"The Love that God Hates"

INTRODUCTION

1 John 2:12–17 ESV

12 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake. 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. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. 14 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 abides in you, and you have overcome the evil 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 desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Notice all of the reason’s that John gives for writing to the Church.

I am writing because your sins are forgiven.

I am writing because you know Him who is from the beginning. (written 2 times)

I am writing because you have overcome the evil one.

I am writing because you know the Father.

I am writing because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you (you have overcome the evil one) (John 16:33)

(1) Notice the dramatic declaration of the accomplishment of the community of believers.

(2) Next you have an exhortation to live free from the world.

(3) Finally you have a contrast of the world and the believer (v.17).

The three are in the indicative (something real or certain), the imperative (a command of something to be done).

The author is skillfully interwoven what realities have been established by God and what demands upon humans emerge as a result of those realities.

Note: The overarching theme is that there is a kind of love that God hates, and that love is the love for this world.

There are three things John wants us to realize

(1) We belong to God

(2) We know Him as Father

(3) We are part of His family.

For John it is inconceivable that after knowing these three things that we would give our heart and affections to the things of this life, this world.

BIG IDEA: Those who love and follow Christ must not fall in Love with this World.

There are two things we must know in order to embrace our status as a child of the King.

1. We must know what we are in Christ.

Six times John says that he “has written.” Notice that he addresses each one of these sections to 3 different stages of life or the human experience are used to identify the audience.

We see the Father, children, and young men.

Each group is identified twice for emphasis. Perhaps he has in mind that he wants to reach out to all believers - new, old, or somewhere in between. However, there are other place in 1 John where he refers to his audience as his children.

I think the better way to interpret this is that he has a deep affection for all of those in the Church and does not want to alienate anyone. he may have thought perhaps so as not to alienate anyone maybe I should also add in the oder more mature Christian and the young men who have conquered and need encouragement.

C.S. Lewis said it well (Mere Christianity, 56)

“Fallen man is not simply an imperfect creature who needs improvement: he is a rebel who must lay down his arms.”

James 4:4 ESV

4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

*You are Forgiven

Now this may sound like a no brainer to those who have been followers of Christ for any amount of time.

However, John chooses to start his identification of who we are in Christ with “I am writing to you because your sins are forgiven.”

Remember at the beginning of chapter 2 John says that he is writing to his audience so that they may not sin, but if they do, they can rest assured that they have an advocate before the Father.

John states that we are forgiven because of

Jesus name.

“Jesus name speaks to both the person and work of Christ, especially his perfect atoning death on the cross.

If we are free from the penalty of sin and death then why do so many Christians live bound up by the guilt of our sin?

Have you ever heard someone say that they do not feel forgiven?

(Remember Satan loves to use our past sin as a weapon to throw back in our face.)

Remember in 1 John 1:7 it say’s that he is faithful to cleanse us from all sin and unrighteousness.

I think the bigger issue is we fail to trust that God is faithful. We fail to trust that God is big enough to handle our sin.

How do we know that He is faithful.

Remember that John has come testifying to what he has heard, seen, and experienced. What motivated and pressed John to get up every morning and continue to trust in God and his forgiveness for sins. Especially towards the end of his life while in exile on the island of Patmos.

We hold onto the word of the testimony that we have received, and the one that is being written on our hearts.

*You Know the Father

The mark of maturity as a Christian is seen as a deepening of the knowledge we have in Christ. Twice John writes to them because they have known him who is from the beginning.

John again takes us back to the beginning of time, to the pre-incarnate Christ. John is appealing to the maturity of believers, because you know him who is from the beginning.

John continues to drive home that he is speaking to those who know or should know Jesus and his character.

We are not surprised when the world acts like the world, because that is it’s nature, however, it is shocking according to John when the children of the light masquerades as children of the darkness.

2 Peter 3:18 ESV

18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

How can we grow in the Knowledge and Understanding of God?

What am I currently doing to Know God?

There are basically three different levels of knowledge.

(1) Intellectual Knowledge (Head)

We must engage our minds, stop checking your mind at the door of the Church and at the door of this world.

For most people God starts out as an intellectual pursuit. We must engage our minds because it is there where we process information that helps us begin to understand who God is.

However, for you to really know God, it must become more than merely academic. This is why the Pharisees were able to quote Scripture and knew the law, but missed who Jesus was. Their knowledge was merely intellectual and never moved beyond this point.

