Commentary on 1 John, Commentary · Chapter 5 · Verse 5
1 JOHN 5.5.
Wh… is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jeſus is the Son of God?
Doct. THe faith that overcomes the world, is faith in the divinity and Sonſhip of Christ.
Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that believeth that Jeſus is the Son of God?
When Peter had made that profeſſion of his faith, Thou art the Chriſt the Son of the living God; what ſaith Chriſt to this? Bleſſed art thou Simon, &c. Mat. 16.16, 17, 18. This confeſſion made Simon to be a rock, and upon this rock of Peters confeſſion, Chriſt built his Church: So that, if you ask upon what foundation the Church ſtands, it was upon this faith, and againſt this faith the gates of hell, and all the judiciall power thereof ſhall not prevail.
What is it then to believe that Jeſus is the Son of God?
1 He that believes that that Jeſus whom Judas betrayed, and the Jews crucified, is the Son of God.
2 He that believes that he is the Son of God in whom he is well pleaſed, Mat. 3.17. So that he is that mighty power and wiſdome of God, in whom his Father is well pleaſed. This faith overcomes the world.
1 Becauſe this kind of faith cannot be attained by any humane means, but by an heavenly revelation from God the Father, Mat. 16.16. And in that age when St. John wrote this, there was no humane reaſon to induce us to believe it.
1 All antiquity of the Gentiles was againſt it. They had heard of Jupiter Apollo and Hercules, but Chriſt ſeemed a new God to them, Acts 17.18.
2 All authority was againſt it, 2 Cor. 2.8. None of the Princes of the world knew of it.
3 The univerſall conſent of all the habitable world was againſt it, ſave onelyonly a ſmal handful of people that believed him to be the Chriſt, the Son of God.
4 There was ſomething in reaſon founded againſt it, for a man to look for ſalvation from a poor Carpenters Son, from a deſpiſed man; one that was excommunicated, and crucified, and could not ſave himſelf; for a man to look for ſalvation from him, was more then fleſh and blood could reach; for the poor thief upon the Croſſe, to ſee him on the Croſſe, and yet to beg of him a Kingdome, and after death too, this was ſuch a faith as overcame the world. This fleſh revealed not, to take a man at the worſt, and then to believe on him for ſalvation.
Object. But now who is there that believes not Jeſus to be the Son of God?
Anſw. 'Tis true. We have now all thoſe arguments to prove him to be the Son of God, which they wanted. We have the antiquity of many hundred years, we have authority on our parts, and the univerſall conſent of the whole Chriſtian world hath now taken up ſuch a principle; and for reaſons, we have reaſon enough, ſeeing ſo many ages, ſo many wiſe and great men conſent to this truth. And therefore it's now leſſe wonder to believe Jeſus to be the Son of God. What then? Is St. Johns argument of no force now?
Yes certainly, therefore 2 we ſay, It's no great matter to believe Jeſus to be the Son of God, upon humane credulity of antiquity, univerſality, or humane reaſon. That's not the faith that overcomes the world; but it muſt be ſuch a faith as is wrought in our hearts by God himſelfe, and this faith far differs from humane credulity.
1 No man that believes Chriſt to be the Son of God by this divine faith, but looks up to him for ſalvation. Look unto me and be ſaved all ye ends of the earth, Iſa. 45.22.
2 If we look at Chriſt as the Son of God, this faith hath an efficacy in it, to work in us contrition and mourning for our ſins, whereby we have crucified the Lord of life, Acts. 2.37. When they heard that was the Chriſt whom they had c…ucified, they were pricked in their hearts, Zach. 12.10. To ſuch as bebelieve thus, Chriſt is made the author of eternall ſalvation, Heb. 5.8.
3 From the mighty power and virtue a faithfull ſoul derives from Chriſt to overcome the world: when you look at all the world, and all the comforts thereof, and compare them with Chriſt, you ſhall find them ſo vain and empty, that there is no compariſon, Pſalm. 73.25. Mat. 16.24. What is there in the world that would be equal with Chriſt? Did not Moſes on this ground deſpiſe all the treaſures and pleaſures of Aegypt, because he had ſeen him that was in the buſh? Heb. 11.27. That was the Lord Chriſt. The tranſcendent worth a Chriſtian findes in Chriſt, far outſwayes all worldly dignities.
Ʋſe 1. Of encouragement to a Chriſtian ſoul againſt all temptation. For if this faith overcome the world, then it will overcome Satan and the corrupt luſts of thine owne heart, and therefore this faith cannot be overcome, but is ſecure againſt all enemies. If it were poſſible that our faith could be extinguiſhed then this were not true, that Faith overcomes the world. If a man therefore loſe his faith; ſuch faith was never true.
2 It teacheth us the exceeding danger of the love of the world. How many are there that riſe early and ſit up late, that ſpend their whole care and pains to get worldly wealth? Why, do you think this a ſafe condition? Would you not think him an infidel, that would not believe that Jeſus is the Son of God. If a man be overcome of the world, truly he believes it not, that Jeſus is the Son of God and can ſuch a man be a Chriſtian?
Obj. What ſay you? Were there never any good men overcome of the world? What ſay you to thoſe that recanted in Q. Mary's dayes for fear, and after repented, and were burnt for their profeſſion? What ſay you to Peter?
Anſw. A godly man in a combate may be overthrown, yet not overcome; as it is in wreſtling, a man may get the foyl, and yet afterwards riſe up and get the victory, ſo oft-times a foyled Souldier gets the day. So Peter though he were foyled at that day, and yet when he got up again, and afterward was charged not to preach in the Name of Jeſus, he overcame all. Whether it be meet to obey God or man, judge ye, Acts 4.19. Indeed, if a man be thrown down, and there he lyes, and takes no care to get up again, look at him as no true believer; therefore look not at theſe as things that may ſtand together, to ſerve God and man, and the world too. So reſpect the world, as that you ever look at Chriſt to have incomparably more worth then all the world, and let your chiefeſt love and endeavour be towards him.
Ʋſe 3. Of conſolation to them that maintain this principle, that Jeſus is the Son of God. Why, you may aſſure your ſelves that the world ſhall never overcome you. Look up to him as your Saviour, for your ſalvation; Look ſo on him as to mourn for your ſins, and obey him as the eternal Son of God. Keep this faith in exerciſe, and you ſhall not be overthrowne; or if you be, it will ſo raiſe you up, and recover you, that you ſhall overcome at the laſt.