyment of God (Luke 12:21)."

- John Piper (What Jesus Demands from the World, 2006, p. 115)

Blessings,

Ruth