(2) Experiential Knowledge (Heart)

The second level we engage is experiential. Part of growing in our understanding of God is not just learning facts and information; you must experience who he is.

When you experience who God is, it takes the facts that you have learned and it makes them come alive. They move from the place of your mind to the heart. The heart of stone now becomes a heart of flesh.

(3) Spiritual Knowledge (Hands)

The third level we engage God is spiritual, and this is where true communion with God happens.

While it involves our mind as part of the experience, we commune with God in relationship when our spirit connects with his spirit.

The broken sham-ah from the garden now is reconciled through Jesus Christ.

John 4:23–24 ESV

23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Note: Remember it is the combination of all three of these stages that we understand more of who God is. We cannot grow in knowledge of God if our mind is not engaged in the process.

*You are overcomers through faith.

John now turns to young warrior in the faith who are now experiencing victories over their foes as the experience the power of God.

Our ability to defeat the evil one on the battles field has a two fold battle plan.

(1) The work of Christ working in our lives.

Have you ever felt like God seems to be answering everyone else’s prayer but not yours?

And speaking of Facebook, doesn’t it seem like everyone else’s life is so much better than yours? The vacations they take, the cars they buy, their kids who get all A’s and help old ladies across the streets. C’mon, man, and the churches they pastor and lead all seem to be experience tremendous growth.

But it never seems to be you!

What in the world is God doing? Is it possible He has forgotten about you, your circumstances, and your difficulties?

No. There may be unique combination of punctuation, science, and a story from the New Testament that will shed some light on this issue.

What does Punctuation Say?

The problem is that while we are living in the … of life, we tend to give up, stop praying, and stop believing we can’t see anything happening. Do you know what the purpose is of the “ellipsis” in the sentence structure. What it means is that something is missing or incomplete. It can be used at the end of a sentence to indicate it is unfinished.

Maybe that is what is happening with your prayers, sometimes the answer is yes, sometimes the answer is no, but sometimes the final chapter is yet to be written. We forget the continuing work of Christ in our lives.

The Eclipse of Life:

An eclipse is telling us something to. The true light that’s supposed to be part of our daily journey seems to be covered up and unable to penetrate through the darkness that surrounds it.

It’s affecting our trip through life. We are tired of Facebook or Instagram seemingly telling us how easy life is for everyone else while we continue to struggle.

Note: Remember when John the Baptist was is in prison he sends word to Jesus asking him if He is the one they had been waiting for or should he expect someone else.

Jesus told John’s disciples to go and tell him what they had seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news, and blessed is the one who is not offended by me”

John had heard from the Galilee Facebook page of the day the Jesus is doing some amazing things for people, even supernatural things, but John hasn’t gotten a visit, a care package, a card - and they are supposed to be cousins. What is going on?

John begins to waver. Just a short time before, he had pointed out Jesus and called Him the one who would take away the sins of the world. But in the middle of his dark cell, he is wondering, questioning, and doubting. And Jesus responds with “blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” In other words, “Just because I have not made a move yet, John, don’t stop believing (“Just a boy, born and raised in south Detroit...” Sorry just an 80’s moment). God blesses those who keep believing, praying, and moving.

(2) The word of God abiding in our lives.

Abiding, literally, means to ‘stay’ or ‘remain.’ To abide in the Lord means that we continually receive, believe and trust that Jesus is everything we need. As disciples of Christ our faith will always be put to the test, we must be prepared and ready to give an answer.

vs. 14 “The word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil on.”

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO TRULY BE A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST?

John 8:31–32 ESV

31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Jesus gives us a test to tell whether or not our belief is true/real/authentic.

Remember in John 20:31 John tells us that he writes these things that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

John is writing for 3 purposes

(1) To awaken faith in non-believers

(2) To wake up people who think they are disciples but are pretenders.

(3) To help those who are real disciples confirm this reality and be stronger in their faith.

The word of God abiding in us helps to both sustain faith as well as create faith.

2. We must know what the world offers but cannot give.

What is worldliness? (It is) that system of values, in any given age, which has at its center our fallen human perspective, which displaces God and his truth from the world, and which makes sin look normal and righteousness seem strange. It thus gives great plausibility to what is morally wrong and, for that reason, makes what is wrong seem normal.

John emphasizes the word world by using 3 times in verses 15-17.

One way that the scripture uses the word world is in reference to God’s good and pleasing creation or even the world of people for whom Christ died for.

