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Overcome the World

In the Gospel of John we are reminded us to be of good cheer because Jesus had overcome the world. And overcoming the world is something we must also do if we want eternal life being careful to not be overcome by the world. Some worry so much that they will be overcome by the world, that they live a life in fear of this world instead of the boldness of our faith in Jesus Christ. One of the ways we can overcome the world is to do good.

Romans 12:21
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

One way we do good is by keeping the commandments of God because when we keep God's commandments, we live a lifestyle conducive to doing good.

1 John 5:1-5
Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

The lifestyle of commandment-keeping is the foundation for a life of love and provides us with tools to not only love, but to nurture those who are children, physically or in the faith, and to care for those in need.

2 Peter 2:19-22
While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

For those of us overcoming the world, we need to be careful not to subordinate ourselves to this world, or we make ourselves a slave to it and if left uncorrected, this will cause us to lose out on salvation. What if we could from a future time, have a historical account of how we overcame the world? We need only look to prophecy, history written in advance, to see how we will do this

Revelation 12:11
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

We are first able to overcome because Jesus first overcame this world. Our testimony, how we live our life, is one-third of the equation. Finally, we overcome the world because our life's focus transcends this world. We do not love our life till death. We love our life beyond death and seek the resurrection. How we live our life includes commandment-keeping, and one only needs read Matthew 25 to understand that there is so much more we can do. If we live a life of commandment-keeping that paralyzes us from helping others as Jesus shows in Matthew 25, Jesus paints our fate unfavorably. This is one of the reasons why Paul gave many examples immediately prior to Romans 12:21showing how we can overcome evil with good, and the examples provided by Paul go beyond commandment-keeping.

Romans 12:17-20
Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

Our goal is to overcome the world so that one day we can repeat to others the words if Jesus in John.

John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

All verses are from the King James Version.
This site provided by Tom Laign. To all who may believe differently, I also extend peace and love.
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