1st John 2:15 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.
1st John 2:16 For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world.
1st John 2:17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
In 1st John 2:15-17, the Lord speaks to us about what not to love, and what it means if we do love what we are told not to love ( the world or the things in the world ) He describes in detail what is in the world, and concludes with what will happen to the world, and contrastingly, what will happen to the person who does the will of God.
Do not love the world or the things in the world. This is the first thing He says to us.
This does not mean that you cannot interact with, participate in and be part of the things that are around us in our world. That is, sometimes this teaching winds up being understood as I cannot watch TV, I cannot go to sporting events, I must not take part in any social celebrations etc, etc. In other words, it's falsely misunderstood to mean I must shut myself off from the world around me.
I do not believe that is what's being taught here.
Well then, what does it mean?
The word "world" used here, means "that organized system headed by Satan which leaves God out and is rival to Him" And it might be added, that though God loves the world of men, ( John 3:16, ) but, believers are not love at all that which organizes against them, ( men ) and against God. See 1st John 5:19, John 3:19, and James 1:27, 4:4
Secondly, we are told here, that if anyone loves the world that the love of the Father is not in him. A man cannot love the world and the Father at the same time. It's like when Jesus said, you cannot love God and money, and or, you are either with me, or you are against me.
Thirdly, we are given a detailed explanation as to what is in the world that leaves God out and is rival to Him. There are three things.
1. The lust of the flesh.
2. The lust of the eyes.
3. The pride of life.
These three things have been defined as the desires of passion, possession, and position.
It's wanting to fullfil you lusts, i.e your passions ( understood in the bad sense, passions are against God's will, i.e sex outside of marriage etc, ) and then, materialism, wanting to have things, and stuff, and then finally, pride or position, that is, instead of letting God guide you into His will and place for you, that you make your own way, and insist on doing what you want, and becoming what you want to be without regard for God and His will etc.
John tells us that these lusts, these desires, these cravings are not of the Father, but are of the world.
Then in closing, he tells us that the world is passing away. It is on it's way to an ultimate end. Rom 8, speaks about this, and so does 2nd Pet 3, and of course the book of Revelation.
On the other hand, the person who does the will of God, see 1st John 4:23, And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.
So, we were born apart from God, and in a world that leaves God out, and seeks to be god and rivals Him. But, by trusting in Jesus Christ, we are born again, and now live in this world, but loving Him, and living with Him, following Him, obeying Him, keeping His Commandments, etc, etc.
Thank You Father, in Jesus name.
Pastor Bob Grenier.
