Warning; Don’t Be of the World

I. Text: (CSB) 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 everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s possessions—is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does the will of God remains forever.

II. Subject: Warning; Don’t Be of the World

III. Introduction: When John writes do not love the world we should not read as a complete rejection of the world, for “God … loved the world” (The Message) 16 “This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. 17 God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son only to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again.

IV. Body: 2:15 Taking “all that is in the world,” John made three basic categories. These three categories are instinctive, for they speak of attitudes of the heart. Believers may look perfectly clean and cool on the outside but harbor any or all of the following attitudes inside. John feared that this might happen, so he was warning the believers to restrain such desires.

Warning; Don’t Be of the World

1. The lust of the flesh. Jesus spoke of how adultery begins not with the act, but with the desire—with looking at another person with lust in our heart (). These words picture any kind of desire but especially the craze for sex. No doubt the people of ancient Ephesus understood this—the pagan religions of their city glorified sex. The world today has many similarities. Sex in all of its immoral and even unnatural forms becomes portrayed through movies, on television, in print, or on the computer. These appeal to the sinful nature. While this category seems to refer mostly to sexual lust, any sort of selfish or greedy cravings simply to satisfy one’s physical desires in rebellion against God could also be considered “lust of the flesh.” This would include anything purely physical, treating people unfairly to gain an advantage, and being self-centered.

Warning; Don’t Be of the World

2. The lust of the eyes. Sins of craving and accumulating possessions (bowing to the god of materialism) could be placed in this category. While sex may also be included here, people’s “eyes” can lust after many things—Eve wanted the fruit that was “pleasing to the eye” ( niv), Achan saw the beautiful robe from Babylon and the silver and gold (), and David saw a beautiful woman bathing and wanted her (). People would have to be blind not to see anything, but believers must not become obsessed with what they see.

Warning; Don’t Be of the World

3. The pride of life. Some versions translate this as “pride in possessions.” It refers to both the inward attitude and the outward boasting because of an obsession with one’s status or possessions. The word “pride” may carry a note of exaggeration here; this person brags in order to impress people, but the bragging may stretch the truth.[1]All three categories show selfishness and greed. People who focus on possessions, want whatever they see, and boast about what they have, shows that they are of the world and not of God. Yet these sins, so subtle as to begin almost unnoticed within the heart, become the temptations that lead to the sin’s out workings in people’s lives. And believers are not immune. John warned his readers to “stop loving this evil world” (2:15). We must not have divided or halfhearted loyalty to God.[2] 2:17. After all, the world and its desires (epithymia) are temporary and pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. John is talking about the “abiding life” of fellowship with God. I’m so glad that a person whose character and personality are shaped by obedience to God will not be affected by the passing away of the world and its vain desires.[3]

Warning; Don’t Be of the World

V. Conclusion:

· We must walk wise not unwise

· We must not waste time but be about our Father’s Business

· We must not walk foolish but understand the will of the Lord.

· Our lifestyle should always match the Word of God teaching in the Scriptures

· For if you walk right

· If you talk right

· If you live right

· Heaven belongs to you

Because never have I seen the righteous forsaken or a seed begging for bread

[1] Barton, B. B., & Osborne, G. R. (1998). 1, 2 & 3 John (pp. 44–45). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House.

[2] Barton, B. B., & Osborne, G. R. (1998). 1, 2 & 3 John (p. 46). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House.

[3] Walvoord, J. F., & Zuck, R. B., Dallas Theological Seminary. (1985). The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 891). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.