Two Christian Responses To The World Series

Series: 1 John

Week: Eight

Passage: 1 John 2:15-17

Title: Two Christian Responses to the World

Focus: Practical Application

Last Week in Review

Week 7 – LIVING (Stages of Christianity) (1) Those new to the faith (2) Those that are spiritually mature (3) Those making progress toward maturity

TITLE: The Christians Attitude on the World (1 John 2:15-17)

OPENING NOTE: GCG Article of Faith - Separation - Section 14 – “We believe that the children of God should like in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord and that separation from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices and associations is commanded by God.”

INTRODUCTION:

John seems to be happy with the fact that much of his audience is making progress into more spiritually mature disciples. Remember, John is writing to help those Disciples of Christ refute the heretical teaching that they are hearing from the world. As these Christians strived to become more like Christ through becoming obedient in the fellowship (obeying the Word) and loving the brotherhood, there were always going to be dangers in front of them that needed to be addressed. How one overcame the evil one would show how one would advance in his or her Christian walk.

SCRIPTURE: “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. 16For 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. 17And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:15-17

TITLE: Two Christian Responses to the World (1 John 2:15-17)

POINT #1: Do Not Love the World (1 John 2:15)

• Explanation: John first of all starts with a stern warning “Do not love the world or anything in the world”.

o “World”: The Greek word for “world” is “kosmos” meanings “the ordered world”. The word is used in the NT but not in the Greek OT (Septuagint). In the OT we see the words “all things” or “heaven and earth” used. The “world” as John referred to that which was made by the Word (God). However, if God made the world then why would John push his audience to not love something created by God?

• Sin exists (in a once perfect world): Through the transgression of Adam, sin has entered into the world (Rom. 5:18). This sin had universal consequences resulting in a disordered (opposite of “kosmos”) world in the grip of the evil one (1 Jn. 5:19).

• Rebellion exists (in a once perfect world): The world (all things and heaven and earth) that God made was crafted to reflect his glory. This created world that was once for Him is now in rebellion against him.

• John 1:10 “The world was made through Him (Jesus) and yet the world did not know him.”

• False profit exists (in a once perfect world): Jesus said it would not profit a man anything if he gained the whole of it and lost his soul in the process (Mt. 16:26) meaning that the obtainment of the world is no longer an obtainment to be godly.

• Illustration: Satan pushes us to focus on pleasing ourselves with what the world has to offer instead of focusing on pleasing and loving things of God.

o THINK: How much of our free time do we use to affecting others instead of ourselves? As mature believers, what are we displaying with our actions to young believers (children) with the use of our time? Are we satisfying the self (praise, money, recognition) or leveraging out time to honor God?

• Conversation (Cyndi): One of the greatest attacks Satan uses on the family unit today is in the element of time. We get so busy with the things of this world and building up of the self that we ‘take out’ our time for God. He then no longer gets the best of our time but our leftovers. This affects our daily walk, our commitments to discipleship (both for ourselves, and for others that need us), and our service to the church and the needs in our community.

• Application: John establishes and further drives home the point, “if anyone loves the world the love of the Father is not in him”. In other words, if we as believers chase after that which is of the world then we are under that which the devils would want us to be influenced (sin, rebellion against God, worldly profit). The world competes for the love of Christians and one cannot both love it and the Father at the same time.