No, instead he is referring to a worldview perspective that is led by the “evil one” whom we have overcome and that is characterized by the desires of the flesh.

John 16:11 ESV

11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

To love the world and the things of this world is to be devoid of love for the Father and to give ourselves to the things that are temporary and transient, instead of the things that are lasting and eternal.

“Worldliness Being of the World”

Many people misunderstand what it means to be of the world. Often the world is identified with cultural issues that are of a particular concern to us.

John is not telling us to reject any and all aspects of culture, much of which reflect, the glory, goodness, and gifts of God. Things like marriage, the joy of children, gifts that God has give us to use for His glory and to enjoy in this life.

What he is telling us is that we are not to idolize thoughts, values, and behaviors that are contrary to God’s word and His will.

When we read of the world in the New Testament we are most often reading about the “Cosmos,” and the people who live on this earth apart from God.

Believers are no longer of the world and ruled by it’s principles. We are are called to be set apart from the world. Which means that we are not to continue to walk in darkness.

John 17:14–15 ESV

14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.

Remember what Paul tells us in Romans 12:1-2 “We are to present our bodies as a living sacrifice to God, therefore, we are not to be conformed to this world but are to be transformed by the renewing of our mind, our way of thinking, seeing, and viewing the world around us.

HOW CAN WE BE IN THE WORLD BUT NOT OF THE WORLD?

First: those who are not saved are still under the dominion of Satan and still operate withing it’s system; its traditions, its culture, its music, movies, and philosophies.

Laws put into affect that violate God’s good and perfect standards are all of this world, and tainted by the fingerprints of the enemy.

In this world things that are evil are called good, and things that are good are called evil, they are all under the umbrella of this evil world and it’s system.

1 John 5:19 ESV

19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

HOW ARE WE NOT OF THE WORLD?

Since the world is under the influence of the evil one, how can we who are of God, and in Christ, which is one and the same thing, be a part of that which is opposed to God.

Romans 6:4 ESV

4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

The fact that we are now able to walk in newness of life is only because the Spirit of Christ, which is the Holy Spirit, dwells in us. We are now being sanctified which gives us a new identity, the spirit constantly testifies and reminds us who we are in Christ.

1 Peter 2:9 ESV

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

*The World Cannot Give You What you Need

Saving faith and Love for God go together. You cannot separate the two. We have all been well taught that we are saved by Faith! “Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved!”

However, we have not been properly taught what saving faith is.

For example, how often do we discuss the relationship between trusting Christ and loving Christ. Can you trust him savingly and not love him?

Evidently according to John it is impossible because the issue in the text is whether you love God or love the world, and the result is whether you die with the world or have eternal life with God.

The greatest longing of the human heart is to be loved and to love. The objects of our affections need to be rightly ordered if we are truly to find ultimate and lasting satisfaction. Therefore, to love the world is not to love the Father God which is what your heart desperately needs.

Rob Bell “Love Wins”

Ten years ago Rob Bell’s book entitled “Love Wins” created all kinds of controversy in the evangelical Church in America. Bell made the claim that, “At the center of the Christian tradition since the first church has been the insistence that history is not tragic, hell is not forever, and love, in the end, wins.” Bell argued that if God is loving, He would never condemn anyone to hell forever.

Other teachers from some of the largest Churches in America today tell us that the love of God means we will have a comfortable, prosperous life, if we have enough faith and learn to love ourselves.

Our problem is not that we need more time to reform our ways or we need to learn to love ourselves.

Our problem is that we need to be remade, and learn to love God. We have traded our deep love for God, for the fleeting love of this world time and time again.

This is why not only John but also Paul and James hold out the promises of life only to those who love God:

Romans 8:28 ESV

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

1 Corinthians 2:9 ESV

9 But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—

1 Corinthians 16:22 ESV

22 If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come!

James 2:5 ESV

5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?

So, what John is trying to do in verse 17 is that loving the Father and freeing ourselves from the love of this world is not optional.

It is not icing on the cake of saving faith. It is a matter of eternal life and eternal death.

Nothing in all the world can substitute or find itself more important than Loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Two Possibilities if you do not Feel Much Love for God

(1) You are not Born again

It is possible that you are a cultural christian or a hereditary Christian. You may have developed patterns of religious talk and activity in your behavior because it is socially advantageous or because your parents or peer talked and acted this way. But you may never have truly experienced a deep change in your nature by the power of the Holy Spirit which gave birth to a stream of new love for God.

Remember that you cannot fake it till you make it.

