Turn from our wicked ways!
1 John 2:15 The problem of worldliness.
“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.”
Do not love the world: John has told us that if we walk in sin’s darkness and claim to be in fellowship with God, we are lying (1 John 1:6). Now John points out a specific area of sin that especially threatens our fellowship with God: worldliness.
Worldliness means that we love the world more than the things of God.
The world, in the sense John means it here, is not the global earth. Nor is it the mass of humanity, which God Himself loves (John 3:16). Instead it is the community of sinful humanity that had united in rebellion against God.
It is the evilness!
Do not love the world: That is, we are not to love either the world’s system or its way of doing things. There is a secular, anti-God or ignoring-God way of doing things that characterizes human society, and it is easy to love the world in this sense.
If we are worldly or are carnal minded as Romans eight puts it; then we are encouraged and persuaded to give our time, attention, and money to the things of this world instead of the things of God.
For example, If you love the world, there are rewards to be gained. You may find a place of prestige, of status, of honor, of comfort. The world system knows how to reward its lovers.
The problem is that though we gain prestige, status, honor, and comfort of this world, it only lasts for a short period of time and we lose the prestige, status, honor, and comfort of heaven.
Another example of worldliness is loving the things and activities of the world. John gives more us a warning against loving the material things which characterize the world system.
The world buys our love with the great things it has to give us. Cars, homes, gadgets, and the status that goes with all of them, can really make our hearts at home in the world?
So, the Scripture says: “If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him:” Simply, love for the world is incompatible with love for the Father. Therefore if one claims to love God and yet loves the world, there is something wrong with his claim to love God.
We are called to first seek the kingdom of God! (Matt. 6:33)
Jesus intended us to be in the world but not of the world. We see this in His prayer for us in John 17:14-18.
hn 17:14-18 NKJV – 14 “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17″Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 “As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.
16) The character of the world.“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.”
The character of the world expresses itself through the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. These lusts seek to draw our own flesh away from God and into sin and worldliness. The Devil uses all his devices to keep us from following our true Creator.
The idea behind the pride of life is someone who lives for superiority over others, mostly by impressing others through outward appearances – even if by deception.
We often rarely appreciate how much the world dominates our thinking and how often our thoughts are more of the world than of the Father.
To get an idea of how the world works, think of the advertising commercials you most commonly remember. They probably make a powerful appeal to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, or to the pride of life. Many successful ads appeal to all three.
We usually believe that we think much more Biblically than we really do. We should rigorously measure our habits of thinking and see if they follow more the world or God our Father.
· Think of your standard for what makes a person of the opposite sex appealing. Is it a worldly standard or a godly standard?
· Think of your standard for spirituality: is it worldly or godly? There is a worldly spirituality out there, and many people embrace it. Let’s look at some examples…,
· Think of your standard for success: is it worldly or godly?
Worldly response to spirituality gives them the idea they can sin and repent later!
Worldly response to spirituality gives them the idea they can do what ever they want and call heaven their own.
Worldly response to spirituality gives them the idea they can be Couch Christians.
Worldly response to spirituality gives them the idea they can put the things of God last.
This shows how great our need is to not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2).
Rom 12:2 NKJV – 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what [is] that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
17) “And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”
It is not a prayer, not a wish, and not a spiritual sounding desire. It is a fact. The world is passing away, and we must live our lives and think our thoughts aware of this fact. We must be ready to meet Jesus in the air.
Think on this next statement: “It is much wiser to invest our lives into that which cannot be lost: doing the will of God.”
(18-19) The danger of false religion: the spirit of Antichrist.
“Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. 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 they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.”
Little children, it is the last hour: John lived in the constant expectancy of Jesus’ return, regarding his time as the last hour. This is an expectancy that we should also have, knowing that the Lord’s return can come at any time.
Seeing the nature of our times and what the Bible says about the end times, we should regard ourselves as being in the last few minutes.
The Antichrist is coming: John here refers to an individual who has captured the imagination of many people, including those who don’t even know the Bible. Many are ignorant about this person called the Antichrist, except what they have learned from movies like The Omen.
