Scripture
5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
6 This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
Reflection
John continues in these two verses the theme of loving others and loving God (see yesterday’s devo).
John states that those who obey God’s commands, are the ones who overcome the world because they are born of God and believes in Jesus Christ. And the reason why those who believe in Jesus Christ can overcome the world is because Jesus did not only come by water (referring to Jesus’ baptism that started his public ministry) but also by blood (referencing to Jesus’ death on the cross which terminated his public ministry). Without Jesus’s death on the cross, we would not be able to overcome the world. Thus, John is stating it’s because of Jesus’ death on the cross that we now are not only overcomers of this world, but we also are able love each other as well, purely because God first loved us
Thoughts for the day
- What does this passage tell you about God or Jesus?
- What do you feel God is telling you through this passage?
- How will you respond to God’s love for you?
Prayer
God, You hear. Please let the displaced people of the world know that they are heard. And help us to hear them.