So it could be that this has never happened to you and that your religion is all outward form and not inner experience of love for God.

Paul said in 2 Timothy 3:1–5, “In the last days there will come times of stress. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money … lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding the form of religion but denying the power of it.” In other words we may expect that there will be numerous religious church-goers who know nothing of the new birth and genuine heartfelt love for God.If you are among that number you should direct your heart to Christ and seek him earnestly in his Word. Peter said that we are born again through the living and abiding Word of God.

So if you want to be born again, you should begin to pour over the Word of God.

You should cry to Christ that he open your eyes to know the Father (Matthew 11:27).

You should plead with God to take out your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh that you might love God with all your heart and all your soul (Deuteronomy 30:6).

(2) Your Love has Grown Cold and Weak

The other possibility is that you have truly been born again, however your love for God has simply grown cool and weak. You have tasted what it means to have a heart for God. You can recall a time in your life when you once felt what in means to know him better than anything this world has to offer.

YOU HAVE LEFT YOUR FIRST LOVE

You have experienced as the Psalmist writes in Psalm 84 “A day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.”

The prescription for your realignment is not much different than those seeking new birth in the first place.

The same Spirit that resurrects dead men to life is the same word that will ignite a fire of love deep down in your soul and spirit. The very same Christ who once brought you out of darkness and shame into His marvelous light, can take away the long dark night of your soul.

*The World cannot give you what it Promises.

This is possibly one of the most important verses in the Bible.

It identifies in vivid terms the weapons the world uses to seduce men and women into joining it’s side. Amazingly each of these weapons reside inside of each and every one of us.

WHAT DO WE DO WITH OUR DESIRES

The same three weapons that were the downfall of Adam and Eve in the garden are at work deceiving humanity every day.

Genesis 3:6 say’s that the woman saw that the tree was good for food (Lust of the flesh)

It was delightful to look at (lust of the eyes)

It was desirable for attaining wisdom (the pride of life).

These three weapons were conquered by Christ the second Adam in the wilderness temptation.

Satan tempted Jesus to turn the stones into bread (the lust of the flesh).

Then he showed him all of the kingdoms of the world and tempted him (the lust of the eyes).

Finally he took him to the top of the temple and challenged him to throw himself off, “for it is written he will give his angels charge to protect you, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone (the pride of life).

(1) The desires of the flesh appeal to our appetites.

Desires means cravings, passions, lust. The word for Flesh in Greek is Sarx: here it denotes the tendency for humans to fulfill natural desires in a way that is contrary to God’s will and plan.

Sexual appetite gives way to sexual immorality, Romans 1 say’s that they chose to worship the creature rather than the creator.

Physical appetite gives way to gluttony. Probably the sin that most Christians avoid speaking about is the sin of gluttony.

We assume since the body needs food that we can indulge in as much food as we like even if it is doing our body harm.

We give into the flesh because we are sinful to the core of our being. The lust of the flesh is powerful because apart from the power of Christ in our life we are drawn to the flesh in a powerful way. We are drawn to it like a fly to fly paper or a fish to a lure.

The Lure of Sin

James 1:14 “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desires”

Is temptation a sin, no, temptation is the appeal to do something contrary to God’s commands. We are drawn away from the truth, virtue, and God’s standard of righteousness.

James uses the verbs “drawn away” and “enticed” derived from the activities of hunting and fishing.

I remember the first hunting trip I took Troy on as soon as the feeder went off and the corn began to spray he asked what was the purpose of the feeder. I shared with him our goal is to lure or entice the deer within shooting range with the corn. Troy looked puzzled for a moment, and then he turned to me and said, oh I get it you trick the deer.

I said you are exactly right we are tricking the deer. Satan’s desire is to appeal to your appetites and get you to think that the sin of the flesh is only a natural desire so why not gratify that desire.

Sigmund Freud had a protege named “Reich,” he indicated around the sexual revolution that it was in human for human beings to suppress their natural sexual desires and temptations. It was more human to give into these natural desires as the way they were created.

Another illustration of the way this happens is the force of enticement that a magnet creates. If one places a small piece of iron close to a magnet, invisible forces reach out from the magnet to attract the iron. By moving the piece of iron a little closer, the attraction intensifies. Nudge the iron still closer, and the magnet will draw it all the way to itself. The closer one moves to a desired thing or the more one’s interest grows, the greater the pull becomes.

(2) The Desires of the Eyes appeals to our Affections.

