[2026. 9. 6.] I Have Overcome the World (John 16:25–33)

[2026. 9. 6.] I Have Overcome the World (John 16:25–33)

Sermon by Rev. Jinkook (Danny) Sohn (Hope of Heaven Baptist Chuch) 

 

2026. 9. 6. 주일예배 설교- 요한복음 강해 47
본문: 요한복음 16:25–33
제목: 내가 세상을 이기었노라

설교자: 손진국 목사 (하늘소망교회)

 

Today’s passage continues the words Jesus spoke to His disciples on the night before He carried the cross. Jesus would soon be arrested, the disciples would scatter, and Jesus would die on the cross. Yet at that very moment, Jesus speaks an unexpected word.

It is found at the end of today’s passage. [John 16:33] “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

When we look closely at this statement, it is truly astonishing. Nothing has happened yet. Jesus has not been crucified, He has not died, and He has not risen. Yet in that state, Jesus makes this remarkable declaration: “I have overcome the world.”

The victory Jesus speaks of is not worldly success. It does not mean He conquered earthly powers. Jesus would break the power of sin, death, and Satan through the cross and complete the work of salvation entrusted to Him by the Father.

Therefore, the core truth we must hold onto today is this: Our ability to overcome the world does not come from us—it comes from Jesus, who has already overcome the world. I pray that we all remember this.

Today, through the Word, I want to share three important truths.

 

1. Believe that Jesus came from God.

In verse 27, Jesus says this to His disciples: [John 16:27] “The Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.”

Here Jesus describes their faith in two ways: (1) They love Jesus. (2) They believe that Jesus came from God.

The starting point of our faith is knowing and believing who Jesus truly is. We must not think of Jesus merely as a great teacher. He is not simply one of the five great sages of history. We must believe that Jesus is the Son of God who came from the Father.

When we clearly know who Jesus is, our lives change. The fundamental reason we become shaken in this world is because we see other things as bigger than Jesus.

Money looks bigger than Jesus. People’s approval looks bigger than Jesus. Problems look bigger than Jesus. The future looks bigger than Jesus. Illness looks bigger than Jesus.

But those who truly believe who Jesus is must change the question: Not “How big is the problem before me?” but “Who is the Jesus who stands before me?”

The disciples thought they understood Jesus well. So in verse 30 they confess: [John 16:30] “Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.”

They are saying, “Now we truly know and believe You.” But immediately Jesus responds: [John 16:31] “Do you now believe?”

They just said they believed, yet Jesus asks again, “Do you now believe?” What does this mean? It means their faith was not yet true faith. And indeed, shortly afterward, the disciples abandoned Jesus and fled. They said they believed, but when real problems and crisis came, they ran away.

Our faith is not revealed by words—it is revealed in crisis. Anyone can believe when life is peaceful. It is easy to praise God when healthy. It is easy to give thanks when business prospers. It is easy to trust God when family has no problems. It is easy to rejoice when relationships are good. When life goes well and we feel good, we think we have strong faith.

But when problems come, our true faith is revealed. We must ask ourselves: “Do I truly believe Jesus?” Faith is revealed by whom we cling to in crisis.

C. S. Lewis, author of The Chronicles of Narnia, wrote A Grief Observed after his wife Joy died. In that book, he honestly expresses his sorrow, confusion, and questions toward God. But through that painful process, he learned not to reshape God according to his emotions or circumstances, but to look again at who God truly is. Through his writing he teaches us: “Having faith does not mean pain automatically disappears.”

We also need such a time of deep reflection: “Why do I believe?” “Do I believe because God gives me what I want?” Or “Do I believe because God is God?”

This difference is crucial. True faith is not loving God only when He does what we want. True faith is saying, even when we do not understand, “Lord, You are still my God.”

[Application] What is the biggest reason I believe in God? What am I most afraid of right now—and do I believe Jesus is greater than that fear?

 

2. God never leaves us, no matter the situation.

In today’s passage, Jesus gives His disciples a shocking message: [John 16:32] “A time is coming, and in fact has come, when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.”

Jesus tells them that when the cross comes, they will abandon Him. This was not what Jesus expected from them, nor what the disciples expected from themselves. But Jesus teaches them that reality is different from expectation.

Then Jesus continues: “Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.”

This is crucial. People may leave. But God never leaves. People’s failure is not God’s failure.

The disciples abandoned Jesus. But Jesus did not abandon His salvation plan. After the cross and resurrection, Jesus went back to the disciples. Peter denied Jesus three times, but Jesus did not reject Peter. The risen Jesus went to Peter again and entrusted him with His mission. This is the gospel.

Even when we fail, God’s grace does not fail. There are moments in our lives when we feel “alone.” Even while serving God or the church, such moments can come. People may not understand our hearts. We may serve faithfully yet be misunderstood. Someone we love may leave us. Family or friends may not recognize our efforts. Even in church, we may feel lonely.

Then we think, “No one understands me. I am alone.” But Jesus declares in such moments: “The Father is with me.”

