1 John 2:15-17

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Objectives

  • Students will ask themselves what areas of life have taken priority over eternity.

Introduction

  • Worldliness may be the single biggest challenge for people today. The world, on the surface, is an appealing place, but the Bible has something different to say about the world. In Mark 4:1-8 Jesus warned His disciples about the cares of the world choking them. We all know what it is like to be choked by the cares of the world, but what can we do? If we are to be free from the grip of the cares of the world, we must understand why the cares of the world are a problem, what the care of the world look like, and why we should instead focus on eternity.

Mainbody

The Reason (v. 15)

The World

  • What does the term "world" mean?
    • The term “world” is not evil in itself and John does not always depict it in a bad light. He uses it to designate all of creation in its natural sense (John 1:10). The term also refers to those living on the planet (John 3:17; 1 John 4:14). [1]
  • How does God describe the world in Genesis 1:31?
    • God describes it as good. The world was created good.
  • What does Christ say about the world in John 3:17?
    • He came not to condemn but to say save the world. The idea here is not some sort of universalism or humanism, but rather to show that we must be careful not to misplace our love. We cannot hold too tightly to this world. In fact, this world is at amity with us (John 15:19; 17:6, 14, 16). Drickson states
      It is this evil system that Christ and believers have overcome (John 16:33; 1 John 2:13–14; 5:4). Though it is not evil in and of itself, the church does find itself increasingly separated from the world and distinct from it. It makes sense that a child of God should not love it.[2]

The Things of the World

  • What are examples of things in the world?
    • Possessions, money...
  • What do each of the following verses say about the things of the word?
    • Proverbs 23:4-5
    • Proverbs 11:28
    • Ecclesiastes 5:10

Walvoord states "The world competes for the love of Christians, and one cannot both love it and the Father at the same time." [3]

The Love of the Father

  • "ἐάν τις ἀγαπᾷ τὸν κόσμον οὐκ ἔστιν ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ πατρὸς ἐν αὐτῷ" is a fifth class condition clause. Specifically, the protasis may or may not be true. The point is that this is a neutral condition "if A, then B." John is not commenting on the likelihood that they love the world, but rather, saying that his love of the world is at odds with having God's love.

Dangers to Avoid (v. 16)

Desires of the Flesh

  • What are the desires of the flesh?
    • This first “thing” of the world is a wrong desire. The term ἐπιθυμία, translated “lust” in most cases, expresses a strong desire for something. It need not be evil; in fact, it may be a healthy or pious desire. But it becomes sinful when directed inappropriately. [4]
      . "The phrase refers particularly to illicit bodily appetites." [5]

Desires of the Eyes

  • What are the desires of the eyes?
    • The lusts of the flesh refers to bodily appetites, and the desires of the eyes brings to mind the covetousness of the eyes.

The Pride of Life

  • What is the pride of life?
    • People have a tendency to boast about themselves. This boasting betrays a deeper love for the world and the things of the world.
  • According to Isaiah 14:14, what was Satan's original sin?
    • Pride

Things Never to Forget (v. 17)

The Mortality of the World

  • According to 2 Peter 3:10, wha is the ultimate fate of the world?
    • It will be destroyed

The Mortality of the Desires of the World

  • What do we have to look forward to according to 1 Thessalonians 5:23?
    • Complete sanctification in eternity.


The Eternality of God

  • What does Revelation 22:1-5 indicate will be the final state?
    • And they will reign for ever and ever.


Conclusion

Step 3

  • Remember even a sprouted plant that has grown may not produce fruit. Weeds can get in the way. We must make sure not to allow weeds to ruin our ability to produce fruit.
  • In order to do this we must realize what this life is and what eternity is. Only by looking at life through the lens of eternity can we remove the weeds. In order to better study this we will be looking at 1 John 2:15-17 later.


References

  1. ↑ Gary W. Derickson, First, Second, and Third John, ed. H. Wayne House, W. Hall Harris III, and Andrew W. Pitts, Evangelical Exegetical Commentary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012), 197.
  2. ↑ Gary W. Derickson, First, Second, and Third John, ed. H. Wayne House, W. Hall Harris III, and Andrew W. Pitts, Evangelical Exegetical Commentary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012), 198.
  3. ↑ John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary, The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 891.
  4. ↑ Gary W. Derickson, First, Second, and Third John, ed. H. Wayne House, W. Hall Harris III, and Andrew W. Pitts, Evangelical Exegetical Commentary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012), 202.
  5. ↑ John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary, The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 891.
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