1 John 2:15-17
Within these three verses, Apostle John clearly draws a contrast for our day to day life.
Life of a Christian believer entirely depends upon how he/she relates to God & the world.
I. CHOOSE OUR LOVE
15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.
God created all that exist today, our planet earth with the solar system and the galaxies.
John is referring to another system in our world – an organized system under Satan who operates through unbelieving people
I have seen the terrible decay of world system as a result of depraved mind & perverted thinking.
How slowly and steadily wrong became right and right became wrong.
It is so painful to notice that such evil is just a normal behavior in today’s world.
It is so difficult & confusing for a believer to live in such an atmosphere of perversion.
John is saying simply choose your love.
A believer in the Lord can easily identify the places & people we need to stay away.
The Lord Jesus says in Matt 6:24 no one can serve two entities, God & world.
In this verse the Lord did not say you ‘should not’ but “you cannot” serve.
If the believer is enticed by the evil world system, 4 things can happen.
1. We compromise with Christian values
2. Our relationship with Lord Jesus Christ is broken – no more a true disciple.
3. We lose the love for the Lord Jesus or God.
4. Our priorities are mixed up.
That is why we need to choose our love. There is no middle ground here.
II. MAINTAIN OUR LOVE
16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.
Any love between people must be maintained sincerely and faithfully or it is lost.
It is especially true in our love for God the Father whom we don’t see because it’s spiritual.
Satan always tries to entice the believer from the love of the Father with all temptations.
Lust of the flesh often associated with sexual matters – strong desire or impulse.
“Flesh” refers to our fallen nature, which is not removed at salvation.
This fallen nature includes all sexual sins - all activities of self-seeking, godless nature.
We are born with it – it remains with us until we die.
God designed many natural desires & them in a boundary so that human can enjoy.
Lust of the eyes – desiring to possess things even a person.
This is a sinful desire of greed and covetousness – wanted to have what others have.
Pride of life is to control others or to feel proud of what we have.
The lust of the flesh and lust of the eyes refer to the desire to have what we do not have.
The boastful pride of life refers to sinful pride over what you do have.
This relates to a desire to glory in ourselves and in our accomplishments
Such desires, temptations, and pride do not come from the Father but from Satan.
These desires should not be our way of life because they disrupt our love for the Father.
It’s just empty talk to say that we love God if we continue to love what is not from God.
So there is need in every believer’s life to maintain the love for God.
III. KINGDOM LOVE
17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
All such desires are momentary – they are here today – tomorrow they are gone.
God never created this world to be a permanent place for believers in the Lord.
In Matt 6:19-21 our Lord highlights this issue.
Not only is the world passing away, but also all the lusts with it.
If we are hooked up to the depraved world system, we will lose our place in heaven.
A believer must weigh everything in the light of his/her eternity.
Scripture says we are living in this world but we are not of this world.
We hold and possess things of this world with a light touch but not grasping tightly.
If we love this world our love for the Father is not possible (verse 15).
If we love the world our obedience to do His will is not possible (verse 17).
So loving the Father in verse 15 and doing the will of God in verse 17 are interconnected.
A clear promise is given to every believer that we will live forever even after we die.
We are kingdom people – possess kingdom love - have kingdom priorities – doing kingdom work – are kingdom bound.
Matt 6:33 “But seek first His kingdom & His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Within these three verses, Apostle John clearly draws a contrast for our day to day life.
Life of a Christian believer entirely depends upon how he/she relates to God & the world.
I. CHOOSE OUR LOVE
15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.
God created all that exist today, our planet earth with the solar system and the galaxies.
John is referring to another system in our world – an organized system under Satan who operates through unbelieving people
I have seen the terrible decay of world system as a result of depraved mind & perverted thinking.
How slowly and steadily wrong became right and right became wrong.
It is so painful to notice that such evil is just a normal behavior in today’s world.
It is so difficult & confusing for a believer to live in such an atmosphere of perversion.
John is saying simply choose your love.
A believer in the Lord can easily identify the places & people we need to stay away.
The Lord Jesus says in Matt 6:24 no one can serve two entities, God & world.
In this verse the Lord did not say you ‘should not’ but “you cannot” serve.
If the believer is enticed by the evil world system, 4 things can happen.
1. We compromise with Christian values
2. Our relationship with Lord Jesus Christ is broken – no more a true disciple.
3. We lose the love for the Lord Jesus or God.
4. Our priorities are mixed up.
That is why we need to choose our love. There is no middle ground here.
II. MAINTAIN OUR LOVE
16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.
Any love between people must be maintained sincerely and faithfully or it is lost.
It is especially true in our love for God the Father whom we don’t see because it’s spiritual.
Satan always tries to entice the believer from the love of the Father with all temptations.
Lust of the flesh often associated with sexual matters – strong desire or impulse.
“Flesh” refers to our fallen nature, which is not removed at salvation.
This fallen nature includes all sexual sins - all activities of self-seeking, godless nature.
We are born with it – it remains with us until we die.
God designed many natural desires & them in a boundary so that human can enjoy.
Lust of the eyes – desiring to possess things even a person.
This is a sinful desire of greed and covetousness – wanted to have what others have.
Pride of life is to control others or to feel proud of what we have.
The lust of the flesh and lust of the eyes refer to the desire to have what we do not have.
The boastful pride of life refers to sinful pride over what you do have.
This relates to a desire to glory in ourselves and in our accomplishments
Such desires, temptations, and pride do not come from the Father but from Satan.
These desires should not be our way of life because they disrupt our love for the Father.
It’s just empty talk to say that we love God if we continue to love what is not from God.
So there is need in every believer’s life to maintain the love for God.
III. KINGDOM LOVE
17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
All such desires are momentary – they are here today – tomorrow they are gone.
God never created this world to be a permanent place for believers in the Lord.
In Matt 6:19-21 our Lord highlights this issue.
Not only is the world passing away, but also all the lusts with it.
If we are hooked up to the depraved world system, we will lose our place in heaven.
A believer must weigh everything in the light of his/her eternity.
Scripture says we are living in this world but we are not of this world.
We hold and possess things of this world with a light touch but not grasping tightly.
If we love this world our love for the Father is not possible (verse 15).
If we love the world our obedience to do His will is not possible (verse 17).
So loving the Father in verse 15 and doing the will of God in verse 17 are interconnected.
A clear promise is given to every believer that we will live forever even after we die.
We are kingdom people – possess kingdom love - have kingdom priorities – doing kingdom work – are kingdom bound.
Matt 6:33 “But seek first His kingdom & His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
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