In this passage of scripture, John was writing unto all believers to urge them to obey Jesus and love all Believers.
In verses 12-14:
1. As Christians have their curious states, so they have unconventional obligations
2. There is obedience and statutes basic to all, and shared love and scorn of the world
3. The most youthful earnest pupil is exonerated, and the fellowship of holy people is accompanied by the absolution of sins
4. The older men, described here, are those who were mature in the faith, they had been believers for quite some time
5. The young men mentioned here, had fought against sin, and won
6. They children had just learned about Christ and were beginning lives as believers
7. Every step of life establishes the next one
8. As new Christians grow in their faith, they learn how to battle temptation
9. And as they get older, their relationship with Christ should be growing
10. Older Christians, should be teaching younger Christians with wisdom
11. Have we reached maturity in our Christian walk?
12. Are we still 'babes' in Christ; still feeding on the 'milk' of the Word?
13. Or have we matured enough to get into the 'meat' of the Word?
• Acts 4:12, Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
• 1 Corinthians 6:11, And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
• 1 John 2:1, My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
• 1 John 1:1, That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
In verses 15-17:
1. The things of the world might be wanted and had for the utilizations and purposes which God expected, but they are to be utilized by and for His glory and grace
2. Christians must not try to esteem them for those reasons to which sin mishandles them
3. The world can pull the Believers heart from God
4. The more the adoration for the world wins, the more the affection for God declines
5. Worldliness is not just about outside conduct, affiliations, places, and activities
6. It is also internal because it starts in the heart
7. Look at three attitudes:
a. Lust of the flesh - gratifying physical wants
b. Lust of the eyes - coveting things
c. Pride of life - status or position in life
8. The serpent tempted Eve (Genesis 3:1-6), and the Devil tempted Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11) in these areas
9. A person can keep away from worldly pleasures yet still hold onto worldly desires
10. A Christian can love and associate with sinners, and keep up with the values of God's Kingdom
11. It's difficult to accept that what we want will one day die when our connection to our possessions can be hardy
12. It might be considerably difficult to accept that the individual who does the desire of God will live for eternity
13. Jesus' life, His death and resurrection and His promises, is what John's convictions were dependent on
14. Realizing that this world and our wants for its delights will end, gives us mental fortitude to keep doing God's will
15. What are our most important values?
16. Do we reflect the world's or God's values in our daily lives?
• Matthew 6:24, No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
• Romans 12:2, And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
• Proverbs 27:20, Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
• Romans 13:14, But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
