We would think it strange if the child of rich parents was poor, or the child of very small parents to be very large. We expect children to follow, at least in some way, after their parents. It's the same way with those who are born of God. John wants us to see that if we are born of God, we will overcome the world. The idea that anything born of God is defeated by the world seemed strange to John, and should be strange to us.

How do we become overcomers?  By faith. "Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" The life of abiding faith and trust in Jesus Christ is the life that overcomes the pressures and temptations of the world.

This means we overcome because of who we are in Jesus, not because of what we do. We overcome because we are born of God, and we are born of God because we believe that Jesus is the Son of God in more than an intellectual sense, but we put our lives on the fact that Jesus is the Son of God for us.

In what ways are we world-overcomers in Jesus?

First, Jesus said, "In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33 NKJV) Because Jesus has overcome the world, as we abide in Him, we are overcomers in Jesus.

Second, John said of those who were growing in their walk with Jesus, "You have overcome the wicked one." (1 John 2:13-14 NKJV). As we walk with Jesus and grow in that walk, we will overcome our spiritual opposition.

Overcomers have a special place in the world to come. Jesus promised, "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne." (Revelation 3:21 NKJV)

Finally, overcomers overcome because the blood of Jesus overcomes Satan's accusations, the word of their testimony overcomes Satan's deceptions, and loving not their lives overcomes Satan's violence (See: Revelation 12:11).

Jesus is the complete winner. As we live our lives in Him, we can't lose.