Do Not Love This World
1 John 2:15-27
- What did it mean to the original reader or original audience?
- Are you more likely to err on the side of doing what you shouldn't or not doing what you should?
#People = John (the Apostle and Author); Jesus Christ; Antichrists (False Teachers);
#Place =
#Obedient faith =
#Sin =
#Key Idea =
1 John 2:15-27
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.
Warning Concerning Antichrists
18 Children, it
is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so
now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last
hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not
of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But
they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. 20 But
you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have
knowledge. 21 I write to you, not because you do
not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 22 Who
is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the
antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 23 No
one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father
also. 24 Let what you heard from the beginning
abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you
too will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And
this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.
26 I
write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 27 But the
anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need
that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about
everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in
him.
Verses 15-17: Do Not Love the World
John warns against loving the world and its desires. He emphasizes that the world is passing away, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
Verses 18-23: Warning Against Antichrists
John introduces the concept of "antichrists," indicating those who deny that Jesus is the Christ. He warns his readers against them, encouraging them to hold onto the truth they have received.
Verses 24-29: Abiding in Christ
John concludes by urging believers to abide in Christ, living out what they have learned from the beginning. This will ensure that they remain in Him and are prepared for His return.
1 John 2 offers an exploration of the Christian walk, emphasizing the importance of obedience to God's commands and love for one another as the defining features of authentic Christian faith. It cautions against the love of the world and the allure of false teachings, urging believers to stand firm in their faith and commitment to Christ.
- God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
- We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
- How does the call not to love the world (1 John 2:15-17) apply in our contemporary context filled with materialism and consumerism?
- How can you discern false teachings or "antichrists" in today's society? (1 John 2:18-23)
- In what ways do you actively "abide" in Christ in your daily life? (1 John 2:24-29)
- How can we balance the command not to love the world while still living in it and engaging with non-believers?
- How can we deal with temptation? (2:16)
What does John mean by "the world" (vv. 15-17)? Is it wrong to love the outdoors or your pet? Are all human desires contrary to God's will? Why?
What is the anointing in verse 20? How does this anointing help a person to know and remain in the truth (vv. 20.24)?
In what way are the antichrists in this passage foreshadowing the antichrist to come? What danger do they pose to the church?
Why are there only two options in verse 23?
- How does understanding that "the world is passing away" impact your priorities and decisions?
- How can we demonstrate the love of God in a society that often promotes self-interest and competition?
- How do you respond when you fail to keep God's commands? Does it drive you closer to or further from Him?
- How does the concept of spiritual growth resonate with you, and how are you pursuing it?
- How does understanding the role of Christ in atonement for our sins shape our gratitude and love for Him?
- What practical steps can you take to avoid the allure of worldly desires?
- How can we ensure that we are prepared for Christ's return?
- In your context, what does it look like to stand firm in the faith amidst false teachings?
- How can you foster an environment of spiritual growth for yourself and others around you?
- How does your current lifestyle reflect your love for God and others?
- What are some contemporary situations or teachings that you believe John would label as "antichrist"?
- How can you leverage your understanding of God's commandments and His love to be a light in a world dominated by darkness and confusion?
Thesis: We must love God and his commands above all else to be transformed into his image.
Major Point 1: We live in a fallen world.
A. We are called to be in the world, but not of it, according
to 1 John 2:15-17.
B. We must be careful of deceivers, according to 1 John 2:18-19.
Major Point 2: We must love God and his commands above all else.
A. We must keep his commands, according to 1 John 2:3-6.
B. We must not love the world, according to 1 John 2:15-17.
Major Point 3: We must be transformed into his image.
A. We must abide in him, according to 1 John 2:24-25.
B. We must remain in the truth, according to 1 John 2:26-27.
Conclusion and Application: We must love God and his commands above all else to be transformed into his image.
Another Outline:
Thesis: We must be careful to recognize and reject the lies of the
world in order to remain faithful to the truth of God.
Introduction: In our journey of faith, the allure of worldly
values often stands in stark contrast to the divine truth bestowed upon us by
God. Today, we delve into 1
John 2:15-27 to uncover the dangers of succumbing to worldly
temptations and the importance of adherence to God’s enduring truth.
