Living Beyond The Temporary/Living For What Lasts
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12 I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.
13 I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father.
14 I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.
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 lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.
17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Introduction: Holding on to the Right Things
Introduction: Holding on to the Right Things
Holding On to the Right Things
A little boy went to the fair with his father. As they walked through the crowded midway, the boy clutched a handful of cheap carnival prizes—plastic trinkets, a stuffed animal missing an eye, and a balloon already losing air.
Then, they passed by a vendor selling beautiful toys. The father knelt and said, “Son, let me have what’s in your hands, and I’ll buy you something far better.”
The boy hesitated. He had spent all day collecting these little treasures. “But, Daddy, I like what I have.”
His father smiled and said, “I know, but if you trust me, I promise you’ll have something even greater.”
Finally, the boy let go of his broken prizes, and in return, his father handed him a beautifully carved wooden train—something that would last far beyond the fleeting fun of the fair.
—
Many of us are clutching the temporary things of this world—wealth, status, comfort, or fleeting pleasures—when God is calling us to let go and receive something far greater: His eternal purpose and will.
In 1 John 2:12-17, John reminds us that this world is passing away, and only those who do the will of God will abide forever. What are you holding onto that God is asking you to release?
ALTERNATE/ADDITIONAL ILLUSTRATION:
Have you ever enjoyed something that tasted really good, but then the manufacturers decided to change it and ruin it?
They messed it up.
KFC
Twinkies
In 1985 when Coca Cola changed the formula for Coke and called it New Coke.
Look in the Bible, you find a list of people who messed up God’s plan:
* Samson had great strength but lost it because of his sin.
* The church of Ephesus messed up God’s blessings because they lost their first love for Christ.
* Demas messed up by loving the things of this world, deserting Paul, and quitting his service for God.
* Solomon messed up the blessing of having great wisdom from God but marrying great numbers of pagan wives who turned his heart away from God and worshiped idols.
* David messed up his blessings on his life and family by his adultery with Bathsheba and having Uriah killed in battle.
* The nation of Israel messed up the blessings of God’s deliverance from Egypt by erecting a golden calf and then refusing to enter the Promised Land when it was time to enter and take possession of what God had given to them.
No man indulges an error of judgment, without sooner or later tolerating an error in practice. Hold fast the truth, for by so holding the truth shall you be sanctified by the Spirit of God.
Charles Spurgeon
We are not saved by holding to our confession. The fact that we hold to our confession is proof that we are God’s true children.
Warren W. Wiersbe
I. We Have Been Blessed With A Spiritual Family (vv. 12-14)
I. We Have Been Blessed With A Spiritual Family (vv. 12-14)
12 I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.
13 I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father.
14 I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.
John addresses three groups: Children, Fathers, and Young Men—representing different stages of spiritual growth.
Children – Those new in faith who need foundational teaching.
Young Men – Those growing strong, fighting spiritual battles.
Fathers – The spiritually mature, guiding the next generation.
A. Context: A Discipleship Model in the Early Church
A. Context: A Discipleship Model in the Early Church
In Jewish culture, maturity was marked by life stages. The young learned from the elders, and the elders guided with wisdom.
The Jewish culture valued mentorship—elders trained the young in the ways of the Law.
In the rabbi’s tradition, young men learned from elders, much like disciples followed a rabbi.
The early church embraced this model of discipleship (Acts 2:42-47).
42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common,
45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
***The mentoring model is nothing new. As we are making a shift in our church, if we followed what the word of God says, the NT church is just following what the scriptures already reveal to us what it is supposed to look like.
B. Children: Resting in the Assurance of Salvation
B. Children: Resting in the Assurance of Salvation
12 I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.
teknion…term of affection, a tender appeal…without regard for the age of the person….describes all Christians who are God’s children, no matter what level of spiritual maturity they are at.
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
What a great blessing to say “I am forgiven”
1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit.
5 For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.
God’s promise to us is He will forgive us if we ask Him and put our faith in Him for our salvation.
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Our response to being forgiven by God:
* Grateful for His patience, love, kindness, and mercy.
