What does it Mean to Overcome to the End?

Of all the theological truth for a born again Christian to learn, it is vitally important to understand one’s position in Christ. Our flesh pleads for attention. Often we fall short of the life that we would like to live for the Savior. Satan wastes no time and rushes to point out our flaws short comings. Soon we can become discouraged and even doubt our own salvation. To be sure, there are many obstacles that stand between us and godliness, but … through Jesus Christ, we can be Overcomers.

 

I.                 Worldliness is a “Me first” attitude that must be overcome.

 1 John 2:15-17

15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

             Every human being has a wretched sin nature that opposes the holiness of God. The society that surrounds us is constantly pushing us to pamper ourselves and to become accustomed to instant gratification. The apostle John tells us that there are basically three categories of carnal desires that are clamoring for attention and fulfillment.

            First of all the lust of the flesh grips us as human beings living inside a corrupted body. Bodily desires, both natural and acquired, can demand immediate fulfillment outside the boundary of God’s will. This is when natural desires become sinful lusts. These desires lead to such sins as sex outside the marriage, gluttony, laziness (too much sleep), and drunkenness.

            Secondly there is the lust of the eyes. Man is a sensual being and some things that he craves are sinful in nature. They must be overcome.

            Thirdly there is the pride of life. This lust is not for physical gratification but rather personal validation, at any cost. Pride is a serious sin! It is pride that caused Lucifer to be cast from heaven. These three categories of lust define worldliness. Worldliness must be overcome!

II.                Jesus told us that we must overcome the world.

Revelation 2:7

7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Revelation 2:11

11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Revelation 2:17

17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.  

Revelation 2:26

26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

 Revelation 3:5

5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

 Revelation 3:12

12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

 Revelation 3:21

21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

            Many false teachers use those verses to prove that you can lose your salvation. They teach no such thing. They teach that you must overcome in order to get to heaven, but question is, how one overcomes the world. 

III.             Faith in Jesus Christ overcomes the world

1 John 5:4-5

4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?  

            Those born of God will overcome the world! Notice it does not say that believers can overcome, but rather it simply states that they overcome! You see, when a person comes to realize that they are sinners in need of a savior, and they call upon Jesus to save them by faith alone, they are made into new creatures!

 2 Corinthians 5:17

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 

Ephesians 2:1-3

 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.   

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

9  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

            So, what overcomes the world and all of its fleshly desires? Is it our determination? No! It is our faith. If you are a believer, even though the sin nature still begs for attention, you are freed from its slavery! You are declared righteous. You look for ultimate deliverance when you are given a sinless, glorified body! Salvation is an event, not a process.  That moment you call upon the name of the Lord, believing that it is His death and Resurrection alone that paid for your sin, that was the glorious hour you became an over comer.  By faith in Jesus Christ you are an over comer!