“We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” (1 John 5:19 ESV)
Throughout John’s writings, he often draws stark lines. He clearly distinguishes between light and darkness, truth and error, and righteousness and sinfulness. He regularly emphasizes that the believer has opponents and enemies, both internal and external, and that the so-called happy middle does not exist.
As he draws to the end of his first epistle, he does not change that pattern. He identifies those who are “from God” on one side, and those who are of the world and under the influence of the evil one on the other side. As believers, we are not of the world, nor are we to love the world (1 John 2:15).
Commenting on these verses, Matthew Henry says, “Mankind are divided into two great parties of dominions, that which belongs to God and that which belongs to wickedness or to the wicked one. The Christian believers belong to God. They are of God, and from him, and to him, and for him.”
This truth is not merely a piece of data but a directive for how we should live. First, recognizing this division reminds us of where our allegiances lie. We are “from God.” He is the one who has given us new life, and we are his disciples, ambassadors, and soldiers. As such, we are not to walk as if we belong to the world.
Second, it gives us a mandate for service. It tells us what we are supposed to do: go to the world. Jesus promised that “the gates of hell shall not prevail” against the church that he is building (Matthew 16:18), and inherent in that promise is the expectation that the church will assail the gates of hell in his name for the advance of his kingdom. John says that “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one,” but that will not always be the case. Even as Satan and his demons exercise some degree of authority on earth now, they are still subject to the providential, sovereign rule of God, and their power will ultimately be crushed.
In Revelation, John hears the announcement that “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever” (11:15). Satan’s rule over the world and those who dwell in it has an expiration date. At a time already fixed, every ounce of the devil’s power will be stripped from him, and he himself will be cast into the lake of fire for eternal condemnation. One day, Christ will fully and finally exercise his authority over the nations that he has drawn to himself. Until that final announcement that the kingdom of the world “has become” his, he is progressively advancing his church as the nations are “becoming” his kingdom.
This is why the church on earth is described as the church militant. God’s people are still in the battle, carrying the standard of his kingdom to the nations. But even as we face the onslaught of the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers over this present darkness (Ephesians 6:12), we are assured of the victorious advance of Christ’s kingdom.
Being “from God” means not only that we derive our spiritual life from him but also the commission by which we go out into the world for Christ’s sake. We bring light and hope to a world that currently lies under the power of the evil one by pointing it toward the one from whom we come. Christ has called us into his church, not just so that we can gather in worship, as indispensable as that is, but also so that we can go out into the world, proclaiming the name of Christ.
As we do, we can be reminded of the words of Martin Luther’s hymn:
And though this world, with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God has willed
his truth to triumph through us.The prince of darkness grim,
we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure,
for lo! his doom is sure;
one little word shall fell him.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
You have made us alive together with Christ. You have united us to him and called us to serve him as he builds his church. Strengthen us to walk boldly into the world.
For Jesus’ sake, amen.
Prayer Requests:
- Tuesday: Pray for continued support and provision for frontline missionaries, especially to those facing economic challenges.
- Wednesday: Pray for missionaries providing clean water through well drilling in Togo, a critical ministry which not only increases public health but provides regular opportunities for evangelism.
- Thursday: Pray for missionaries serving with Hope Alive Healthcare Birthing Center in the Philippines as they support women on their motherhood journey, share the gospel, and disciple new believers.
- Friday: Pray for national partners providing educational training in Moldova as they prepare students for missions, social work, and business.
- Saturday: Pray for the missionaries sharing the love of Christ to college students in Brazil through the The Hangout coffee shop ministry.
- Sunday: Pray for missionaries engaged in church planting to establish thriving communities of believers.
- Monday: Pray for missionaries serving in Portugal to preach Christ boldly to the lost.
Featured Opportunity to Serve:
Church Planter
Location: Brazil
We are looking for someone with a passion to preach the Word, equip the saints, and reach the lost to serve with us in a church planting ministry among the unreached Hunsrik people group in southern Brazil.
