“DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD” (Outline)
March 20, 2011 - Lent 2 - 1 JOHN 2:12-17
INTRO: Our Lenten journey includes a closer look at the suffering of our Savior Jesus. Last week the emphasis included the importance of the cross of Christ. Today’s emphasis is on the word of God that reveals everything eternal. As we grow in our faith we see how the world has less and less of anything important to offer for the believer. This world offers only that which is temporary. All too often this world offers only that which is evil. "What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" (MATTHEW 16:26). Of course, the answer is obvious. There is nothing in the entire universe more important than our eternal soul. Our text reminds us: “DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD”. I. This is God’s message. II. This is man’s downfall.
I. “DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD” - THIS IS GOD’S MESSAGE
A. John makes it known to believers that God’s word is meant for believers of all ages and for all ages.
1. Verse 12. The dear children, youngsters, are reminded that their sins are forgiven.
2. Forgiveness is God’s gift to the children (and every believer) by the name of Jesus.
B. Verses 13b, 14a. The exact words are addressed to the fathers in two different verses.
1. The Christian father is important for every Christian home. God the Father created all things.
2. Christian fathers have the heavenly Father as their example. God the Father is merciful.
C. Verse 13b. Young men are addressed. They have overcome the evil one, Satan.
1. Verse 14b. The young men overcome Satan by the power of God’s word living in them.
2. Verse 12c. The children have seen the Father because of their fathers. God’s word is power.
D. The message of God is still our strength today. Notice how these verses speak of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God the Father has been from the beginning. God the Father created all things. Jesus provides believers free forgiveness by his own obedient death on the cross. The Holy Spirit plants these truths in our hearts. This is faith. God’s message is the word of God that speaks to all of creation. "Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads" (DEUTERONOMY 11:18). God’s message is to be in our hearts and seen in our lives.
E. God’s living and enduring word is our strength, rock, and fortress. The world around us is constantly changing. At times our world violently changes. Even the wisdom of this world often changes. Early scientists once taught that the earth was the center of the universe. They changed this theory to say the sun was at the center of everything. Today’s theory is still not truth with the discovery of many universes. Sadly, man has made himself the center of the universe. Rejoice, believer the message of God and his truth does not change. Be thankful believer that your eyes of faith have been given sight by the grace and mercy of our loving God. "From infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus" (2 TIM. 3:15). God’s saving wisdom never changes.
F. There is nothing else more important to each and every one of us than the simple and clear teaching of the law and gospel. God’s law shows us our sins. God’s gospel shows us our Savior. Now, to have a need for a Savior means that something wrong has been done. Today’s world is not so apt to admit to any kind of wrongdoing, especially one’s own evil. God’s message is straightforward. We are sinners. Our sins are forgiven. "For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1 CORINTHIANS 3:11). Jesus Christ is still the very foundation of our faith. Jesus Christ is the very foundation of the Christian church. This is God’s message. Some try to weaken God’s truth by coming with their own message. My message or words matter little. God’s message is all that matters.
“DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD”.
This is God’s powerful message in his living and active word.
II. “DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD” - THIS IS MAN’S DOWNFALL.
A. Believers know God the Father, Creator. Believers know Jesus, Savior who provides forgiveness
1. Every true believer knows these truths by faith, the gift of the Holy Spirit. Such is God’s love.
2. Verse 15a. Only by faith can anyone hear these words and strive to live them.
B. Verse 15b. John describes the extreme danger of loving the world. No one can love two masters.
1. Verse 16. Those worldly things that seem so very important simply are not from the Father..
2. The words John uses strike a warning in our hearing and lives: “cravings, lust, and boasting”.
C. Verse 17a. Mankind daily labors and struggles to amass the things of this world. We want more.
1. Everything earthly finally falls flat. Things of this world are not heavenly and will not endure.
2. Verse 17b. Man’s desires lead to his downfall. The believer will live forever in heaven.
D. It is the word of God that is our motivation for Christian living. We do not have any strength in our-selves to do anything good. From time to time we experience our own downfalls. We may have put our trust or confidence in the “experts”. Or maybe we thought that we knew better than God himself. Who of us haven’t felt that money can solve a lot of our problems? All these earthly cravings can easily cause a terrible crash in our lives. "This is what the LORD says: ‘Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD’" (JEREMIAH 17:5). Whenever our attention turns to anything else means our hearts are turning away from God.
E. Our society has produced countless self-help books, plans, and experts. Self-help programs only guarantee return customers. It is the message of God that helps us. It is the message of God that changes us. It is the message of God that empowers. The gospel message of God’s word is the power source for our Christian living in this wicked world. "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will" (ROMANS 12:2). We are changed by God’s free gift of forgiveness.
F. By God’s grace we know what is right in God’s sight. The world no longer struggles with what is right or wrong. Good and bad have become relative terms. People are moved to do what is good and right for themselves without any though about others. This is moral decay. This is the man’s downfall. But this is not so with the believer. God’s gospel is the very heart and soul of our hearts and souls. "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age"(TITUS 2:11, 12). Our Christian nature can and will say no to that which is evil and wicked. Rather than give in to every sinful desire God’s grace moves us to live lives of love in this present evil age.
CONC: John was writing to believers during a time of great persecution. They could have easily chosen the simpler path and denied Christ. After all, the sinful nature does love the world. Instead, John warns and encourages: “DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD”. This is God’s message. This is also the downfall of mankind. Jesus encouraged his disciples to work for food which endures to eternity. "Then they asked him, ‘What must we do to do the works God requires?’ Jesus answered, ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent’" (JOHN 6:28, 29). As we love the Lord we do not love the world. This is challenging in our lives. We all spend much more time in the world than in God’s house of worship. God gives us his powerful message to avoid every earthly downfall. We hear. We believe. We live in God’s great love. “DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD”. This is God’s will. Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
LENT 2 rdgs.:
GENESIS 12:1-8;
ROMANS 4:1-5, 13-17;
JOHN 4:5-26;
(PSALM 121)
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