Mission Venture Ministries

You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.  (1 John 4:4) 

The believer has the Holy Spirit living in them, which is a resource for strength and makes victory possible. We need however to be strong and rely on the One who is in us instead of relying on ourselves or the enemies temptations. This means that we need to rely on the power given to us, so that we may fight the worldly enemy that is all around us, without fear. We need to be watchful since we have many spiritual enemies, but not one of them is greater than the Holy Spirit who lives in us. 

After speaking about false teachers in verses 1 through 3, John offers reassurance when he refers to his readers as “dear children,” using the same words he did in 1 John 2:12. He then offers three expressions of comfort concerning their life. 

First, John encourages them, “you are from God.” In other words, John saw them as true believers in whom God lived. 

Second, he adds that these believers have “overcome” these antichrists. John uses the concept of overcoming five times in his letter. Believers have overcome the evil one (1 John 2:13-14) and have overcome the world (1 John 5:4-5). 

Third, John reminds the reader that the power of Christ, who lives in the believer, is greater than the power that lives in the world. The Holy Spirit living in the Christian is far stronger than any attack by the Devil. This encouragement should empower believers not to fear Satan, but rather trust the Lord and obey His commands. By doing so, we can overcome the powers of darkness and walk with boldness in this life. 

The apostle John begins chapter 4 with an exhortation for believers to test the spirits of prophets or teachers: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). What a prophet or teacher proclaims reveals whether he is of God or a false prophet of the world. 

John tells us how to recognize a false prophet, “and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist” (verse 3). Anyone who teaches or proclaims falsehood about Jesus, such as denying His divinity, is a false prophet. These false prophets are actually speaking in the spirit of the antichrist on behalf of “the one who is in the world,” Satan. 

The word antichrist means “against Christ.” Satan is the ultimate spirit against Christ. He is the father of lies and is against truth (John 8:44). He is called “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11) and “the god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4). He is “the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient” (Ephesians 2:2). 

Satan uses false prophets to lead people away from Christ by deceiving them with a false view of Jesus. Twisting who Jesus is perverts the gospel; it keeps people in the bondage of sin and in darkness. Yet Satan is far from being as powerful as God, and John reminds the believers that greater is He that is in believers than he that is in the world. 

The body of believer is the temple of the Holy Spirit who dwells within them (1 Corinthians 6:19). John encourages those in whom God lives: “You are from God” (1 John 4:4). They are not of the world. So, John reassures them that they have “overcome” those who teach false doctrine and who can rightly be called “antichrists.” 

The Holy Spirit is far stronger than Satan or any of his minions, the Spirit’s wisdom is greater than any of Satan’s schemes, and the Spirit’s protection is more than enough to thwart any of Satan’s attacks. Because, He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world, we have confidence in God and at the same time put no confidence in the flesh. The power we receive comes from the Holy Spirit as we obey the will of God. 

By these encouragements believers can have peace and rejoice because Jesus has “overcome the world” (John 16:33). Believers need not fear Satan; rather, they need to trust in the Lord and obey Him. By the living Spirit of God within them, believers can overcome the lies and temptations of the powers of darkness. Those who are of God can boldly say, “Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world.” 

As powerful as the spirit of the antichrist and the false prophets might be, we Christians have the upper hand. Therefore, to live a healthy spiritual life, it’s essential to recognize that power comes from the Holy Spirit who is in us. Our salvation is the work of God, as is every bit of our sanctification throughout the rest of earthly life. 

The apostle was able to have this attitude only because he sought the strength of Jesus, and the same is true for us. We can try to live the Christian life by our own efforts, but we won’t succeed. Jesus Himself told the disciples, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). 

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord.”

Jeremiah 17:7 

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