Some today would say, ‘we have already overcome, by faith in Christ.’  And that we need only to believe in Him for our Salvation He has promised us.  Yet, when I read the Words that John wrote down in which Jesus spoke to the seven churches in Asia in Rev 2-3.   I hear something else. 

If I were to paraphrase the words Jesus spoke to these churches it would sound something like this:

I have given My life so that you may live to reveal who I am to the lost in the world.  That means you must not give up when life gets hard for you – because of Me and My Word.  You must not lose your focus on what really matters.  Keep doing what I have told you and continue to be faithful to Me and My commands.  In doing this you will overcome.   Be careful that you repent – in the matters I have warned you!  Revelation 2:5  Revelation 2:15-16  Revelation 2:21  Revelation 2:22 Rev 3:2-3

Jesus has told us that whoever is born of God, or born again by the Spirit of God overcomes the world.  And that our victory is our faith in Him. 1 John 5:4-5  

Our victory – is done through the faith we have in the Lord Jesus Christ – by our works.  If we do not have works means we do not overcome for they are synonymous.

And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—Rev 2:26.

Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”

Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” John 6:23-24