Loyalty Of The New Life

Text: 1 John 2:15-17

Introduction

Illustration: If you have ever had a credit card, stayed in a hotel or flown on a particular airline shopped in a certain store, you have probably heard this proposal before: “If you will become a loyalty member you can save 15% on all future purchases, earn air miles, a free nights stay, etc.”

1) The Believer’s Loyalty

A. Love not the world

world system n. — the people constituting the world whose values, beliefs, and morals are in distinction and rebellion to God’s.

Once again, John is setting the bar to a divine level.

He draws the line that divides the believer from the non-believer.

John is speaking of the RULING principles of life.

These two principals are mutually exclusive (light & darkness)

One might say, “I think I can pull off a compromise”

Quote: Those who live for this world betray a serious lack of understanding that this world is the enemy of God. [Phillips, J. (2009). Exploring the Epistles of John: An Expository Commentary (1 Jn 2:15b). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp.]

Example: King Solomon’s life (book of Ecclesiastes)

Example: King David (death of this infant son)

Example: Cain’s eyes wanted acceptance by God on his terms

Galatians 6:14 (KJV 1900) — 14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

Notice the negative claim of the Apostle John, “…the love of the Father in NOT IN HIM!”

There is without a doubt that John could still hear his Master’s words, TURN TO - (John 17:13-16) “And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. [14] I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. [15] I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. [16] They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”

2) Things Of The World

(v16) John educates us on the limited offer from the world:

Lust of the flesh

“Flesh” = human nature corrupted by sin.

Curtis Vaughn put it this way, “The phrase includes all those desires and appetites centered in man’s physical nature and exercised without regard to the will of God. [Vaughan, C. (2011). 1, 2, 3 John (p. 55). Cape Coral, FL: Founders Press.]

Example: Jesus was tempted with legitimate desire.

Not exclusive to sexual thoughts, but any desire you have without care of what God approves.

Quote: It can mean simply satisfying a legitimate desire in an illegitimate way. The lust of the flesh is one of the world’s devices for weaning us away from complete trust in the goodness and faithfulness of God. [Phillips, J. (2009). Exploring the Epistles of John: An Expository Commentary (1 Jn 2:16a). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp.]

Lust of the eyes

Again, not exclusive to the sexual realm.

Things like: filling your vision with anything that promotes anything less than holiness.

Example: Was this not how man fell in the garden?

This has infiltrated church culture also.

Pride of life

You could call this the ultimate original sin!

An arrogant spirit of self-sufficiency.

Someone with a vain sense of security.

They have a higher value of worldly things.

James 4:14–16 (KJV 1900) — 14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. 16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.

Bible parable: The rich man who built more barns for all his THINGS.

His problem was that he fell into the trap of “things”

Notice: To begin “loving the world” is a domino affect to loving the temporal things the world has to offer.

He went from having things to things having him.

3) The Future Of Loyalty

A. Those loyal to the world

There is a two-fold passing away:

“The world” = the world’s systems

“The lust” = the kind the world stimulates

“Passeth away” = to vanish ⇔ leave v. — to cease to exist; conceived of as departing from a location.

LISTEN, John is saying that the world’s systems and allurements has within it the SEEDS OF DEATH.

John 14:27 (KJV 1900) — 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

People wander why they can’t find PERMANENT satisfaction from this world.

It can only provide a DOOMING and DYING future.

To be loyal to this world is sin and foolish!!!

B. Those loyal to God’s will

John is speaking of a people group who does God’s will; GENUINE BELIEVERS IN JESUS CHRIST.

The only way for you to abide in God’s will is to first abide in Jesus Christ THE VINE!

Remember, it is He who gives you a will that agrees with His will.

Conclusion

Let me leave you with this sobering promised future event: JUDGEMENT IS COMING!

The world has no power in the hour of death! Only those who’s soul trusts in Christ alone (those who abide in God’s will) has power to overcome death, hell and the grave!

Is your life marked by a love for God or a love for the world? Where your love lies so does your future. What will you do with Jesus TODAY?