* Graceful by being patient and forgiving toward those who offend or hurt us.
* Hateful toward our sinfulness that wrecks and scars our relationship with the Lord.
* Shameful when we have disobeyed the Lord and sinned against God.
* Faithful in being devoted and dedicated to honoring Him with our lives.
* Stable by building or living our lives on the rock of God’s Word and putting God first.
Why-“For His name’s sake.” …for HIS glory….HE IS MIGHTY TO SAVE
Reason cannot say, “My sins are gone,” but faith knows that they are forgiven and forgotten.
A. W. Tozer
Illustration: Think of a newborn baby—fully loved but needing growth.
B. Young Men: Relying on the Strength of the Word
B. Young Men: Relying on the Strength of the Word
“You are strong, and the word of God abides in you” (v. 14).
11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.
Illustration: A soldier needs training and armor to fight battles (Ephesians 6:10-18).
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
Strong, sound faith is not based on feelings but on knowledge and understanding of the promises of God’s truth, which is spiritual wisdom.
John F. MacArthur
Strong affections for God, rooted in and shaped by the truth of Scripture—this is the bone and marrow of biblical worship.
John Piper
It makes no difference how many times you have been through the Bible. What matters is how many times the Bible has been through you.
DL Moody
C. Fathers: Remaining Faithful in Spiritual Maturity
C. Fathers: Remaining Faithful in Spiritual Maturity
“You have known Him who is from the beginning” (v. 13).
pater-variety of meanings…
Teacher with a pupil
Heavenly Father
Earthly Father
Piadion-Different word for children….under guidance and training of parents…
3 the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things—
4 that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,
5 to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.
Illustration: A lighthouse—standing firm, guiding others.
2 To Timothy, a beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
22 But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel.
Application:
Children – Remember the joy of salvation and never lose your first love (Rev. 2:4).
Fathers (Spiritually Mature) – Keep mentoring the younger generation. Who are you discipling?
Young Men (Growing Believers) – Stay strong in the Word and resist spiritual battles.
Application Questions:
Children – Have you truly embraced the joy of your salvation, or are you still doubting God’s forgiveness?
Young Men – Are you regularly strengthening yourself in God’s Word to stand firm against temptation?
Fathers – Are you investing in the next generation, passing on wisdom and faith?
Illustration: Think of faith like a tree. The roots (children) are new and growing. The trunk (young men) stands firm. The branches (fathers) provide shelter for others. Where are you in your faith journey?
5 A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,
II. We Need To Be Aware Of Our Spiritual Fight (vv. 15-16)
II. We Need To Be Aware Of Our Spiritual Fight (vv. 15-16)
John warns about loving the world and describes three temptations:
Lust of the Flesh – Craving physical pleasure.
Lust of the Eyes – Wanting what we see.
Pride of Life – Seeking status and self-glory.
Kosmos-World System
A. Context: Satan’s Strategy from Genesis to Jesus
A. Context: Satan’s Strategy from Genesis to Jesus
Genesis 3:6 – Eve saw the fruit was good for food (flesh), pleasing to the eye (eyes), and desirable for gaining wisdom (pride).
Matthew 4:1-11 – Satan tempted Jesus in these same ways (turn stones to bread = flesh, see all the kingdoms = eyes, jump from the temple = pride).
This pattern repeats throughout history!
B. Lust of the Flesh: Craving the Temporary
B. Lust of the Flesh: Craving the Temporary
Warning: The world tells us, “If it feels good, do it!”
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
Epithumia-desires, cravings, or longings.”
Sarx-our sinful, fleshly nature that we receive when we are born
Illustration: A diet starts strong—until someone brings Krispy Kreme!
21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.
23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”
C.Lust of the Eyes: Desiring What We Can’t Have
C.Lust of the Eyes: Desiring What We Can’t Have
Warning: What we see affects our heart (Matthew 6:22-23).
Warning: What we see affects our heart (Matthew 6:22-23).
22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.
23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
Ophthalmus-that passionate craving of the eyes for satisfaction
Illustration: Social media creates comparison traps—people chasing what they don’t have.