Dear beloved saints, Have you ever felt misunderstood, judged, or alone while living your faith? What truly comforts us?

The greatest comfort for a believer is not “Everyone understands me,” but “God is with me.”

I have shared before that I once experienced burnout in ministry. At that time, I felt no one understood me. No matter how hard I worked, I saw no fruit. Even when I preached, people did not seem to receive the Word or change. I felt alone. Even when church members tried to encourage me, nothing comforted me. Negative thoughts filled my heart, and I eventually resigned. But after resigning, the problem did not disappear. Instead, guilt overwhelmed me—guilt that I had abandoned the calling God gave me. Deep sorrow and depression followed.

People said, “It’s okay. Don’t worry. God knows.” But nothing helped.

Then one day, while reading Scripture, I came across Isaiah 41:10. It felt as if God Himself was speaking directly to me. Suddenly, all the burdens—misunderstandings, mistakes, guilt, sorrow—lifted. I could breathe again. Peace from God gently settled over my heart.

Let us read it together: [Isaiah 41:10] “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Beloved saints, Are you in a difficult, uncomfortable, lonely situation? Hear the voice of the Lord: “Do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God.”

A life used by God is not always comfortable. We may serve faithfully and see no visible fruit. People may not recognize us. Yet we must remember: God is with us.

The faith that overcomes the world is this: Believing that God is with me.

[Application] Have I ever been hurt because I was not understood or recognized by people? How did I overcome it? Do I value people’s approval more, or God’s presence more?

 

3. In trouble, believe Jesus’ victory and enjoy His peace.

[John 16:33] “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Jesus wanted His disciples to have peace. But the next words seem strange: “In this world you will have trouble.”

Why speak of peace and trouble together? Because the peace Jesus gives is not the absence of trouble. The peace Jesus gives is deeper than circumstances. The peace the world gives depends on conditions: If money is stable, we feel peace. If health is good, we feel peace. If children succeed, we feel peace. If relationships are smooth, we feel peace. But if any of these shake, peace disappears.

Jesus gives a different peace: “In me you may have peace.” This teaches us something essential: True peace comes not from changing the conditions of peace, but from changing the source of peace.

Jesus continues: “Take heart.” This does not mean, “You will have no problems.” Jesus already said, “You will have trouble.”

Biblical courage is not saying, “I have no problems,” but saying, “Even with problems, I will not fall, because Jesus is with me.”

The final declaration of Jesus in today’s passage is: “I have overcome the world.”

Jesus did not say, “You must overcome the world.” He said, “I have overcome the world.” This is the gospel.

What Jesus requires of us is not our victory, but believing in His victory.

How do we overcome the world? Not by becoming stronger than the world. Not by having more money than the world. Not by having more power or fame.

Overcoming the world means refusing to let the world’s values rule us.

When the world says money is the highest value, we choose God as our highest value.

When the world says success is the highest value, we choose faithfulness.

When the world says repay evil for evil, we choose forgiveness.

When the world says live for yourself, we choose service.

When the world says death is the end, we believe in resurrection and eternal life.

This is the life that overcomes the world.

Horatio Spafford, an American lawyer and successful investor, had four daughters and one son. His son died at age four from pneumonia. That same year, the Great Chicago Fire destroyed most of his property. Two years later, he sent his wife and four daughters ahead to England for Moody’s revival meetings. Their ship, the Ville du Havre, collided with another vessel and sank. His wife survived, but all four daughters died. Her telegram from Wales contained only two words: “Saved alone.”

As Spafford sailed to meet his grieving wife, he passed over the spot where his daughters had died. In that place of unimaginable sorrow, God gave him indescribable peace. He wrote a poem, and composer Philip Bliss later set it to music. It became the hymn we know today as “It Is Well with My Soul.”

When peace like a river attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll, Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.

The remarkable thing in his life was not the absence of problems. Nor was it that his problems were solved. Yet he held onto God. His peace did not come from circumstances—it came from God. This is the peace Jesus meant when He said, “In me you may have peace.”

[Application] What problem is currently stealing my peace? What fear or worry must I lay down today as I trust the Jesus who said, “I have overcome the world”?

Conclusion

Beloved saints, we are those who believe and follow Jesus, who has overcome the world. Remember these three truths as you live with overcoming faith today:

1.    Believing that Jesus is the Son of God who came from the Father is the beginning of overcoming the world.

2.    Even when people abandon or misunderstand us, God never leaves us.

3.    In every trouble, hold onto Jesus’ victory and enjoy His peace.

May every member of Heaven Hope Church live today with the faith that overcomes the world. In the name of the Lord, I bless you.

 

 

하늘소망교회(담임 손진국 목사)는 뉴질랜드 오클랜드 북부 실버데일에 세워진 한인교회로 '하나님의 마음으로 사람을 살리는 교회'입니다.

Hope of Heaven Baptist Church (Senior Pastor: Rev. Jinkook Sohn) is a Korean church established in Silverdale, Auckland, New Zealand. It is a church that saves people with the heart of God.