1. Recognizing the Dangers of Worldly Desires (1
John 2:15-17)
A. John warns against the love of the world and the
things in the world.
B. The desires of the flesh and the eyes are not from
the Father but from the world.
C. Worldly things are temporary; only those who do the
will of God live forever.
2. The Threat of Deceivers and Antichrists (1
John 2:18-23)
A. John identifies the presence of many antichrists,
indicating it is the last hour.
B. Antichrists, who deny Jesus is the Christ, deceive
believers and lead them away from the truth.
C. Remaining steadfast in faith helps reject these
deceptions and maintain a connection with God.
3. Abiding in the Truth through the Holy Spirit (1
John 2:24-27)
A. Believers are encouraged to let what they heard from
the beginning abide in them.
B. The Holy Spirit, given to us by God, teaches and
confirms everything concerning the truth.
C. By steadfastly abiding in the teaching of Christ,
believers are protected from falsehoods.
Conclusion: In conclusion, as we face the temptations and deceits of the world,
our steadfast commitment to the truth revealed in the scriptures and affirmed
by the Holy Spirit is paramount. Let us, therefore, strive to remain faithful,
constantly evaluating the influences around us and clinging to the truth that
grants eternal life. As practical applications, consider regularly studying the
Word, engaging in communal prayer for strength against worldly deceits, and
sharing these truths with others to fortify our collective resolve.
- In what areas of your life does love for the world compete with love for God: In your use of money? Time? Priorities? Relationships? Ambitions?
- What criteria can you use to distinguish between: (a) new insights into Christian truths that the Holy Spirit brings to light, and (b) new teachings that undermine the Christian faith?
- Why does John encourage believers to remain in Christ? (1 John 2:28)
- What does it mean to "abide" in Christ? (1 John 2:24-27)
- I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
- What transformative move needs to be made?
- You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
Other Resources:
Discovery Bible Study
Series: Our Struggle “Engaging in Spiritual Warfare”
We are in a battle. Not a battle of politics or militaries or nations. Our struggle is not against flesh and blood; it is against the powers of darkness that confront us daily. You don’t need to feel defeated or discouraged. God has made a way to redeem your struggle and give you victory!
Title: “The World” (1 John 2:15-17)
Bookmark: Click Here
Opening Thoughts: In the world, power and pleasure reign supreme. But the vision Jesus has for a victorious life is completely different from the moral norms of our day. While we live in the world, God calls us out of the world.
v Behavior shaped by “norms” and “pressures” illustrated by people conforming while getting on an elevator.
o Consensus creates Norms.
===============================================================
Text: 1 John 2:15-17
On Not Loving the World
15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
===============================================================
Summarize the main story: Describe the events of the story in your own words.
v Review and retell the story.
Reflections for applications:
v 1 John 2:15-17
o Define “World” kosmos
§ Physical World
§ Humanity or people of the world
§ Sinful Society
· The world is a system of ideas, values, morals, practices and social norms that are integrated into the mainstream and eventually institutionalized in a culture corrupted by the twin sins of rebellion against God and the redefinition of good and evil.” – John Mark Comer
· The world distorts shalom.
· The world stands in opposition to God’s kingdom
o John 15:18–19 NIV - 18 "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.
ENTRAPMENT
Satan's deceptive lies
↓
ENTICEMENT
My distorted desires
↓
ENDORSEMENT
The world's defiant support
v “Watching is not passive; it gives normalcy to what you’re seeing.”
v John 17:13-19 NIV - "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
o Summarize =We are in the world but not of the world. Rather than deliver us out of the world, God sends us into the world.
v Challenge This Week: Look for you “elevator moment”
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Digging Questions:
· How will you respond to God “In Our Struggle”? What transformative move needs to be made?
· What do these biblical texts tell you about God and His nature?
· What is God calling us (me and you individually) to do?
Take Away Challenges
· What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you in this passage? How will you apply it to your life this week?
· Whom do you know who needs to hear this?
· What is God bringing to your attention in this discussion? What beliefs, thoughts or actions need to be addressed or changed?
Hashtags #Struggle #Flesh #Spirit
Sunday sermon link https://youtu.be/D10oAnMROnA
Kevin’s Blog Link to more resources: Click here for Kevin’s Blog Notes
Comments and resources with some more resources:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+2%3A15-17&version=NIV
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