D. Pride of Life: Chasing Success/Appearance Over Service
D. Pride of Life: Chasing Success/Appearance Over Service
Warning: Pride leads to downfall (Proverbs 16:18).
Pride was born in the heart of Satan.
He was so prideful that he thought he could dethrone God and take over Heaven (Isaiah 14:12–18)
18 Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.
43 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.
44 And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.
45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
alazonia-empty assurance, which trusts in its own power and resources. It was also used to describe a braggart who was trying to impress people with his importance.
Bios-Life/worldly livelihood/possessions
The Greek word βίος (bios) generally refers to physical life, livelihood, or material possessions. Unlike ζωή (zōē), which is often used to describe eternal life or spiritual vitality, bios focuses more on earthly existence, worldly goods, and the way one lives in a material sense.
Illustration: A businessman once said, “I worked so hard climbing the ladder—only to realize it was leaning against the wrong building.”
Application:
Guard Your Desires – Don’t let worldly cravings replace your desire for God.
Control Your Eyes – Social media, materialism, comparison—what fills your mind?
Humble Your Heart – Don’t chase recognition; serve like Christ (Phil. 2:5-8)
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
Application Questions:
Lust of the Flesh – Are you making decisions based on temporary pleasure or eternal value?
Lust of the Eyes – What are you allowing into your mind and heart that is pulling you away from God?
Pride of Life – Are you more concerned with impressing people or pleasing God?
Illustration: A little boy was caught eating chocolate chip cookies before dinner. His mom said, “I told you not to eat them!” He replied, “The devil made me do it!” She said, “You should have told him, ‘Get behind me, Satan!’” The boy responded, “I did! But he pushed me in front of the cookie jar!”
III. We Need To Keep Our Spiritual Focus (v. 17)
III. We Need To Keep Our Spiritual Focus (v. 17)
17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
John reminds us that the world is passing away, but those who do God’s will abide forever.
A. Context: The Rise and Fall of Worldly Kingdoms
A. Context: The Rise and Fall of Worldly Kingdoms
The Roman Empire—once unstoppable, now in ruins.
The Babylonian Empire—mighty, yet judged by God (Daniel 5).
Only God’s Kingdom remains (Daniel 2:44).
The Roman & Babylonian Empire and any other kingdom may seem indestructible, but they will crumble. Every worldly kingdom falls, but God’s Kingdom is eternal.
B. The Temporary Nature of the World
B. The Temporary Nature of the World
“The world is passing away…” (v. 17).
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;
20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Illustration: When we build our lives on the world system, it’s like building a sandcastle at the beach..Sandcastles look beautiful—until the tide comes in.
C. Remaining Committed to God’s Will
C. Remaining Committed to God’s Will
“Whoever does the will of God abides forever.”
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
D. Reaching the Lost While There’s Still Time
D. Reaching the Lost While There’s Still Time
The world is fading—but people’s souls last forever (Mark 8:36).
36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”
Illustration: Imagine rescuing people from a sinking ship. Time is short!
Application:
Invest in Eternal Things – Faith, family, and fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).
Live with Perspective – Temporary pleasures fade, but God’s will remains.
Make an Impact – Leave a spiritual legacy by investing in others.
Application Questions:
Recognizing the Temporary – Are you chasing things that will one day disappear or storing up treasures in heaven?
Remaining Committed – How are you actively pursuing God’s will in your daily life?
Reaching the Lost – Who in your life needs to hear the Gospel, and what are you doing about it?
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,
16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Illustration: Jim Elliot, a missionary to Ecuador, once said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” He died bringing the gospel to a tribe, but his impact led many to Christ. What are you living for?
Conclusion: Holding On to What Lasts
Conclusion: Holding On to What Lasts
Imagine holding a rope connected to eternity. The closer you pull, the clearer heaven becomes. But if you let go and cling to temporary things, you lose sight of what truly matters.
Invitation:
What are you holding on to?
Are you building your life on things that will last?
Closing Challenge: The world passes away, but God’s will remains forever. Let’s live for what lasts!
