Welcome to the Hope Bible School verse-by-verse Bible study of 1 John. This is Jeff M Newman. Get a new lesson every other week on Mondays at 12:00 PM Eastern.
In Lesson 37, we are going to study the second part of 1 John 2:13.
Let’s read our verse:
1 John 2:13...I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.
Let’s define the words in this part of the verse.
I am writing to you (1125. graphó) means to express in written characters.
Young men (3495. neaniskos) means a youth, or those that are younger in the faith.
Because (3754. hoti) means that or since.
You have overcome (3528. nikaó) means to conquer, overcome, be victorious, or prevail.
The evil one (4190. ponéros) means the one that is wicked, malicious, of a bad nature, or the one that brings toils, annoyances or perils.
In the previous part of 1 John 2:13 in Lesson 36, we learned about mature believers who know Jesus deeply through personal experience.
To reach this stage of spiritual maturity, you will need to spend your life keeping His commandments and abiding in Him. This is how you will come to know Him, who is been from the beginning.
Shortly after becoming a Christian, you will realize that you have an enemy who seeks to destroy you and that the world is under the sway of the evil one.
The evil one is Satan, also known as the Devil. We are first introduced to Satan in the book of Genesis, where he tempts Eve to disobey God's command. He is an adversary who continually seeks to undermine God's plans and lead people astray.
He is wicked and malicious.
Jesus was referring to Satan in John 10:10 when He said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.”
Satan wants to destroy you.
As you walk with Jesus, you will learn how to conquer, overcome, and be victorious over the evil one.
This is only possible through your faith in Jesus Christ.
Let’s go over a battle plan that will show you how to overcome the evil one and fight spiritual battles. Memorize the verses, meditate on them, and use them to guide you.
Abide in Christ. It is only by being with Jesus that you can overcome the evil one, because without Him, you can do nothing.
John 15:5 I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in them, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.
Believe that you are more than a conqueror through Jesus.
Romans 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
Be alert and of a sober mind. Be continually aware that your adversary, the devil, wants to devour you. Resist him and stand firm.
1 Peter 5:8 (NIV) Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
Be strong in the Lord. God will give you His strength to fight your battles.
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
Continue in God's Word. The devil wants to entangle you in sin, but Jesus wants to free you.
John 8:31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
Be aware that you are going to face trials and battles in this life.
1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something strange were happening to you.
Don't get entangled in the affairs of civilian life. Keep your mind fixed on Jesus, rather than personal ambitions. Remember, you are in a spiritual battle, and Jesus is your Commander.
2 Timothy 2:3-4 (NLT) Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them.
Encourage one another daily. Spend time with other believers and help them follow the commandments of Jesus.
Hebrews 3:13 But exhort one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
Flee sexual immorality. If you want to live a defeated life, give in to sexual sin. But if you want to live a victorious life, flee from sexual immorality and turn to God.
1 Corinthians 6:18 (NIV) Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.
Flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness. God wants you to mature and grow in your faith, together with other believers, in purity and truth.
2 Timothy 2:22 Flee from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
God will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.
2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.
Keep His commandments, have faith, and believe that Jesus is the Son of God. This will help you overcome the enemy and triumph in spiritual battles.
1 John 5:4-5 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome, 4 because everyone born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith. 5 Who then overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
Let God protect you from the evil one.
1 John 5:18 We know that anyone born of God does not keep on sinning; the One who was born of God protects him, and the evil one cannot touch him.
Overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Pray to not be led into temptation, but to be delivered from the evil one.
Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Put to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit. Your flesh wants you to give in to sin, but the Spirit gives you life.
Romans 8:13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Put on the full armor of God.
Ephesians 6:11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes.
Seek His presence.
Psalm 68:1 God arises. His enemies are scattered, and those who hate Him flee His presence.
Share your testimony of how you have been redeemed by the shedding of Jesus' blood on the cross.
Revelation 12:11 They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. And they did not love their lives so as to shy away from death.
Submit yourself to God and resist the devil.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Take up the shield of faith.
Ephesians 6:16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Use spiritual weapons. Take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,
Use God's Word in battle. Jesus used Bible verses to fight Satan when He was being tempted in the wilderness.
Matthew 4:10 “Away from Me, Satan!” Jesus declared. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’ ”
Walk in the light. Let the blood of Jesus cleanse you from all sin.
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
Watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. Remember, your flesh and the devil want you to lose the battle, but ask God to help you and He will give you the strength to overcome.
Matthew 26:41 “Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
In conclusion, God wants you to be an overcomer. He desires to empower you to mature and grow in faith, that through His strength, you may conquer the evil one and experience victory in Christ. Put into practice the action plan we have studied together and trust in His power to overcome. Memorize and meditate on these verses, applying them to your life, and watch God's truth transform you.
Let’s read our verse one more time.
1 John 2:13...I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one…
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Thank you, and God bless you.
Jeff M Newman
(Photo by Samuel Ferrara on Unsplash. Berean Standard Bible.)
Lesson 37 - 1 John 2:13...I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.