1 John 2:15-17 & 28-29
There are two contrasting points within these two sections and in the middle, sandwiched in-between, is a message about the Antichrist and I want to cover that separately. These two sections today flow well together.
Do not love the world
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.
15A ~ Do not love the world or the things in the world.
If you are of the world you will put the things of the world first in your life. You will put those things before God and before Christ.
When it talks about love of the world or things of this world God is obviously talking about two different things that we face in life for the most part. The first is of the world, this can be things we battle in our minds. It is those sinful thoughts or being absorbed in the ways of the world. The second is the things in this world which are more physical, they are things we can touch.
15B ~ If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him
So again why is this the case? Because anything we put before God is our god. God should be our first love, and the one we primarily give our time and efforts to. If we are doing this we know the father is in us. If you are not giving God the majority of our time and efforts, the thing you are giving it to is your god.
Now, many would say but what about my wife or husband and my children? If your wife or husband and your children don't see you putting God first I can almost guarantee you they won't put God first either.
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.
Sexual sins, that being both physical and mental leads to a breaking down of our relationship with God. At minimal it will put distance between us and God.
And pride, our only pride should be in Christ not ourselves. Living a life of humility is the way of the believer.
Proverbs 8:13 ~ The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.
Many don't like that we should fear the God, but there is always a balance. Balancing the fear of God with our love for God together in harmony is what we should seek.
17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
The context of this remember is a letter to a church that has some issues in which John is trying to correct. The normal progression of the Christian is to mature in your understanding of Christ and living it out daily. This is what the world passing away and its desires means for the believer, or it should. You are moving away from these things of the world and moving closer to God and His will. His will is for us to be like Christ.
Children of God
28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.
29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.
The word “abide” means to accept and to act in accordance with. We don't want to be like these believers in this church in Ephesus and we don't want to be like the church in Sardis.
Revelation 3:1-2 ~ “‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.
Will you abide in Christ or will you shrink on that day when he stands before you? Are you confident that you are prepared for that day or are your works incomplete? Will you fall to your knees in shame or stand before him tall that His work in and through you is complete?
These are warnings to us, and we need to wake up in our service to Christ and doing everything possible to complete the tasks He has put before us.
It is not enough to just say I believe.
29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.
The saying goes “practice makes perfect” does it not? Being Christ like is a life long quest and we are always a work in progress in our attempt to meet that goal.
I know it is a difficult road because I am on it as well. The world will fight to drag you away from Christ. The world will mock you for believing.
But we need to stay strong and be committed on this journey.
