Certain Eternity Part 36 – Moving from Victim to Victor
1 John 4:7-8 July 27, 2025
Introduction
1 John 4:1-7 “1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see
whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the
world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus
Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess
Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was
coming and now is in the world already. 4 Little children, you are from God and
have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
5 They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world
listens to them. 6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever
is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the
spirit of error. 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and
whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not
love does not know God, because God is love.”
How do we help someone (and ourselves) move to love – from victim to victor
10 topics where the enemy (antichrist spirit) seeks to trap us in a victim mindset
and how to move to yourself and others to being a victor (overcomer) in Christ
Love
VICTIM
o Definition: Love is conditional, based on how others treat me or affirm my
pain. Often confused with indulgence or emotional validation.
o Quote: “If you loved me, you’d agree with me.”
o Actions: Demands support without accountability, manipulates
relationships, equates love with permissiveness.
o Verses: 2 Samuel 13:15; Proverbs 27:6
o How to Support: Teach that true love includes truth and correction. Model
Christlike love that is sacrificial, not sentimental.
VICTOR
o Definition: Love (agapē – ἀγάπη): selfless, covenantal commitment for the
good of another, rooted in God’s character.
o Quote: “Love rejoices with the truth and seeks what’s best for others.”
o Actions: Speaks the truth in love, forgives, serves others selflessly.
o 1 John 4:9-11 “9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that
God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10
In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his
Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we
also ought to love one another.”
o Verses: 1 Corinthians 13:4–7; John 15:12–13; Romans 5:8
Sin
VICTIM
o Definition: Sin is something mostly done to me—by others or by
circumstances. Rarely acknowledged as personal rebellion.
o Quote: “I wouldn’t be like this if others hadn’t hurt me/I didn’t experience
[x].”
o Actions: Blames others, avoids responsibility, may justify sinful responses.
o Verses: Genesis 3:12; Proverbs 28:13
o Support: Encourage biblical literacy about personal responsibility for sin.
Gently confront with truth and love.
VICTOR
o Definition: Sin (hamartia – ἁμαρτία): missing the mark, lawlessness,
personal offense against a holy God.
o Quote: “I am a sinner in need of grace.”
o Actions: Owns sin, seeks forgiveness, understands the gravity of sin.
o 1 John 1:8, 10 “8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the
truth is not in us. …10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar,
and his word is not in us.
o Verses: Romans 3:23; 1 John 3:4; Psalm 51:3–4
Suffering
VICTIM
o Definition: Suffering is proof that God is distant or unfair. It becomes the
basis of identity or justification for self-pity.
o Quote: “If God really loved me, this wouldn’t have happened.”
o Actions: Complains, withdraws, blames God or others, refuses comfort or
counsel.
o Verses: Job 3:11; Lamentations 3:19–20
o Support: Gently affirm God’s presence in pain. Share testimonies of hope.
Encourage lament as a path to worship.
VICTOR
o Definition: Suffering is a refining tool from a sovereign God who uses pain
for His glory and our good (theodicy).
o Quote: “God is near to the brokenhearted and is using this for His
purposes.”
o Actions: Clings to Christ, seeks prayer and fellowship, trusts God’s
character in the storm.
o 1 John 3:13 “Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.”
o John 16:33 “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have
peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have
overcome the world.”
o Verses: Romans 5:3–5; 1 Peter 1:6–7; 2 Corinthians 1:3–5
Salvation
VICTIM
o Definition: rescue from pain or circumstances rather than from sin and
God’s wrath. Often misunderstood as entitlement to blessing.
o Quote: “God should help me—I’ve suffered enough.”
o Actions: Seeks relief over repentance, trusts in feelings or experience
rather than Christ alone.
o Verses: John 6:26; Matthew 7:21–23
o Support: Clarify the gospel: salvation is by grace through faith in Christ to
reconcile sinners to a holy God. Emphasize repentance and faith.
VICTOR
o Definition: Salvation (sōtēria – σωτηρία): deliverance from sin and judgment
through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
o Quote: “I have been saved by grace alone through faith in Christ.”
o Actions: Repents, believes the gospel, lives in grateful obedience to God.
o 1 John 2:1-2 “…I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.
But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ
the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but
also for the sins of the whole world.”
o Verses: Ephesians 2:8–9; Titus 3:5; Romans 10:9–10
Confession
VICTIM
o Definition: Often sees confession as optional, superficial, or unnecessary
unless forced.
o Quote: “I guess I’ve made mistakes, but it’s not really my fault.”
o Actions: Minimizes sin, generalizes confession, often confesses others’
sins more readily.
o Verses: Jeremiah 17:9; 1 Samuel 15:24
o Support: Model honest confession. Teach the freedom and healing found in
true agreement with God’s Word.
