Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 John 5:4

"For whatsoever is begotten of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that hath overcome the world, [even] our faith." — 1 John 5:4 (ASV)

“Everyone [lit., everything] born of God overcomes the world.” Our being born of God is God’s act on our behalf, through which he moves to overcome the world. What is in view is the supernatural act by which human beings are being translated out of the kingdom of death into the kingdom of life through the Son.

The victory that overcomes the world is now identified with “our faith.” It is best to interpret this statement as referring to a past event; John is emphasizing that the victory he refers to has already been won. By faith we now have access to what was once accomplished by and through the appearance of Jesus on earth.