Faith That Goes Above and Beyond

By: Rev. J. Loren Russell

1 John 5:4-5 KJV

“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?”

I quote verse four every Monday night in the introduction to Matters of Faith: The Radio Show. I do that to emphasize the importance and the power that faith has over and through our lives. It is so powerful that it gives us victory to overcome the world.

The power of faith that overcomes the world is not an ordinary faith. Someone can have faith in a lot of “things.” The word faith has several synonyms: confidence, belief, trust, faithfulness and loyalty. It is possible to have confidence in something, believe in something, trust in something, have faithfulness to something, or be loyal to something, but none of those things have the power to overcome the world. Faith that gives victory to overcome the world is only given to those who are first, born of God! The scripture does not deviate for that position. The English Standard Version personifies the word “whatsoever” in verse four and translate it, “everyone.”  In other words, everyone who has been born of God has been given power and victory over the world. The writer uses the word “world” to describe the ungodly multitude, the whole mass of men alienated from God, including their world systems (Strong’s Concordance, 2889). The victory that overcomes the world is exclusively reserved for those who have been born of God.  

But there’s more! In verse five, John the Apostle asks a question of his readers that further differentiates those who have the victory over the world from everyone else. The opening part of his question, “Who is he that overcomes the world” is answered after the conjunction, “but” as he writes, “he that believeth in the Son of God?” It is written as a question, but it very well could have been a statement. The one who is given the victory to overcome the world is the one who is born of God and believes in the Son of God! That’s God’s favor. It may not seem to be fair to some, but God’s favor ain’t fair!

I am not talking about faith in “something” that doesn’t result in victory that overcomes the world. John makes it clear in this epistle that the faith which gives victory to overcome the world is not faith in “something,” but faith in “someone.” Our faith in the Son of God equips us with a faith that goes above and beyond what’s needed to be victorious over anything the world can put before us, even COVID 19.

Make smart choices, follow the guidelines presented to us, stay safe, stay healthy, and we will be victorious yet again.

Be Blessed!

Rev. J. Loren Russell is President/CEO of The JLR Company for Church Financial Strategy & Consulting; an associate minister at both Goodwill and The Greater Universal Baptist Churches in the Bronx; creator & host of “Matters of Faith – The Radio Show” Mondays 8:00 – 10:00 PM on Facebook LIVE and author of Matters of Faith: The Book. eBook available at www.smashwords.com/books/view/993177

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