Blessed Assurance- (1 John 2:12-17)

This World Is Not My Home https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8e57YGVj7Q

Psalm 119:97–104 NIV

97 Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. 98 Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies. 99 I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. 100 I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts. 101 I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word. 102 I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me. 103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.

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Worship Through the Word:

Blessed Assurance

Throughout time, people have chosen to pull up stakes and follow where God has led them; Abraham, Moses, Elisha, Peter, James and John, Jonathan Edwards, John Wesley, Eric Liddell, Jim Elliott, and Lydia Campbell-Whyte, to name a few. Some we know by name, while many we have never heard of. As they each stand before God, they will hear those awesome words “Well done, good and faithful servant.” When we stand before God, will we hear those same words? What will you have to show for your time here on planet earth? Will it be the lasting kinds of achievements or the temporary ones?

As we continue in 1 John, the apostle John, now probably near 100 years in age, calls for God’s people to remember that they are aliens in this world. God is a God of love, but the one thing God hates is the influence of darkness in the lives of people. Why? Because it destroys people and will eventually cut them off from all that is truly good and fulfilling. The darkness lures them to focus on the things of this world, to prevent them from being concerned about the next, eternal one.

Today, our text is 1 John 2:12-17. Please stand with me for the reading of God’s Word.

1 John 2:12–17NIV

12 I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. 13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. 14 I write to you, dear children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one. 15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

The Word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God!

I. This World is Not Our Home

In this epistle, John uses three words repeatedly: life, love, and light. Last week, we focused on the light part. As children of God, we are reflectors of God’s light in this darkened world. Today, we will focus in on “life!” What kind of life will we live. One as citizens of this world or the next. When we received Jesus as our personal Savior, that is we confessed our sin and accept Him as Lord of our life, we became citizens of heaven. This is a very precarious place to be because we physically live in a world with different interests and priorities. The people around us do not understand our new culture. Some will admire our differences and hopefully, decide to join us. Others will hate us for it. It is something they do not understand, and it makes them feel uncomfortable. They will either try to entice us to join them, or they will reject and criticize us. They wish to tear down our reputation to assert their own.

Last week, I spoke briefly about the Old Command and the New Command.

1 John 2:7–8NIV

7 Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. 8 Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.

The Old Command was the written law. It was known as the Shema and it called for us to love God and to love others. The New Command is better than the old, yet is the same command. The difference is that rather than a written law we must submit to, we now desire to do so through the work of the Holy Spirit within us. Jesus demonstrated this love while he lived among the people of Israel, but now Jesus’ Spirit has taken up residence within each of us that have given ourselves to Him, and that love is lived out through our own personal actions. However, there is something we are called not to love, and that is this world.

To understand this, we need to understand what John means by world. The world has different meanings in our English language. Sometimes it means the physical earth. Look at Acts 17:24.

Acts 17:24NIV

24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands.

At other times it can mean humankind as we find in John 3:16.

John 3:16NIV

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

However, in today’s context, it is a spiritual term referring to the systems of our globe that are opposed to God and Christ. These systems are spiritually driven by Satan and his followers. We see them referenced in various scriptures.

1 John 5:19NIV

19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.

John 12:31NIV

31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.

Ephesians 6:11–12 NIV

11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

We stand in opposition to this worldly system out of love for others. We can see and understand the harm it brings to all people. However, this is the very reason many people reject us. They do not understand the harm it causes them, and they are convinced we are trying to take away their fun! However, the pleasures of this world can be very seductive and if we are not careful, they can lure us back in.

For this reason, John gives us four very good reasons why we are to not to love this world and to stay alert to its alure.

The first reason, has already been given above. We do not love this world because...

A. This World is Opposed to God and Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 John 5:19

John gives the reason for this in 1 John 5:19.

1 John 5:19NIV

19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.

Paul also addresses Satan’s role in this world and his opposition to God.

2 Corinthians 4:4 NIV

4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

For this reason, we can expect the systems of this world to reject us. Ever wonder why a person standing outside an abortion clinic doing nothing more than praying would be arrested. This is why! Look what Jesus said to his disciples.

John 15:18–19NIV

18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

We see this in action in our nation these days when the church is persecuted, and criminals are catered to and set free. Drug addicts are provided for, and churches denied.

