1Jo 5:4 | Burkitt | STEP | Two things are here observable, namely, a proposition, and the explication of that proposition. Observe, 1. The proposition, Whosoever is born of God, overcometh the world. Every regenerate Christian is a victorious Christian, he is a conqueror, yea, the greatest of conquerors, he conquers the whole world. Observe, 2. The exposition of this proposition, This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. It is a spiritual conquest, and spiritually obtained, even by faith. Note here, 1. That the world is a Christian's grand enemy. A conquest supposes a combat and a combat supposes an enemy. 2. That every regenerate Christian is a victorious conqueror over this enemy. The Christian is a soldier as soon as he is a believer, and he is a conqueror as soon as he is a soldier. This is the victory; he hath his enemy under his feet, even whilst he is in the fight. Note, 3. That the special weapon by which the Christian conquers the world, and his spiritual enemies, is his faith. Many warriors have done great things in conquering kingdoms, but this is a greater conquest than all theirs; their conquest was but poor and partial, only of some small parts of earth, but the Christian's conquest is unviersal; those conquerors whilst they prevailed abroad were slaves at home; whilst they were lords of nations, they were vassals to their own lusts; but these conquerors, which the text speaks of, begin their victories at home, and enlarge their triumphs over all enemies abroad: This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

‏ 1 John 5:4

Two things are here observable, namely, a proposition, and the explication of that proposition.

Observe, 1. The proposition, Whosoever is born of God, overcometh the world. Every regenerate Christian is a victorious Christian, he is a conqueror, yea, the greatest of conquerors, he conquers the whole world.

Observe, 2. The exposition of this proposition, This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. It is a spiritual conquest, and spiritually obtained, even by faith.

Note here, 1. That the world is a Christian's grand enemy. A conquest supposes a combat and a combat supposes an enemy.

2. That every regenerate Christian is a victorious conqueror over this enemy. The Christian is a soldier as soon as he is a believer, and he is a conqueror as soon as he is a soldier. This is the victory; he hath his enemy under his feet, even whilst he is in the fight.

Note, 3. That the special weapon by which the Christian conquers the world, and his spiritual enemies, is his faith. Many warriors have done great things in conquering kingdoms, but this is a greater conquest than all theirs; their conquest was but poor and partial, only of some small parts of earth, but the Christian's conquest is unviersal; those conquerors whilst they prevailed abroad were slaves at home; whilst they were lords of nations, they were vassals to their own lusts; but these conquerors, which the text speaks of, begin their victories at home, and enlarge their triumphs over all enemies abroad: This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.