Faith dispels fear, but only in proportion to its strength. (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary)
Perhaps our greatest exercise of faith will be in the face of death, which is inexorable. We must exercise faith in all that confronts us.
1 John 5:4
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
Commentaries:
(Geneva Study Bible
{5} For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: {6} and this is the victory that {e} overcometh the world, even our {f} faith.
(e) He uses the time that is past, to give us to understand, that although we are in the battle, yet undoubtedly we shall be conquerors, and are most certain of the victory.
(Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary)
"… this is the victory that overcometh”-Greek aorist, ". that hath (already) overcome the world": the victory (where faith is) hereby is implied as having been already obtained.”
Our faith is itself a victory. It is a victory we can walk in, live in, live from, speak from. The victory of faith is a past tense fact, not a future accomplishment. It is a settled fact that we can stand on and fight from, not fight for. We are not fighting to obtain or accomplish what has already been accomplished, and is already ours. We are fighting to live out from facts, rather than being cheated and deceived out of our rightful experience of said facts. It’s possible to be a king and live like a pauper. In fact, this is Satan’s strategy against the believer. We are kings. But he wants to convince us we are abject paupers. Our continual choice is “who will I believe?” Jesus said to Jairus – “Do not be afraid. Only believe.” In principle, do not believe what you hear, or see, or even think. Believe what I say, and don’t let fear run unchecked. Stand against fear and stand for me. This is for you to do. I will do the rest.
Fear is often shown in scripture as the counter principle to faith.
Galatians 5:22
There is no law against the fruits of the spirit. A man walking in the spirit is not in need of law, and there is no law that can prosecute the effects of the spirit. Law is for the wicked, those who must be compelled to do right and eschew wrong. Not so with the born again believer, who walks by the spirit and not by the flesh. I was thinking yesterday that God is not interested in our sacrifices based on fear and gain. Perfect love casteth out fear. How many of our acts of righteousness are based on fear of God’s anger and reprisal? Fear of consequences? Desire to get points with God? Looking good in the eyes of men? God is not interested in actions based on these motives. The presence of fear is only the evidence that our love is not perfected. Striving for righteousness is evidence that we have no submitted to the righteousness of God in Christ. Perfect love generates excellent works by itself; it does not require compulsion, persuasion, threat, or “trying to be good.” The presence of any of these things, in motive, is the absence of the miracle of truth and love and security in Christ.
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