Overcomers

Q: When Jesus is addressing the seven churches in Revelations, he
repeats the statement, "to him that overcomes." In Rev 3:21 Jesus even
says, "... to him that overcomes, even as I also overcame..."
My question is; If a person is saved by grace through faith, and the
debt is paid in full by the blood of Christ, what is left to
overcome? He is calling us to overcome in the same manner as he
did, how is that?

A: Thank you for writing. I remember worrying over the overcomers myself and
I understand your concern. However, I think that if we allow scripture to
explain itself, the problem will be solved. We tend to think of
overcoming as being entirely victorious in everything. I think God looks
at overcoming as being victorious in the end. The one still standing at
the end of the day is the victor, no matter how bruised and beaten he may
be. And, if we are in Christ, we will overcome in Him and by Him. But let
us look at some scriptures.

1John 4:4 states, "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome
them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the
world." In this verse, those who are little children have overcome--not
because of their own prowess and strength--but because of Him who is in
them. We overcome because of the indwelling Christ and not because of our
own strength.

Who then are those who overcome? 1John 5:5 states, "Who is he that
overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of
God?" That sound like all true believers to me.

How then do we all overcome? 1John 5:4 says, "For whatsoever is born of
God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the
world, even our faith." We overcome by our faith. If we believe in Christ
and are born of God, we overcome.

You mention that our overcoming is to be like that of Christ. Revelation
3:21 states, "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my
throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his
throne." I do not think that this verse is comparing the way of our
overcoming with the way Christ overcame. Certainly, no one can match the
obedience or sufferings of Christ. In part, I believe He is saying that
who overcome have done something that Christ also did.

The idea that all the saved are overcomers of a sort should not seem
strange to us. Romans 8:37 states, "Nay, in all these things we are more
than conquerors through him that loved us." How is overcoming anything
greater than being more than conquerors? And, when our corruptible shall
have put on incorruption, this saying will have come to pass, "Death is
swallowed up in victory" (1Corinthians 15:54). Again, this makes us sound
like overcomers.

But, you might ask, do the gifts to the overcomers come to all believers?
Of that I am not sure. It does seem that some of the promised gifts in
the messages to the seven churches (Revelation 2-3) might be for
outstanding service. Well, it may be that there are overcomers and there
are (in some cases) OVERCOMERS. Revelation 2:11 promises, "He that
overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death." This certainly applies
to all true believers.

However, Revelation 2:26 states, "And he that overcometh, and keepeth my
works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations." This
probably refers to overcoming of a special sort. However, we have this
also in other passages. 2Timothy 2:12 states, "If we suffer, we shall
also reign with him." The promise to reign is not given to those who do
not suffer.

Our faith in Christ as Saviour makes us overcomers over death, hell, and
the grave--as Christ overcame the same. However, I believe there is much
yet to overcome in the sense of serving, suffering, and giving our all to
Him. Certainly, these OVERCOMERS will receive a greater reward.

I hope this is of help to you. Thank you again for writing.

Till He comes,

Pastor David Reagan

For More Information See: