What does “overcome the world” mean? When the New Testament speaks of the world, it refers to two things. First, it denotes God’s wondrous creation—the magnificent cosmos that includes our own beautiful planet as well as the entire universe. Second, it refers to what may be called the godless world: all those who are subject to the power of sin, evil, and death.

When Saint John says, “whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world,” he is speaking of the latter—the godless world that lies under the dominion of sin, evil, and death. Thus, to “overcome the world” means to gain victory over sin, evil, and death.

“Thank you for the question. Since Christ’s resurrection, we are doing very well!” This was a bishop’s reply when he was asked how he and the Church were doing. On the one hand, this might seem like an evasion of the question; on the other hand, this is exactly so: despite everything that may trouble us and cause confusion—of which there is an abundance in today’s world—we are well, because Christ has risen from the dead.

Jesus entered Jerusalem as King. Saint Paul likens this to a triumphal procession in which we also take part: “Thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place.” Christ is a victorious King—yet He wins not by violence, but through humility, meekness, and gentleness. He is not a king of war, but the King of peace.

Christ is both the temple, the priest, and the sacrifice. When Jesus came to Jerusalem and drove out of the temple those who were selling and buying, He said: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” By this, Jesus meant His death and resurrection, showing that His death on the cross would complete all the sacrifices of the old Covenant. That is why He drove out of the temple those who sold animals and birds intended for sacrifice: they were no longer needed.

In today’s Epistle, Saint Paul contrasts two covenants: one that would enslave us, and another that would set us free. The first covenant is based on the Law. The Law itself is not bad, the problem is that we fail to live by the Law, and therefore the Law condemns us. Those who are condemned are put in chains and ultimately face death. This is the inevitable fate of mankind, “for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”