Message

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Do Not Love the World

1 John 2:15-29

Key Verse: 2:15-17 “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 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. The world and its desire pass away, but whoever does the will of the Father lives forever.”

Thus far John taught us how to have fellowship with God and walk in the light. In chapter one he said that we must confess our sins so that our sins are forgiven. Sin blocks our access to God. If we claim that we do not sin, we deceive ourselves and become a liar. If we confess our sins, our God is faithful and just and forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. In chapter two he said that we must love one another. Afte Jesus washed his disciples' feet, he gave them a new command which is to love one another. When we obey his command and love one another, we have fellowship with God and walk in the light. Today John teaches us another message about how to have fellowship with God and walk in the light.

First, do not love the world (15-16). Let us read verses 15-16. “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 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. The world and its desire pass away, but whoever does the will of the Father lives forever.” Here the world does not mean the place where we live now, but the place where Satan rules. It is the godless and evil world. Even though the world was created by God, Satan lies as if he is the owner of this world. Satan fills the hearts of people with desire for the things of this world such as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. All these are too attractive to resist or to give up. In the beginning Satan tempted Adam and Eve with these desires. So, to the eyes of the woman the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil looked good for food, pleasing to the eye, and desirable for gaining wisdom. (Ge 3:6) In fact all things which we desire for this world are in this list, ‘the lust of the flesh, which is good for food, the lust of the eyes, which is pleasing to the eye, and the pride of life, which is fame and popularity. Satan lied to Adam and Eve as if they would be like God, and they would live forever when they eat the tree of knowledge of good and evil. In the same way Satan tempts us today as if we can live forever in this world with money, pleasure, and fame. But as God said to us, we will surely die, and all will stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Verse 16 says that the world and its desire will pass away. Nothing in this world and from this world lasts forever. In other words, all men are like grass and their glory is like flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever. But Satan lies to us that we live on this earth forever.

Even though people know that the world and its desire pass away, they still follow the world. What must we do in this perishable world as the people of God? John teaches us whoever does the will of God lives forever. What is the will of God? How do we know the will of God? We see three aspects of God’s will from the Bible. First, God’s will for the world. Jesus taught his disciples the Lord’s Prayer, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Mt 6:9-10) God’s will for the world is to bring his kingdom into this earth. We must pray for the expansion of God’s kingdom on this earth, which means to increase numbers of people who believe in God. Jesus gave world mission command to his disciples in the last chapter of each gospel. “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation!” (Mk 16:15) “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations!” (Mt 28:19) “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Ac 1:8) We are now advancing the gospel, raising Jesus’ disciples, and expanding God’s kingdom on campuses starting with Wash U, SLU, UMSL and so on. Through our diligent Bible studies and persistent prayer, we witness several students are growing as disciples of Jesus from Wash U such as Tim, Taylor, Carsen, Bu, Liam, Ryan, and so on. We must pray for them to grow as disciples of Jesus and kingdom workers who expand God’s kingdom. We must continue to pray that God’s kingdom may come, and His will be done in Wash U and other campuses in St. Louis. Amen!

Second, God’s will for our brothers and neighbors. God’s will for others is to love them and forgive their sins. As we studied last week, John repeats Jesus’ command which is to love one another and forgive our brothers and sisters. This is because loving our brothers and sisters is what God wants us to do. Third, God’s will for myself. What is God’s will for myself? Paul said in Romans 12:1-2. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” According to these verses, God’s will for myself is not conforming this world, but offering my body as a living sacrifice to God. This does not mean we are offered as a burnt offering alive. But this means our full devotion to God. God’s will for us is to renew our mind by the Holy Spirit and find what God wants us to do and give our full devotion to it. Amen!

These three aspects of God’s will are summarized by this one statement: The LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. (Deut 6:4-5) When we love God, we obey his world mission command. When we love God, we pray for his kingdom. When we love God, we love our neighbors as ourselves. When we love God, we do not give any space for Satan to intrude. Amen!

Second, follow the anointing, the Holy Spirit. (18-25) Before Jesus went up to heaven, he taught his disciples the signs of the end of the age. The appearance of antichrist is one of them. John saw Gnostics as antichrist. This is because Gnostics denied Jesus Christ, and they did not believe his deity as the Son of God. Look at verses 18-19. “Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.” Verse 22 continues, “Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son.”