We have been blessed to live in a nation that began as a nation that accepted God as its authority in the beginning. That is why our nation has been so blessed and not experienced as much persecution. Do not get me wrong, there has been some persecution here even though it has not always been obvious, but it is far less than many other nations. Our leaders have not been perfect examples of a nation under God but it still gave acknowledgement to God and tried in many ways to live in accordance with that. However, it was only a matter of time before that would be challenged and torn down. Satan was not going to stand by and allow that to stand. I guarantee you that he has been diligently working behind the scenes of our nation to change this for quite a long time. Nations of power come and go in this world. These last few years, we have seen our nation’s power quickly slipping away. But this should not surprise us as this is the history of the world. All things are temporary. Why? Because without God to sustain them, things change. This world is ruled by Satan, and he is not God. He does not have the power to maintain control anywhere without God’s allowing it. That is why even his greatest allies like Nebuchadnezzar, Alexander the Great, Caesar, Mussolini, Hitler, Stalin, they all eventually fail to maintain control. Our nation was built on many Biblical principles but it has been led by men of this world. Men not dedicated to God so it was only a matter of time when it would fall just like any other powerful nation of history.

Another reason John gives to not love this world is because...

B. The World is Seeking to Lure Us Away from God. 1 John 2:15-16

Someone once said, “Worldliness is a creeper sin. It doesn’t just happen but slowly creeps in.” It is like that old saying about cooking frogs. If you drop a frog into boiling water, it will jump out to escape the heat. However, if you place a frog in tepid water and slowly heat the water, the frog will eventually be boiled to death.

John warns us of three systems the world uses to try to lure us away from God.

1 John 2:15–16NIV

15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.

These three systems are the very essence of what the world considers their pleasures. However, these so-called pleasures lead to horrific consequences, both naturally and spiritually. The first one John gives us is...

1. The lust of the flesh . v 16, Galatians 5:17-23

This becomes a battle between our human nature which is influenced by sin and our spiritual nature that desires righteousness. Too often we are lured to allow our needs to turn into lust driven desires. A great example of this is food. Food is a need but when we allow it to move from providing daily sustenance to gluttony by way of indulging our tastebuds with pleasure, we have just moved from need to desire. (Caution: Not all weight issues are due to gluttony).

Galatians 5 gives us great examples of the fleshly desires compared to the Spiritual.

Galatians 5:17–23 NIV

17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

A second lure the world uses against us is...

2. The lust of the eyes . v 16

We often think of this as a sexual pleasure, but it goes far beyond that. It can include things we watch or read for entertainment. Things we read to gain education. Education stimulates the mind as well. Education can be a good thing, but it can also lure us to a place of feeling we are smarter than God. Intellectualism has drawn too many into false doctrines. Lust of the eyes can lead us to buy things we do not need but desire. Pretty things…stimulating things…unusual things, etc…

The lust of the eyes can lead us into a lust of the flesh. We see things we like, and we want, and we do what we must to gain them. The lust of the eye can lead us to try to keep up with the Jonses’ and lead us into debt and temptations that tie up our time and our money.

Psalm 119:37NIV

37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.

The lust of the eye can also lead us to the third lure. That of...

3. The pride of life. v 16

The Greek word for “pride” was used to describe a braggart who was trying to impress people with his importance. How often are we lured to try to impress people with the “things” we have. It amazes me the gluttony we have in our world. Through the years, I have watched neighbors spend huge amounts of money on entertaining things they never use. Fancy boats that get used once or twice a year. Expensive patio sets that sit empty night after night. Swimming pools that are used infrequently. Cars are parked on the streets because garages are full of things we have bought but never use, but are unwilling to part with. Year in and year out, I see the items come and go. Snowmobiles, camping trailers, dirt bikes…Only to disappear a year or so later, either placed in storage or ruined by the elements.

John warns us of these things because they slowly suck us in and lure us away from our first love, that being God. God warns the church of this abuse in Revelation 2.

Revelation 2:1–4 NASB95

1 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: TheOne who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this: 2 ‘I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; 3 and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary. 4 ‘But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

Another reason to not love this world is because...

