The Greater One Is In Us (1 John 4:4)
- Candice Watters
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
...he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. —1 John 4:4
This verse reads like an inequality problem in math: A is greater than B; Jesus is greater than Satan. But this simple, elegant sentence is much more than an inequality. It’s a stunning reality packed with infinite encouragement.
How great is the one Jesus is greater than? Consider that since the garden of Eden, Satan has had the power to deceive the children of Adam and Eve. 2 Corinthians 4:4 says, “The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers.” He has blinded not just some of the people, but all of them. 1 John 5:19 says, “The whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” That’s not insignificant power, but neither is it ultimate. Christ is greater.
Colossians 2:13-15 says,
And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
When Jesus died on the cross, He died in our place. He paid the penalty we owed to God for our sins. In one victorious blow, Jesus took away Satan’s power. As John Piper says, “He disarmed [him] by nailing our record of debt to the cross, because Satan’s power is that he’s a great accuser.” (How Much authority Does Satan Have in the World?) If our sins are forgiven, his accusations, though true, are powerless.
If that wasn’t enough, John encourages us further: the greater One is in those who belong to Him by faith. Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him” (John 14:23). Not only are we invited to abide in Christ, but He has promised to abide in us. After Jesus died and the curtain of the temple was torn in two (Mark 15:38), the Holy Spirit made each believer His dwelling place. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19).
What does this mean? As Piper says, “Now in every battle with the devil, we can have total confidence of final victory.” Romans 8:38–39 says, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers [satanic power included], nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” This, Piper says, means Satan “has been decisively defeated.”
Whatever temptations we’re facing, whatever guilt we feel over past sins, no matter our suffering or trials, we can have courage knowing that He who is in us is greater than our enemy the devil. The one who rages against us with the power of accusation is no match for our Savior.
Take heart. Not only is Jesus greater than Satan, Jesus is in you.
For Reflection
What accusations does Satan hurl at you? How should this verse change your response to them?
What aspect of Jesus' greatness is most precious to you?
Ask the Father to encourage you this week with the Son's sacrificial love poured out for you.
Candice Watters is the editor of Fighter Verses and contributor to Truth78's webinars. She and her husband, Steve, teach My Purpose Will Stand for 5th grade Sunday school at their church in Louisville, KY. The Watterses are the parents of two grown children and two nearly so.