We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one

1 John 5:19 NASB

Most of us here today have a helpful summary or for sure a comment or two on 1 John 5:19. Despite the existence of countless political, cultural, and social entities in the world, there are in reality only two realms. It is the comforting privilege of believers, in addition to having eternal life, answered prayer, and victory over sin, to know we belong to God. Though they exist in this world, they are not part of it. “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (John 17:14 NASB).

We are children of God, aliens and strangers according to 1 Peter 2:11, and what about Hebrews 11:13: “All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.” Now what would we do without Philippians 3:20: “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

On the other hand, the whole world, its politics, economics, education, entertainment, and above all, its religion, lies in the power of the evil one. The evil world system is hostile to God and believers. “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you” (John 15:18-19 NASB).

As John noted earlier in this epistle, it takes its cue from its ruler, Satan. “Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out” (John 12:31 NASB). As we well know, he is the archenemy of God and His people. Because the world is completely under Satan’s influence, believers must avoid being contaminated by it! “Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world” (James 1:27 NASB).

Family of God, please understand there is no middle ground, no third option. Everyone is part of God’s kingdom or of Satan’s. In the words of Jesus, “He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me, scatters” (Luke 11:23 NASB). Or as James scathingly declares, “You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4 NASB).

The Christian faces three enemies, all of which want to lead us into sin: the world, the flesh, and the devil. “We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19 NASB).

Satan, the god of this age, is still at his job. “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4 NASB). And the prince of this world: “I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me; but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. Get up, let us go from here” (John 14:30-31 NASB).

Also, he is the spirit who works in the children of disobedience. “In which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons and daughters of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2 NASB).

Satan has many devices for leading a believer into sin. He tells lies, as he did to Eve, and when men and women believe his lies they turn away from and disobey God’s truth. Or Satan may inflict physical suffering, as he did with Job and Paul. In David’s case, Satan used pride as his weapon and urged David to number the people and in this way defy God (1 Chronicles 21:1-30).

Satan is like a serpent who deceives. “And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called devil and satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him” (Revelation 12:9 NASB). And a lion who devours. “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world” (1 Peter 5:8-9 NASB). He is a formidable enemy.

And let us not forget that there is the problem of the flesh, the old nature with which we were born and which is still with us. True, we have a new nature, the divine seed. “No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God” (1 John 3:9 NASB). However, we do not always resist the old nature within us, and we do not always yield to our new nature.

Then how does a believer keep from sinning? 1 John 5:18 gives us the answer: Jesus Christ keeps the believer so that the enemy cannot get his hands on us. “He who was born of God keeps him and the evil one does not touch him” (NASB). The Authorized Version here gives the impression that a believer keeps himself from sin, but this is not what the verse says. Of course, it is true that a Christian must keep himself in the love of God (Jude 21), but it is not true that a Christian must depend on himself to overcome Satan.

Peter’s experience with Satan helps us to understand this truth. “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31-32 NASB).

To begin with, Satan cannot touch any believer without God’s permission. Satan wanted to sift all the disciples, and Jesus gave him permission. But Jesus prayed especially for Peter, and His prayer was answered. Peter’s faith did not ultimately fail, even though his courage failed. Peter was restored and became a mighty and effective soul winner.

Whenever Satan attacks us, we can be sure that God gave him permission. And if God gave him permission, He will also give us power to overcome, because God will never allow us to be tested above our strength! One of the characteristics of those born of God is their ability to overcome the evil one. Their secret? “The word of God abides in you” (1 John 2:14). Part of the armor of God is the sword of the Spirit, and this sword overcomes Satan.

When a believer sins, they can confess their sin and be forgiven, but a believer dare not play with sin, because sin is lawlessness! Father God warns that sin can lead to physical death!

The battle is real. The enemy is formidable. But the victory is certain. We do not fight in our own strength, nor do we depend on our own ability to resist. Christ keeps us. His word abides in us. His Spirit empowers us. The whole world may lie in the power of the evil one, but we know that we are of God. And that makes all the difference. The spiritual warfare we face does not lead to death but to life, because the One who was born of God keeps us, and the evil one cannot touch us. This is not presumption but promise. This is not wishful thinking but the declared word of God. Hold fast to it.