C. We are Citizen’s of God’s World With Greater Benefits . 1 John 2:12-14

1 John 2:12-14 is a unique passage. It slips more into poetry, yet we glean from it the benefits of being God’s family. The benefits of God are not just for the old, but for all generations and all levels of Christian maturity. Even though it addresses “men” we can be assured that it pertains to all people. The terms “men” or “mankind” meant all in their culture. We need to keep in mind that men were the leaders in their society.

John addresses “little children” twice, but in the Greek, two different terms were used. In verse 12, the Greek word literally means “born one.” It refers to all believers. John told Nicodemus, “You must be born again.” The first birth is the physical birth we experience. However, when we receive Jesus as our Savior, we are born again spiritually into God’s family. It is a new life, a new beginning. Later in verse 13, the Greek term refers to those young in the faith. New Christians in the faith are who he is addressing.

1 John 2:13NASB95

13 …I have written to you, children, because you know the Father.

This whole passage speaks forth both to various generations physically as well as spiritually. The spiritual aspect has to do with maturing in faith. As we read through these, we find the benefits of the citizens of God’s World.

1. Our sins are forgiven and no longer held against us. v 12, 2:1

2. A growing relationship with God our Creator. v 13

3. We have divested ourselves of Satan’s power . v 13

4. We have come to know the Father. v 13

5. We are strong because we have overcome Satan. v 14

6. We are growing stronger each day through the power of God’s Word. v 14

We have already achieved so much, why would we want to go back. It is better to keep pushing forward. It is always easier to maintain our ground than it is to lose it and try to regain it.

My walk of faith began early in life. At age 20, I became disillusioned due to circumstances occurring at that time. Then, I allowed choices other people made to affect me. I trusted them over what God was telling me. I abandoned the faith for a very short time, yet great damage was done to me spiritually in those few short months. I quickly realized that my spiritual life did not bounce right back to where I had left off at. Let’s say we are looking at a scale. In the center is 0. To the right the numbers increase incrementally. To the left, the numbers decrease incrementally. As a child, I started my Christian walk at 0. As I matured, my level of faith increased each year. However, after I left the faith and returned a few months later, I did not return to where I left off at or even return to 0. Instead, I felt I was at a -20. I was tempted by way more things. I had seen and done things I could not forget. They left indelible impressions on my mind and spirit. Traps and snares had been set in my heart by Satan during those months when he had control. I am telling you from experience, once we have found that freedom in Christ, it is worth staying the course!

Now, we come to the final reason to deny this world.

D. This World Will Not Last . v 17

1 John 2:17

1 John 2:17NIV

17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

This world and all its pleasures will one day pass away. However, for the Children of God, the best is yet to come, and it will be eternal.

Conclusion

God does not say we have to live monastic lifestyles, devoid of all pleasure. In fact, even in scriptures, there were many who lived well. When Israel went into exile, God encouraged them to settle and bless their alien community. In so doing they would be blessed. God wants people to see that He takes care of us. However, we need to hold a balance and we need to hold lightly what we have. When the day came for Israel to return home, God did not want them to be so comfortable that they didn’t move home. Unfortunately, there were those who did just that. When God calls us home, will we be willing to turn our backs on this life and follow, or will we be like Lot’s wife who was torn and looked back, and in so doing, lost everything?

In Luke 14, Jesus shared a parable about a man who held a great banquet and invited many guests. To be invited was a great honor, however, when the time for the banquet came, they had excuses of why they could not come. The reasons were good things, yet they should not have taken precedence over this event. One had just bought a new field and he was anxious to look it over. Another had just bought a yoke of oxen and was anxious to try them out. Another had just gotten married, and he was looking forward to spending time with his new wife. None of these are wrong in and of themselves, but when they take precedence over God’s call, they will be the very things that place us in hell.

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!

Are there things in your life that have moved into that worldly place? Can you say with sincerity that if Jesus returned today you would be ready to go, or are there things you are hanging onto that make you hesitate? Jesus said,

Luke 14:26

Luke 14:26 NIV

26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.

Now, Jesus was not saying we are to literally hate these family members, but he is saying that if we hold to them more than him, we will be eternally lost. We help no one under such circumstances.

As we close this morning, I want to close with a video. This is a song I have sung many times in the past. It talks about two men, Jim Elliot and Eric Liddell, who made the ultimate sacrifices accepting that their true citizenship was in heaven. As you watch it, take time to consider what God is calling you to surrender today.

He is No Fool https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fkeXbti90Y

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