How did we know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God? John said that we came to know Jesus Christ through the anointing, who is the Holy Spirit. Look at verse 20-21. “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth.” Here, the anointing one indicates the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to his disciples as Another Advocate (Counsellor) to help them and to be with them forever. Jesus also said that the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth will remind everything Jesus had taught them and finally lead them to Jesus himself. (Jn14:16-17,26, 15:26)

The Holy Spirit enables us to believe that Jesus is Christ, the Son of God. Your faith in Jesus Christ is the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit enlightens the eyes of our heart to see Jesus. So, in order to have fellowship with God we must follow the Holy Spirit. Let the Holy Spirit be our guide! Look at verse 23. “No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.” Colossians 1:15 says that the Son is the image of the invisible God, and Hebrews 1;3 says that the Son is the radiance of God’s glory. When we know who Jesus is, we know who God the Father is because Jesus is the incarnation of God himself. There was a muti-billionaire who died without leaving an heir. An auction for all his possessions was held for the public. Many people came to buy his expensive art works, furniture, and other valuable goods. The final item for sale was a portrait of his only son who had died earlier. No one paid attention to this painting of the child. The auction was delayed until a buyer for the painting appeared. Finally, there appeared a man who asked for the painting, and it was the old servant of the rich man. The servant knew how his master had loved his only son who had died earlier. The father put the son’s picture in his room and loved to see it while he was alive. At the final stage of the auction the presider made an announcement that the auction is over and that all the possession of the rich man should be endowed to the old servant. Everybody was shocked. This is because the rich man left his will that all his belongings must be given to the person who buys the painting of his son. This shows us how much the rich man loved his son, and only the old servant knew and appreciated the value of the painting. In the same way when we know and appreciate the death of the Son Jesus, we possess the kingdom of God as our inheritance. When we believe in the Son Jesus, we become heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ Jesus. (Ro 8:17). Our inheritance is not the things of this world, but eternal life in the kingdom of God which never perishes, spoils, or fades away, but kept in heaven for us. (1 Pe 1;3,4) Romans 8:16 says that the Spirit (the Holy Spirit) testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. The anointing one, the Holy Spirit, confirms our faith that Jesus is Christ, the Son of God. Amen!

Third, continue in him (26-29) In verses 26-27 John encourages Christians to remain in Jesus as the Holy Spirit testifies us. Look at verse 27. “As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.” Since we hear the gospel, we must keep it. We must remain in Jesus. When we remain in Jesus, we will bear much fruit. This is because Jesus is the Vine, and we are his branches. Apart from him we can do nothing. Look at verse 28. “And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.” John teaches us to continue in Jesus. Until when? Until Jesus comes again. Until we stand before the judgment seat of Christ. It will be good if Jesus comes again before we die. But we don’t know when Jesus comes again. Many of us may die before Jesus comes again. So, we must be prepared to stand before the judgment seat of Christ all the time. Every night before going to bed I pray for this. “Lord, Jesus, if I die tonight, I may be confident and unashamed before you.” I want to continue to remain in him even in my sleeping time. Those who remain in Jesus to the end are saved. But those who go astray or fall away will lose their salvation and become ashamed when Jesus comes again or when they stand before Jesus after they die. Paul explains this in Romans 2:6-10. “God will repay each person according to what they have done.” To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil; first for the Jew, then for the Gentiles; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good; first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” Amen! Are you ready to stand before the judgment seat of Christ? Are you prepared for the coming of Jesus Christ? Continue to remain in him and do what is right. Seek his glory, honor, and immortality! Then we will receive the crown of life as a heavenly reward. Amen!

In conclusion, let us put our hope not in this perishable world, but in heaven where our inheritance is kept. This world and its desire will pass away. Find what God’s will for us and preach the gospel to the ends of the earth. To have fellowship with God and walk in the light, receive the Holy Spirit, walk with the Spirit, and follow the Holy Spirit until we stand before the judgment seat of Christ confident and unashamed. Amen!

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• 1 Jn 02-15-29-message-7th draft.docx

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