First John chapter 2: 15-17. Love the eternal.

First John chapter 2: 15-17. Love the eternal. (possible by the Holy Spirt). (Love the brothers not the world).

Last week it was a positive, affirmation little children your sins are forgiven for Jesus’ name’s sake, fathers you know the God, young men you are strong and you have overcome the evil one, because have the word of God abiding in you.

In the text today John uses a negative, a waring against living for what is tempory, instead he encourages to do the will of God and receive eternal life in God.

Don’t love the world, or the things in it. – What might sound strange for us, does it? Are we not to care for others and God’s creation? Yes, but that is not what John is writing about. But John elaborates and writes if anyone loves the world, the love of God is not in him. Oh what… That sounds narrow and close minded like God is mean, and evil or something. But John is not done. Here comes the explanation: This is what has to be rejected, - the desires of the flesh, - the desires of the eyes – and the pride of life. That is not from the Father. That is from the world marred with sin, what makes us broken, and draws us to what is false salvations, false God’s idols. They promise but does not deliver, the only give short relief and then the chase starts for more, like a drug, you need more and more… It is a chasing after the wind. Eternal rest is only found in Jesus.

Okay, lets go the desires of the flesh, - what the body is after, food, sex, comfort, - it is all things that have to be repeated, over and over again, and if it has no pourpus, it is a chase after it again, - someone said, this is what makes – as worship Matt Chandler,

Desires of the eyes, taking with the eyes, sexual – porn – or real life – looking at people as obejcts, to be consumed, or used. (That is not Gods plan). But a great way to destroy people, making them objects. It can also be things, the new Phone, the new car, the new, golf clubs, shooes, house, all the things that glimmer. Movies, streaming. All the things that eyes desire,

The pride of life, all the things I can do in life, so I don’t need to trust in God, and Jesus for my salvation, and life. What I accomplice, things I can take pride in, me making my own salvation, we can live for the praise of man so we can take pride in what others say about us, oh what a great father, mother, what a great person, what a great worker, Pastor, cook, ect. – But we are not to take that praise for our self but take it to God, Jesus is the one that makes us able to be different, God created us, glory goes to Him, - not to us or our heads might get too big. And we will start trusting in our ablitys and gifts, but they are from God, and given to bring him glory, not so we can boast and become prideful. A prideful Christian is an oxymoron – Knowing Jesus, would have to make us humble, because, - we are in need of him. Living this life, by the Holy Spirt doing the works Jesus did, and giving God glory, is not possible without help every day, even to believe the good news for our self-every day.

17, why not liv for the world, because it is passing away, along with its saviors, and accomplishments, - for my self I like sports and think it is impressive what people can do, but it will not save them, even if they give there all their lives to the sport, - cause, nature, animals, humans, it will all pass away, -

But should we not do good, - yes, we should, but we should do the will of God, because that is what has us abiding in God. That we live for the Glory of God, showing that we understand what Jesus has done and glory is to his name, that our sin can be forgiven, and we can know Jesus and give God the glory, as we look to live for what is eternal. Not to set our eyes, pride, on what the world can offer, but on who God, is. .

The text today is not hard to understand, and is very practical, it does not take a lot to hear what John is writing,

But what about you? What did you hear John write?

What does it mean for you to not love the world? (Are there dreams, things you want that you need to give up, false Gods that you have been after) – Are you loving the world? And is the Love of the father then not in you?

What do you in your flesh desire? And are you putting that to death when it comes up? Looking towards Jesus and trusting in him?

What are Your eyes what are the occupied with?

Are you after the pride of life? What is your mind set on?

The question and teaching is; What are you living for? The world that will fade away? Or Gods will that will last forever? What do we invest in? What do we trust in?

But Why is John writing this to churches? Are they not living for God? John is setting up the next part of the text, and also as he has done in all the letter, describing painting a picture of God, of Jesus, calling people to trust in Who the Lord is. And not to go after what the world, offers. And he combats false teaching.

It is a strong rebuke to live for what is eternal (God´s will) and not for fleeting pleasures of the tempory, and don’t go after glory for our self but live for the goldy of God.