In the final chapter of his epistle, John mentions overcoming the world, but what really does he mean by saying this? I believe the world John meant for his readers to understand, at least in the context of this letter, was a world that was attacking the Church through false doctrine. John began his letter by saying, “If we say…” (1John 1:6). In other words, some folks were saying one could converse with God who is Light (1Joh 1:5), and yet walk in darkness, but this is an obvious lie. Another way of putting this would be, “He who says…” (1John 2:16) he is in the light but hates his brother, which, of course, is a contradiction. Finally, “If a man says…” (1John 4:20) he loves God, who is Love (1John 4:8, 16), but hates his brother, he is a liar. Obviously, John wrote this epistle to address the then current heresies that were challenging the children of God. These false doctrines were the product of the antichrists who denied Jesus was coming in the flesh of the believer, to the end that the believer would serve God. Therefore, overcoming the antichrists’ doctrine is what John meant by overcoming the world.
In 1John 5:1 the writer of this epistle mentioned those who are born of God. That is, he mentions those who have the Spirit of God (1John 4:14) and participate in divine nature (2Peter 1:4). John told his readers that they love the Father, and, because God is Love (1John 4:8, 16), it stands to reason that those born of God would be like him and love those, their brethren, who have been begotten of him. It is a matter of being of the same family, but in the matter of John’s readers, it was about loving the children of God (Ephesians 3:14-15).
John’s argument is this. First, he told his readers that the love of God is perfected or fulfilled in us, if we keep his commandments (1John 2:4-5). In other words, God loves us, and like any other investment, it is like a seed that produces something similar to the investment made. In the context of God loving us, it is expected that we would also love the brethren, namely, those who have been begotten by him. The Father expressly showed his love for us by sending his Son into the world to be the propitiation (atonement) for our sins (1John 4:9-10).
In 1John 5:2 John mentions that we love God, However, the problem with our loving God is this: he is invisible (1John 4:12), and no one has ever seen him, nor could they (1Timothy 6:16). So, how is it possible for any man to express his love for someone he has, not only, never seen, but whom he knows practically nothing about. Therefore, Jesus, the Son of God, was made manifest (John 1:1, 14) in order to show what the Father was like (John 1:18), and in so doing it falls upon each of us to follow Jesus’ example (John 13:15; 1Peter 2:21), so that we, too, would act like, or be an image of God (Genesis 1:27; cp. Hebrews 1:3).
In John 4:17 John mentioned to his readers that, as Jesus was, so are they in this world. That is, they have been following his example and, in so doing, they have become his image to the world. He became manifest in order to take away our sins (1John 3:5). Therefore, it has become the responsibility of the believer to purify himself in order to be pure like Christ (1John 3:3). Moreover, since Jesus worked the works of righteousness, it falls to those who trust in him to do the same (1John 3:7, 16). We are as he was in this world, because the love, with which God has loved us is fulfilled in our loving the brethren (1John 4:17; cp. 5:1).
But, why would John have had to make such a point about loving the brethren? I believe the answer lies in the fact that John told the believers that there is no fear in love (1John 4:18). This implies that some of his readers were afraid to express that love for their brethren, probably due to the persecution that developed against believers in the 60s AD, when John wrote this epistle (cp. Matthew 24:11-13). Paul spoke of this time as the “falling away” (G646), which pointed to apostasy or a defection from Christ (2Thessaloninas 2:3). Therefore, if the love of God is perfected in them, meaning it is fulfilled through them, they would love the brethren, not in word only, but in deed by expressing their love for God by keeping his commandments (1John 5:2), despite the consequences (cp. Hebrews 10:32-34).
This is the love of God worked in and through us by good works, and, although the Lord’s commandments aren’t grievous (1John 5:3; John 13:34; 14:15, 21, 23), to be obedient may bring the wrath of the world upon the one who obeys them.
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