Context for 1 John 3:11-4:6
John continues his discourse on how to distinguish between those who belong to God and those who belong to the world.
“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.â€
1 John 4:4 NASB
In the past few studies from 1 John, we have discussed the notion of how our actions reveal us as Christians, especially how we are supposed to resist sin and do what is God. Such an idea, however, appears difficult to our sin-tainted mind. How can we possibly resist sin, the world, and the devil, if we ourselves are part of the problem?
John tells us how throughout his epistle, but 1 John 4:4 reminds us again. We have the strength to resist the devil, the world, and sin because Christ lives in out hearts through faith. Because of faith, we can live the way God wants us to live because our Savior gives us the strength- His strength- and not just in some ephemeral way, but by dwelling in us and with us by the power of the Spirit.
Because of this, if we rely on Jesus in our day to day struggle toward Heaven, we will have the strength to resist the devil, the world, and sin and whatever those forces may throw against us. Further, we will even have the strength not just to resist, but also to do what is good and right. It is by Christ within us that we have what is needed to do what is right.
DLH