The name Antichrist is important to understand. The prefix anti can mean “the opposite of” or “instead of.” The Antichrist is the “opposite Jesus”; he is the “instead of” Jesus.
Most people have focused on the idea of the “opposite Jesus.” This has made them think that the Antichrist will appear as a supremely evilperson. They think that as much as Jesus went around doing good, the Antichrist will go around doing bad. As much as Jesus’ character and personality was beautiful and attractive, the Antichrist’s character and personality will be ugly and repulsive. As much as Jesus spoke only truth, the Antichrist will speak only lies. This emphasizes the idea of the “opposite Jesus” too much. The Antichrist will instead be more of an “instead of Jesus.” He will look wonderful, be charming and successful. He will be the ultimate winner, and appear as an angel of light.
Some have wondered if this Antichrist will be an individual or a political system. This is really a small distinction, because it will in a sense be both a person and a political system. To a large extent, a man does represent and personify an entire government or system; when we think of Germany in the 1930s and 1940s, the figures of Hitler as an individual and Nazi Germany as a state are virtually the same. The Antichrist is an individual, but he will also be associated with a powerful government.
The Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come: There is a distinction between the Antichrist andmany antichrists. There is a “spirit” of antichrist, and this “spirit” of antichrist will one day find its ultimate fulfillment in theAntichrist, who will lead humanity in an end-times rebellion against God.
In other words, though the world still waits to see the ultimate revealing of the Antichrist, there are little “previews” of this man and his mission to come. These are the antichristswith a little “a” instead of a capital letter “A.”
By which we know that it is the last hour: This indicates that John expected that the presence of many antichrists – of many people who offer a false, substitute Christ – is evidence of the lateness in the hour before Jesus’ coming. John writes that this was true in his day; we could say it is even truer in our own.
This Antichrist goes by many titles:
· He is the little horn in Daniel 7:8.
· He is the king of fierce countenance In Daniel 8:23.
· He is the Prince that shall come in Daniel 9:26.
· He is the willful king in Daniel 11:36-45.
· He is the son of perdition, the man of sin, and the lawless one in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 and 2:8.
Essentially, the Antichrist is a world dictator who leads humanity in what seems to be a golden age, until he shows his true colors – and the judgment of God is poured out on him.
We should take notice, because the world stage is set for a political and economic “superman” to arise, a single political leader to organize a world-dominating confederation of nations. National leaders speak of a new world order, but no one has been able to really define it, much less lead it. Yet this leader is coming.
Any Christian who is sensitive to the Spirit of God is aware that we are living in a time when society’s attitude toward God is radically changing. The world is being primed and prepared to throw open its arms and receive this world ruler who will oppose God and bring ruin and destruction to mankind. Unfortunately, the lost world doesn’t realize that it is being slowly seduced and trained for this moment the devil has long awaited.
The next verses (20-23) Identify the spirit of antichrist.
Scripture says: “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
In this verse John referred to a common anointing, belonging to all believers. We received anointing when we became Sons and daughters of God. We house, the Holy Spirit, which is the anointing. This is an anointing makes discernment possible for those who seek it in the Lord (and you know all things).
A quick note: When the New Testament speaks of anointing, it speaks of it as the common property of all believers. This is true even though all believers may not be walking in the anointing God has given them. The New Testament does not speak of a “special” anointing given to particular individuals.
Because of the anointing of the Holy Spirit given to all believers, they possess the resources for knowing the truth. This isn’t to say that teachers are unnecessary, because one of the resources for knowing the truth is the reminding given by teachers like John.
Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? The context makes it clear that to affirm that Jesus is the Christ has to do with more than just saying, “He is the Messiah.” It has to do with understanding the relationship between Jesus and God the Father: He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. In other words, someone could say, “I believe Jesus is the Christ… as I define “Christ.” But we must believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, as the Bible defines Christ – the Messiah, who is fully God and fully man; who perfectly revealed the Father to us.
John here repeated an idea that Jesus expressed often, as recorded in the Gospel of John. Jesus said, He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me (John 12:44-45). He who receives Me receives Him who sent Me(John 13:20).
