What does it mean that greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4)?

"Ye are of God, dear children," is the address to the whole family. It is also the emphatic "ye." The false prophets said they were the reliable guides. No, he means, they are enemies of Christ, emissaries of Satan. "Ye" are God's children, in contrast with these pretentious and false guides that despise the dear children. God in Christ is to you the source of every blessing, life eternal, forgiveness, relation to Himself as Father, and the gift of His indwelling Spirit. "Ye are of God, dear children, and have overcome them," that is, the false prophets. But it was not because you have anything to boast of your own wisdom or power or holiness; but "because greater is he that is in you." The Christian's source of power is the Spirit of God abiding in him. God Himself abides in him; and this He makes good by His indwelling Spirit. Therefore he can say "because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world;" or as in 1 John 5:19, "The whole world lieth in the wicked one." Here it is clearly the devil working by these evil spirits.

This section concludes with another of John's triplets. It is with fatherly tenderness that he has written these warnings – not to create doubts or fears in the minds of simple-hearted believers. This can be clearly seen in verse 4, “ Ye are of God, children, and have overcome them, because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.”

For believers the victory has been already won. It is not a question of whether we can win arguments against false teachers or whether we can persuade others to accept the truth. Neither is it that we will overcome them at some future time. No. We have overcome them. How? Because we have the Holy Spirit indwelling us – greater than he that is in the world. The overcoming here is not a battle that we fight and win. It is the assured fact of the permanent possession of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Wonderful assurance!

Then working backwards I come to the verse in 1 John 4. The false prophets are in question here, men who are agents of the devil and energized by the spirit of antichrist. The children of God overcome them because indwelt by the Spirit of God. The last words of 1 John 3 are "the Spirit which He has given us," and we know that He is given us to abide with us forever. That Spirit is referred to when we read, "Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world." He who is in the world is that spirit who is designated in Scripture the god and prince of this world. The Lord Jesus said, "The prince of this world comes, and has nothing in Me." He has something in us for we have the flesh within, but being indwelt by the Holy Spirit, we have One in us who is greater.

1 John 4:4. If there was the danger of the babes being led astray, John could remind the whole Christian company that they were of God: and that they had overcome the anti-christian teachers, because the Holy Spirit within them was greater than the spirit of anti-christ that was in the world. What a wonderful resource belongs to the Christian in the indwelling Spirit of God. Earlier, when speaking to the babes of the many antichrists, the Apostle had told them, Ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things … the unction which ye have received from Him abides in you, and ye have not need that any one should teach you" (1 John 2:20, 27); now, in speaking of the gift of the Spirit to them, he tells them that He is greater than all the power of evil in the world. They had not fallen as victims to the false revelations, given by evil spirits, which pretended to be truth from the Spirit of God. That which they had heard from the beginning abode in them, so that they were abiding in the Son and in the Father; thus enjoying the eternal life that God had given them.

Regarding the false prophets, in whom the spirit of anti-christ was manifest, the aged servant of Christ wrote, "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4). The Spirit of God in the saints had enabled them to discern the true character of the evil teachings of the false prophets, and to reject them as not of God. The Holy Spirit within us is greater than the spirit of anti-christ, which is in the world, enabling us to detect and reject all that is false.

"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them [evil spiritual beings]: because greater is He that is in you [the indwelling Holy Spirit], than he that is in the world [Satan] (1 John 4:4).

This is indeed heartening reading. The feeblest youngest believer, indwelt by the Spirit of God, has a power within him infinitely greater than that of the evil one. The might of the Holy Spirit is the power of God, infinite, resourceful, omnipotent. Christians are safe as they yield themselves to the Holy Spirit of God. Satan's wiles may be subtle, but God is behind everything, and the Christian has a wonderful resource in prayer.

The "children" are stronger than they who are of the world, because He that is in them is greater than he that is in the world; the power of God is there by the Holy Ghost's presence, and is superior to that of the restless, remorseless spirit who is in the world. It is very interesting to compare the end of John's gospel with that of the first epistle, and to notice the immense consequences flowing from the presence of the Holy Spirit - what a true remedy for worldliness (that is, the spirit of this age)! These poor, weak creatures (as the world would say) are yet superior to all the world's power.

To confess Jesus as Christ (God's Anointed) having come in the flesh proves the divine origin of a spirit. Moreover, "greater is he that is in you" (the Spirit) "than he that is in the world" (the devil). The presence of the Holy Spirit in us is the secret of the victory of Christian faith. Finally, "He that knoweth God, heareth us" (the apostles). The inspired writings of the apostles (the epistles) are authoritative. To accept them will practically guard us from the deadly influence of the spirit of error.

But we have a very blessed statement as to all believers, "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world." The presence of the Holy Ghost in the family of God (for here the "children" takes in all Christians) is a most wonderful fact, and He is infinitely superior to the terrible and restless spirit which is in the world.

They are of the world, and speak according to its principles, and are listened to readily; the false prophets have very often a philanthropic doctrine to propound, the amelioration of the whole human race, universal brotherhood, and other very grand schemes, but all these things are of the world, that is, according to its principles.

In chapter 14 He is going to the Father, but will come again to take them to be with Himself, that where He is they may for ever be. But He is not going to leave them without protection in a ruthless God-hating world; He will send Someone to take care of them. He will send the Spirit to be with them, never to leave them, and also to dwell in them; and with the comfort and power of His presence they will be invincible, for “He that is in you is greater than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). The spirit of Antichrist is in the world, the Spirit of Christ in His own, therefore the battle is not a drawn one, but an overwhelming victory for the saints of God: “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them.”