VICTOR
o Definition: Homologeō (ὁμολογέω): to agree with God about one’s
sin—openly acknowledge guilt.
o Quote: “Lord, I agree with Your Word—I have sinned.”
o Actions: Humbly confesses sin to God and, when needed, to others.
o 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our
sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
o Verses: James 5:16; Proverbs 28:13
Repentance
VICTIM
o Definition: Change is expected to come externally (others change first).
Repentance is either misunderstood or delayed.
o Quote: “Why should I change if nothing ever gets better?”
o Actions: Stays stuck in patterns, may feel sorry but does not turn.
o Verses: Hebrews 12:17; Matthew 7:26–27
o Support: Teach the fruit of repentance. Encourage hope in Christ’s power to
change hearts.
VICTOR
o Definition: Metanoeō (μετανοέω): a change of mind that results in a change
of direction and behavior.
o Quote: “By God’s grace, I will turn from this sin.”
o Actions: Turns away from sin and toward Christ daily, bearing fruit.
o 1 John 3:6 “No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who
keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.”
o Verses: Acts 3:19; 2 Corinthians 7:10; Luke 15:17–20
Authority
VICTIM
o Definition: Views authority as a threat, something to be challenged, feared,
or resented. Lacks trust in God’s sovereign placement.
o Quote: “People in charge always abuse their power.”
o Actions: Rebels, isolates, or passively resists godly counsel.
o Verses: Romans 13:1–2; Jude 1:8
o Support: Reframe authority as God’s provision. Share biblical examples of
godly leadership.
VICTOR
o Definition: Authority is God-ordained; human authorities are servants under
God’s ultimate kingship.
o Quote: “God has placed authorities over me for my good.”
o Actions: Submits joyfully to godly leadership, exercises discernment.
o 1 John 4:6 “…Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God
does not listen to us.”
o Verses: Hebrews 13:17; Ephesians 6:1; Romans 13:1–4
Submission
VICTIM
o Definition: Submission is seen as weakness, loss of control, or enabling
abuse.
o Quote: “If I submit, I’ll just get hurt again.”
o Actions: Resists biblical teaching, seeks autonomy over trust.
o Verses: Ephesians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:13–19
o Support: Present biblical submission as rooted in Christ’s example; clarify
healthy vs. abusive dynamics.
VICTOR
o Definition: Submission is trusting God’s goodness through rightful authority
and mutual yielding under Christ.
o Quote: “I entrust myself to God by submitting as Christ did.”
o Actions: Yields in love, practices humility, obeys God above all.
o 1 John 3:16 “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we
ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.”
o Verses: 1 Peter 2:21–23; Philippians 2:5–8; James 4:7
Accountability
VICTIM
o Definition: Church discipline is interpreted as rejection, control, or spiritual
abuse.
o Quote: “They’re just trying to shame me.”
o Actions: Rejects correction, leaves the church, rallies others to affirm victim
status.
o Verses: Proverbs 12:1; 2 Timothy 4:3–4
o Support: Explain the purpose of discipline as restoration. Emphasize grace,
love, and humility in the process.
VICTOR
o Definition: A loving, redemptive process intended to restore and protect the
body of Christ.
o Quote: “Discipline is God’s mercy leading me back to truth.”
o Actions: Welcomes correction, seeks restoration, remains submitted to
Scripture.
o 1 John 5:16 “If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to
death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins
that do not lead to death….”
o Verses: Matthew 18:15–17; Hebrews 12:10–11; Galatians 6:1
Fellowship
VICTIM
o Definition: Community is unsafe, judgmental, or irrelevant. Church is
optional, especially when feeling hurt or misunderstood. // Community has
purpose in so far as it serves my needs as a victim. Church is an avenue to
gain emotional, physical, and spiritual support, goods, or services.
o Quote: “Christians have let me down. I’m better on my own.” // “A
Christian’s purpose is to help victims.”
o Actions: Avoids church, resists accountability, isolates. // Overuses church
community.
o Verses: Hebrews 10:25; Proverbs 18:1; John 6:26–27
o Support: Share the beauty of biblical community. Invite into loving, honest
relationships in the church. Practice healthy, biblical church discipline.
VICTOR
o Definition: The koinōnia (κοινωνία) of believers: Spirit-filled fellowship in
unity and truth.
o Quote: “God has placed me in the body for my growth and His glory.”
o Actions: Seeks accountability, loves the church, contributes with humility.
o 1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have
fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us
from all sin.”
o Verses: Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:24–25; 1 Corinthians 12:12–27
Conclusion
Amen. Amen.