There are many people who seem rather spiritual or religious, yet reject Jesus Christ. While their religion or spirituality may do them much good in this life – giving them a basis for morality and good behavior – it does them nothing before God, because in rejecting Jesus they reject God.
(24) “Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.”
In light of the danger of the spirit of antichrist, we protect ourselves against the spirit of antichrist by abiding in the original, core Christian message (that which you heard from the beginning). As we walk in the simplicity and power of that message, we will not be led astray
The apostle Paul communicated the same idea in Galatians 1:6-9, where he warns against going after a new gospel and emphasizes the importance of continuing on in the original gospel that Paul taught.
Galatians 1:6-9 NKJV – 6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
This is difficult because we are tempted to be tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting(Ephesians 4:14). We often itch for something “new” and “exciting” even if it departs from that which you heard from the beginning.
Simply put, we abide in what is from the beginning when we stay close to our Bibles. If that was your environment when you were a young Christian, wonderful. But if it was not, then put yourself in that environment now.
This doesn’t mean just knowing it, but living in it. When we are living in the simplicity of the truth of Jesus Christ, then we will abide in the Son and in the Father.
Here’s an interesting fact: “John will use the word abide six times in these few verses, and the idea is repeated throughout the New Testament.”
Verse 25: “And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.”
This is the promise: When His truth (what we heard from the beginning) lives in us, then God lives in us. When God lives in us, we have a promise. In this kind of life, the promise of eternal life is real.
“These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him”
Eternal life: This is not mere immortality. Every human being, made in the image of God, is immortal, in the sense that our souls will live forever, either in heaven or in hell. So, eternal lifedoesn’t just mean a life that lasts for eternity. It describes the kind of life that God, the Eternal One, has in Himself.
26-27) Our protection against deception: the anointing.
These things I have written: John knew there was deception among these early Christians, and it concerned him. He had a passion to keep them consistent with God’s message of truth.The anointing which you have received from Him abides in you: This abiding and anointing is what enables Christians to continue in the truth.
John first referred to this anointingback in 1 John 2:20. This anointing is not the private property of a few special or spectacular Christians. All Christians have the presence of God’s Spirit within them.
28-29) What it means to live in Jesus.
“And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.”
Abiding in Jesus means that we need not be afraid or ashamed when Jesus returns. This is because we have intimately known Him, and therefore we can have confidence at His coming.
John brings up a challenging image. When Jesus returns, some people will be afraid because they never knew Jesus at all. But among those who know Him, some will not be afraid, they will be ashamed before Him at His coming. They will realize that they have been living worldly, unfruitful lives. In one moment, the understanding will overwhelm them that whatever else they accomplished in life, they did not abide in Him as they could have.
Paul the Apostle speaks of those who are “barely saved”: he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire (1 Corinthians 3:15). There are those who, for at least a moment, the coming of Jesus will be a moment of disappointment rather than glory.
It is important for us to carefully consider these matters because it is difficult to measure the distance between “barely saved” and “almost saved.” It is dangerous to contemplate questions such as, “How little can I do and still make it to heaven?” or “How far can I stray from the Shepherd and still be part of the flock?” Instead we should be diligent to not be ashamed before Him at His coming.
Abide in Him: This is the way to be confident when Jesus comes. When you abide in Him, you are ready for Jesus to come at any time.
For example, The idea of living in Jesus is so important in the Bible. Jesus promised in John 14:23: If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.
Paul expressed this idea in his prayer for the Ephesians in Ephesians 3:17: that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. There are two Greek words to convey the idea of “to live in”; one has the idea of living in a place as a stranger, and the other has the idea of settling down in a place to make it your permanent home. Dwell in Ephesians 3:17 uses the ancient Greek word for a permanent home, indicating that Jesus wants to settle down in your heart, not just visit as a stranger.
This next question is important! Consider carefully: Do you abide in Him? Or do you just visit Jesus every once in a while?
Abiding in Jesus gives us confidence because we know we wouldn’t change our lives substantially if we somehow knew Jesus would come back next week. We would already be abiding in Him.