Our eyes like our natural desires, in and of themselves are not evil. However, the eyes are also the window to the mind (soul) by which sinful desires enter in. This is what Jesus said about the eyes...

Matthew 5:27–29 ESV

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.

Men being creatures of sight must especially be on guard here. Remember, it was David a man after God’s own heart that was led astray by his eyes when he saw Bathsheba bathing on her roof top which led to committing adultery and murder.

How our eyes affect our appetites (how what you watch, allow your eyes to dwell one. When does something become a sin, when we dwell on that thing.

(3) Pride in my possessions appeals to our ambitions

This is vain glory.

We boast in our accomplishments and our possessions to gain the attention and recognition of others. I know right now you are saying I have never done this, or have you. When is the last time to posted something on facebook or fished for a compliment in order to bring the praise and glory for yourself, and your own accomplishments.

When we do this we fail to recognize that the Lord Jesus, the king of glory, turned the value system of the world on its head.

A.W. Tozer

There is within the human heart a fibrous root of fallen life whose nature is to possess, always to possess. It covets “things” with a deep and fierce passion. He or she makes an idol of their stuff, their career, their achievements, and their social standing. They suffer from influenza.

What Are People Looking For? Google has published its most searched-for terms of 2021: For the UK, the five most frequently asked “When” questions were:

Jesus gave a good example of pride in Several ways

Concerning pride in birth and rank.

He was a carpenters son/a poor families child.

Concerning pride in possessions

The son of man has no place to lay His head.

Concerning Pride in Pedigree

It was said of Him, can anything good come out of Nazareth?

Concerning Pride in People

He was a friend of Tax-Collectors and sinners

Concerning Pride in Intellect

As the Father has taught me “I say these things to you.”

Concerning Pride in Self Will

He said if you are willing, take this cup away from me - not my will but yours be done.

Note: Jesus examples are instructive.

James 4:6 ESV

6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

*The World cannot give you what will last

1 John 2:17

“The world is passing away but God abides forever.”

Jesus work was lasting and effectual because it was the will of God. For us to abide like Christ our hearts must not be attached to the things of this world but to the will of the Father.

Romans 12:2 ESV

2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Note: Notice that Paul says when we stand transformed instead of being conformed we will be able to discern what the will of God.

If you struggle with discerning what the will of God is in for your life, perhaps the reason is that you look more like the world instead of a child of God.

J.C. Ryle explains,

“To abide in Christ means to keep up a habit of constant close communion with Him–to be always leaning on Him, resting on Him, pouring out our hearts to Him, and using Him as our Fountain of life and strength, as our chief Companion and best Friend.

To abide in Christ daily requires dependence upon the Holy Spirit in which we do three things:

1) Walk by faith spending focused time Engaging in intentional actions

2) We daily preach the gospel to ourselves. Living in community with others, and fight sin (intentional actions).

3) We do this as we live dependent upon the Holy Spirit to bring us closer to Christ.

To be “in Christ” means to have a new legal standing and a new relational orientation. We do not solely want to be made right with God—we want to be with God. We are new creations in Christ, freed from sin and worldly pursuits to abide in him. And he gives us what we need to pursue this by giving us himself.

CONCLUSION

One of the saddest stories in the Bible is about a man named Demas. Most people have probably never heard of Demas. He is not very well known but his life serves as a warning and tragic lesson for those of us who love the Lord who sent His son.

We first hear of him in Colossians 4:14 where he is working hard for the gospel along side Luke. He is listed along with ten others for their faithful work in the service of Christ.

We do not hear of him again until

2 Timothy 4:10 ESV

10 For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.

Towards the end of Paul’s last letter, as Paul anticipates his own execution and martyrdom he takes time to stop and mention Demas who has deserted him, because he loved the world, he loves the things of this life, you can almost feel the pain in Paul’s heart as it breaks over Demas.

We should all learn from this unfortunate story. Don’t let your love for the things of this life eclipse your love for the father. Many times it’s a slow fade. Perhaps it starts by prioritizing other things over spending time with the Father and His Church.

Daniel Akin (President of Southeaster Seminary)

“Love the Father with all your heart, and see every room you enter become a sanctuary of love from the Father, all you work a sacrifice of love to the Father, and every praise that rolls off of your lips a confession of love for the Father.”

Love the Father supremely who has loved you so deeply. There will be no regrets. God’s word says so.

QUESTION

Is my daily love for God stronger than my love for the world?