"These Things I've Written..." (1 John 2:15-17)

Introduction

We are back in 1 John. The apostle John is writing to a group of Jewish Christians in conflict with the world and their surroundings.

Because of their Christian beliefs, they have been labeled by the people around them.

They are being hated on, despised, and rejected.

John is wanting to encourage them to keep moving forward and not to give to the temptation to conform to their society.

As we study today, please realize that you and I are facing the same dilemma in our culture. Maybe no one has officially labeled you, but there is no doubt that the way you live your life as a Christian will be met with different levels of rejection.

We’ve learned to be a bit more kind with our rejections in modern day society.

It doesn’t matter if we live in a community where people kill Christians for their beliefs or Christians are simply ignored or tolerated for the sake of not wanting to be offensive.

God sees no difference. Rejection is rejection God no matter how it looks.

The scriptures are clear that we are making a choice daily with our decisions.

1 John 2:15–17 NASB95

15 Do not love the world nor 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 and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

1. There is only room for one love in your life. (v. 15)

What does John mean when he says, “do not love the world..”?

We must first identify the world.

The world at that time and the world today is a “society run by evil.”

We are commanded as believers not to love the world or the things of the world.

We are either choosing to love God in our decisions or the world. Those are the only choices we have.

The values of human societies should not define believers. Instead, we as believers are to value Christ and shape people with His values in the world.

Our passion should not be for what culture offers but for what God desires.

John is not writing that Christians should hate people that don’t value Christ.

We are to love everyone we come into contact with. Christians just don’t belong in the same place at the present moment.

John was urging the people to share Jesus with people but not to share in their sinful behavior.

The question we all need to ask ourselves is this: “Am I being shape by love (God) or am I being shaped by evil (Satan)?”

Asking people to make this choice is often offensive to them. Satan has made it this way.

When I married Tricia, I declared to God, my wife, my friends and my family that I would be devoted to her and her only. Can you imagine if I said, “Tricia, I am comfortable with being your husband 364 days a year, but I just need one day to not be married to you. On that one day, I don’t want to be accountable to you. I get to date anyone I want for just that day. Other than that day, I will be completely devoted to you.” Can you imagine the reaction??

Why are we offended by people being unfaithful to others in our society and yet expect God to allow us to have other loves in our life and not just Him only?

It’s simply because we are selfish. We try to work a deal with God that allows one foot to be in His world and one foot to be in Satan’s world. The scriptures make it clear that this is unacceptable behavior to God.

and Rev. 3:15-16

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 4

4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 3

15 ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot.

16 ‘So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.

You’ve got to choose between your two loves. There is only room for 1 love. God’s love or the love of the world.

2. Sort through your own feelings. (v. 16)

What are the temptations that everyone experiences on earth? John Identifies 3 in verse 26.

In , The sin of Eve helps explain the three tempations.

Lust of the flesh. “Eve, aren’t you hungry?”

The word lust means a “strong craving or desire”.

The temptation provides a craving and desire for certain things in every person.

Lust of the eyes. “Eve, doesn’t this fruit look delicious?”

The outward things of the world, riches, beauty, and success will inflame us. We can see them and it causes a lust after.

Pride of life. “Eve, look at what this fruit can give you.”

Having an assurance in your own resources. This is the most difficult to get rid of from the three.

Just like Eve, it creates a desire to know above what God has made.

Satan, made this mistake in his life and he was thrown out of heaven. His goal is to tempt people to make the same mistake that he made.

John is clear. None of these feelings that we get are from God. Sort out your feelings and recognize the things that come from God and the things that come from evil.

Romans 12:2 NASB95

2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Often times, the last people who know that they are in a bad relationship are the people themselves. Their family, friends, and sometimes even strangers can clearly see that the couple has problems and should change their ways or simply end the relationship. When a couple gets close enough, they will become people they never imagined because they are blinded to reality.

The world will do the same to you. You can’t allow what feels right to determine your decisions. God’s word explains what is right and what is wrong.

Look into your life and figure out what belongs to God and what belongs to the world. This will help you in your decision to know what direction your life needs to head.

3. Don’t be fooled at the end. (v. 17)

John adds an important detail in verse 17.

The world as was seen then and now is coming to an end. Everything that Satan is controlling with his oppression will not be operating. In fact, it is already passing away. There is a coming kingdom that is presently at work in modern day society.

This kingdom requires for people to repent of their sins, turn to Jesus, and join the army (church).

Those who choose the world will join the world in destruction (Hell) and those who turn to Jesus will live forever.

Hell is the reality for the world and Heaven is the reality for the kingdom of God.

This is good news for Christians who feel bullied by Satan but it’s bad news for people that are choosing to enjoy the lusts of sin.

Jr High bullies aren’t often High School bullies. HS bullies don’t get to be bullies in college. Our kids aren’t going to have to put up with these people forever.

You’re not going to have to put up with the efforts of Satan forever. He’s working on borrowed time and there will be a day when the temptation to sin will not be over you. We’ve got to keep our eyes forward and work towards our redemption.

How do we as Christians deal with this current fight?

Clement and early church father said, “And let us not merely seem to believe and pay attention now, while we are being exhorted by the elders, but also when we have gone home let us remember the commandments of the Lord, and let us not be dragged aside by worldly lusts, but let us try to come here more frequently, and to make progress in the commands of the Lord; that we may ‘all have the same mind’ and be gathered together unto life.” “Let us offend foolish and thoughtless men, who are exalted and boast in the pride of their words, rather than God. “

In other words, do the things we know to do. Spend time with the Lord in His word and in prayer. It’s not rocket science. It’s just work. You can only decide if it matters enough to you to do it.

Join the army. Too many Christians want to go out on the battle field alone aka not make church a priority in their life. When we come together and discuss the things of God, we will have better success in fighting against the temptations of the world.

You have no excuse. Who do you love?