ASSURANCE OF SALVATION

THOSE WHO ‘OVERCOME’

In the conclusions of each of the seven letters to the churches in Revelation 2 and 3 a promise is directed to ‘him who overcomes’. When we read this, we feel uncomfortable. We feel afraid, for we do not want to miss out on these promises, and in our weakness and vulnerability we fear that we will not be identified as one who ‘overcomes’.

Literally, the Greek means ‘the one conquering’ – ho nikon – from the verb nikao which means to subdue, to conquer, to vanquish, to overcome. It is used to describe Christ in his victorious death [Revelation 5:5], and in his victory over his enemies [Revelation 17:14]. It is used to refer to the victory of Christians over their enemies ‘by the blood of the Lamb’ [Revelation 11:7; 12:11].

John used this word several times in his first letter, and his statements there help us understand what Jesus means when he says ‘him who overcomes …’ to the seven churches, that is, to the Church – to all who believe in him:

‘I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one’ [1John 2:13,14].

‘You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them’ (the false prophets and the spirit of the antichrist – see verses 1-3), ‘because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world’ [1John 4:4].

‘… for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God’ [1John 5:4,5].

In these verses John identifies:

What has been overcome [the evil one, the false prophets, the spirit of the antichrist, and the world],

The subjective reason for overcoming [our faith, that is, our belief that Jesus is the Son of God],

And the objective reasons for overcoming [the fact that Christians are ‘born of God’, and the superlative greatness of God].

Those who ‘overcome’ are clearly not an elite group from among all who believe, but rather all who believe. Those who believe in Jesus Christ are those who ‘overcome’.

In each of the seven letters ‘overcomes’ is a present participle. Jesus is not talking about a victory that was a one-off, once-for-all event with no follow through. Nor is he talking about an overcoming that is solely in the future. This overcoming of which he speaks is on-going in the present. In this it parallels the New Testament perception of ‘believing’ – believing in Jesus is not a one-off action in the past. The promises of salvation are given to those who believe, present tense.

In the same way, this overcoming, this conquering, of which Jesus speaks, occurs as a continuum. Yes, it does have a decisive beginning at the point of initial repentance and faith, but it is something that continues from that point on. There are ups and downs, there are highs and lows, there are times of strength and times of weakness, but the net over-all characteristic is that those who have true faith in Jesus Christ are those who also ‘overcome’. That is an irreducible built-in aspect of genuine faith. As John states in the last quote above – ‘everyone born of God overcomes …’ True faith endures. True faith persists despite the difficulties and despite its own weakness. True faith does not permanently give up and give in under pressure. True faith overcomes.

Those who overcome are the people with true faith in Jesus Christ, people ‘born again’ by the regenerating action of God, people who trust in and are protected by ‘the blood of the Lamb’, people who have and hold ‘the word of God and the testimony of Jesus’. It is simply not possible for those who are ‘born of God’ to fail to ‘overcome’, to fail to conquer. They overcome because they are ‘born of God’. Indeed, to have true faith in Jesus Christ is to already be 'him who overcomes' - to already be 'more than conquerors' [Romans 8:37].

Jesus Christ overcame. He could not do otherwise. Even so, the true ‘Church’, those who are born of God, those who believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, those who are washed in the blood of the Lamb, overcome. They cannot do otherwise.

Here again we see the incredible security of the redeemed that is portrayed repeatedly throughout the New Testament.