1 John 2:15-17 SS Lesson
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In light of Jesse’s absence, we have all taken responsibilities.
I oversee all of our campus environment and first impressions/guest related items.
I will be teach our First Steps class every 6 or so weeks.
Mission Trip opportunities
Denver, Canada, Birmingham, Selma, and Peru to launch soon.
You’ll hear from me twice next week… Sorry!
Guided prayer time...
Guided prayer time...
Take a deep breath
Tell the Lord everything you know about Him.. He is loving, good, Holy etc… Give examples from your life to how these attributes have proven Himself to be true.
Ask the Lord to give you a hunger for truth and to have a heart like His.
Ask the Lord to remove distractions this morning and to help you surrender your time to him this morning.
Close in prayer.
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
Let’s define the word “world” here...
world : kosmos; morally evil and corrupt system that is opposed to all that God is
Satan’s system vs God’s Kingdom
anything that is a part from God
This is different than “people” or “creation”
John isn’t declaring that we should not love people or even love a good sunset- he is drawing the line on the things of this world that are completely against and what contradicts what God deems as godly- His will for our lives.
Take a step further...
To love the world is to sin...
So now we are simply saying… it is possible that to love is to sin…?
With regards to what we have studied thus far, why do you think this passage was included?
To be honest, it seems like it was a sidebar that was just added in as an FYI
With regards to… walking in the light… the advocate we have in Jesus Christ… The commandment to love one another…
Why did he follow these things with a call to not love “the world?”
*Up until this point, John has been hinting at the first evidence of a true believer...
One who faithfully seeks to obey His commandments!
We obey God because we love God. When we obey God because we love God, we grow in our love for people...
Let’s compare this train of thought to what our culture teaches...
From our cultures position, is love ever a bad thing?
The “love wins” mentality leads us to believe that the action of love is more important and beneficial that the item being pursued in love...
Within the Christian life, this is not necessarily the case! God is concerned where your love is expressed.
However, this passage warns us of loving the world… loving the things that are directly opposed to what God deems as good for us...
When we begin to love the world, we become worldly...
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Four: The Love God Hates (1 John 2:12–17)
practical definition of worldliness: anything in a Christian’s life that causes him to lose his enjoyment of the Father’s love or his desire to do the Father’s will is worldly and must be avoided.
Here is where I think we run into a problem....
Let’s read this verse again and I want you to tell me if I misread it...
*Substitute the word love for participate
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Love and participate are two different things here...
Is it possible to love something and not participate in it? Give examples...
Basketball.... etc.
Don’t cuss, smoke, drink, or chew or date any girl’s that do...
Is it possible to love alcohol and not drink?
Learning the difference between what is a good thing and what is a God thing...
“I don’t drink when I go to those parties...”
“I am scared to go to college because of what will be there...”
Questioning relationship because of denominational differences that are major… who do you love more? God or the girl?
Are we defining our allegiance based on what we do and do not do instead of who we are and have been called to be....?
Notice I said it wasn’t just about what we abstain from and partake in… but about who we are and what we love....
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Four: The Love God Hates (1 John 2:12–17)
A senior student in a Christian college was known for his excellent grades and his effective Christian service. He was out preaching each weekend and God was using him to win the souls and challenge Christians.
Then something happened: his testimony was no longer effective, his grades began to drop, and even his personality seemed to change. The president called him in.
“There’s been a change in your life and your work,” the president said, “and I wish you’d tell me what’s wrong.”
The student was evasive for a time, but then he told the story. He was engaged to a lovely Christian girl and was planning to get married after graduation. He had been called to a fine church and was anxious to move his new bride into the parsonage and get started in the pastorate.
“I’ve been so excited about it that I’ve even come to the place where I don’t want the Lord to come back!” he confessed. “And then the power dropped out of my life.”
His plans—good and beautiful as they were—came between him and the Father. He lost his enjoyment of the Father’s love. He was worldly!
The devil is smart… isn’t he?
Thoughts, questions, concerns?
Three Traps of the World given in Chapter 2
desires of the flesh
desires of the eyes
pride of life
16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.
Same tactic used on Eve in the Garden… This isn’t a new battle!
6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.
What does the lust of the flesh refer to?
anything that appeals to our fallen nature… “things in the world”
We as believers carry both our flesh and spirit (old nature vs new nature).
These two things are constantly in a battle!
17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
The flesh appeals to our normal appetites and tempts us to satisfy them in forbidden ways… (thirst vs drunkeness; hunger vs gluttony; sleep vs laziness; sex vs immorality)
Is there any good in our flesh? Before we were sealed with the Spirit of God and we started walking in the light… was there good?
NO!
18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.
Paul tells the Philippians we are to put no confidence in the flesh… Phil. 3:3
Yet we all do more often than we’d like to admit it, don’t we...
Why do we?
What does the “lust of the eyes” refer to?
Pleasures that satisfy the sight and mind...
The eyes are the gateway to the mind...
What we watch, learn, and see will shape who we are and what we will be.
Dangers in anything from the tangibles of wealth/possessions/lifestyles...
I think we all have a proper understanding of what the Pride of Life is....
The pride of life rears it’s head when the sole intent is to simply impress people...
We see it in what people purchase, how people talk, and how people walk...
The greek word for pride is actually the word “braggart”
All it takes is for us to fall into one of these traps… Then we will lose the joy of the Father and the enjoyment of obeying His will...
The Bible becomes boring… Prayer becomes difficult… Christian fellowship feels… empty.
The enemy lies, convincing you that something is wrong with others… But it is you who has become worldly.
How can we end on a good note?
17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
This corrupt, evil, worldly system will not last forever...
What will last?
The will of God!
Let me remind you...
14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.
We are on the winning team. Not only are we in Christ and we have an Christ as our advocate… But we can know His will for our lives, presenting us with a life lived in freedom, joy, peace, and TRUE comforts- eternal satisfaction.
How can we know God’s will?
We must surrender.
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
2. We must read His word.
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
3. We must endure through all circumstances.
4. We must pray and depend on His Spirit.
Will you live for the present? or will you live for the will of God and abide forever?
Are you building your house on the sand? Or the rock?
9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
Final thoughts???
End in Prayer