1) By believing that Jesus is the Christ, one is born of God and loves both God and His children. Keeping God's commandments, which are not burdensome, demonstrates love for God. 2) Those born of God overcome the world through faith, which is the victory over the world. Only those who believe Jesus is the Son of God can overcome the world. 3) The Holy Spirit enables believers to overcome the world and its values by producing virtue and strength within them to live for God instead of worldly desires.

1. www.rossvillechurch.com 1-26-11

2. 1 John 5 1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth Him that begat loveth Him also that is begotten of Him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep His Com-mandments. 3 For this is the Love of God, that we keep His Commandments: and His Command-ments are not grievous (burdensome) .

3. 4-5 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? Self-denial is an essential part of overcoming the world and serving our Lord. But that virtue -- called temperance -- is produced in us by His Holy Spirit.

4. When we place our faith in Jesus as the Son of God, He comes into us in the Person of His Holy Spirit; we are able to be overcomers. All that we need to live for God instead of the world is produced in us by His Holy Spirit.

5. "World" is not the physical earth, but rather the world order , including values , standards , customs , opinions , and interests of the unsaved world. By faith we receive the Lord and His Spirit; By faith we overcome the power of the world to force us into its mold or pattern. All who have not received the Lord by faith, are enslaved by this world order.

6. The world is primarily concerned with fleshly desires, and fulfilling those desires. Matthew 6 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 ( For after all these things do the Gentiles seek :) for your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. We have no need to concern ourselves with the needs and desires of the flesh ; God supplies all our needs in legitimate fashion and in abundance.

7. Philippians 2:3 (NIV) Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit (empty glorying; self-conceit) , but in humility consider others better than yourselves. The world values self above others. Self promotion and selfish ambition are considered virtues , and self esteem is the highest priority. In the Kingdom of God, selfish ambition and self-glory are faults to be overcome.

8. The world is incapable of genuine love . The world equates and substitutes sex for love. 1 Peter 1 22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the Truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently : 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

9. This world values and seeks fleshly pleasure, and is willing to pay almost any price for it. Philippians 2 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure. Luke 12 32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.

10. 1 John 2 15-17 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. 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. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the Will of God abideth for ever.

11. John 16 (Jesus) 33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world . By faith , we are in Jesus , and He is in us . We are made able by His Spirit to overcome this sinful world with Him.. All that we have to do is to walk in the victory that Jesus has already won. "I won't even walk without Him holding my hand."

12. 1 John 5:3-5 (NIV) This is love for God: to obey His Commands. And His Commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that over-comes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. In loving God and His people, our desires are toward God and people. That makes us overcomers of this world, with its false standards and values.