A CHRISTIAN IN THIS WORLD

1 JOHN 2:15-17


      In Jn. 17 Jesus told the disciples how Christians related to this world.

•          Saved out of this world (17:6)

•          Still in this world (17:11)

•          Separated from this world (17:14)

•          Sent into this world (17:18)


      The Bible speaks of a world that Christians ought to love.

•          World of creation (Gen. 1:31)

•          World for redemption (Jn. 3:16)


      Here, John warns of a world that Christians ought not to love.


  I. Love of this world (2:15)


      What did John mean by this world?

•          John R. W. Stott defined it as the “whole social value-system which is alien to God.” Endnote

•          Richard C. Trench defined it as “all that floating mass of thoughts, opinions, maxims, speculations. . . atmosphere.” Endnote

•          Kenneth S. Wuest (Rom. 12:2) defined it as the “age. . . characterized by a certain system of evil.” Endnote


      A. Negatively (Jas. 1:27, 4:4)


Tit. 2:12. Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;


          1. Course of this world (Eph. 2:2)


      Satan operates in this world.

•          Kingdoms of this world (Mt. 4:8)

•          Prince of this world (Jn. 12:31, 14:30, 16:11)

•          God of this world (2 Cor. 4:4)

•          Darkness of this world (Eph. 6:12)

•          He that is in this world (1 Jn. 4:4, 5:19)

•          Deceiver of this world (Rev. 12:9)


          2. Conformity to this world (Rom. 12:2)


      The world attracts its citizens with things (Mt. 4:9, 6:32, 22:21; Mk. 4:19, 8:33; Lk. 12:15; Rom. 8:5; 1 Cor. 7:33).

•          Care of this world (Mt. 13:22)

•          Gain of this world (Mk. 8:36)

•          Wisdom of this world (1 Cor. 1:20, 2:6-12, 3:19)

•          Relations of this world (1 Cor. 7:33-34)

•          Elements of this world (Col. 2:8-20)

•          Riches of this world (1 Tim. 6:17)

•          Fashion of this world (1 Tim. 2:9; 1 Pet. 3:5)


Mt. 6:32. (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.


Lk. 12:15. And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.


Rom. 8:5. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.


      Horatius Bonar said, “I looked for the church and found it in the world. I looked for the world and found it in the church.”


      B. Positively


Gal. 6:14. But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.


          1. Love God without competition (Mt. 6:24; Jn. 21:15)


2 Tim. 4:10. For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.


          2. Love God without contradiction (Eph. 6:24)


Rev. 2:4. Nevertheless I have [somewhat] against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.


      Vance Havner preached a message titled “Getting Used to the Dark.” Christians ask, “How much like the world can I be and still be a Christian?” Dr. Havner gave a difficult invitation for Christians to say good-bye to this world. He asked only those to stand and sing who could truly say:

Then I bid farewell to the way of the world,
To walk in it never more;
For the Lord says, “Come,” and I seek my home,
Where He waits at the open door.


 II. Lust for this world (2:16)


      A. Organization


      Believers encounter temptations from three sources–the world, the flesh, and the devil (Eph. 2:2-3). The world also tempts believers in three areas.

•          Illustrated by the temptations in the garden (Gen. 3:6)

•          Illustrated by the temptations in the wilderness (Mt. 4:3-6-9)


          1. Carnal (lust of the flesh–Rom. 13:14; Gal. 5:16-24; Eph. 2:3; 1 Pet. 4:2; lust–Mt. 5:28; Rom. 1:24, 6:12, 7:7; 1 Cor. 10:6; Eph. 4:22; 2 Tim. 2:22; Jas. 1:14-15; 1 Pet. 1:14, 2:11; Jude 16-18; flesh–Rom. 7:18-25, 8:5-6-7-8-12-13, 13:14; Gal. 6:8; Col. 2:23)


      The world tempts the sinful nature (flesh) with lust (Eph. 2:3).

•          Lightfoot defined lust as “all evil longings.” Endnote

•          Trench defined lust as evil desire. Endnote

Barclay wrote, “The flesh is like the enemy within the gates who opens the way to the enemy who is pressing in through the gates.” Endnote


          2. Covetous


      John identified the gateway of lust as the eye.

•          Eve’s sin began with the eye (Gen. 3:6).

•          Lot’s sin began with the eye (Gen. 13:10).

•          Achan’s sin began with the eye (Jos. 7:21).

•          Samson’s sin began with the eye (Jud. 16:1).

•          David’s sin began with the eye (2 Sam. 11:2).


Ps. 119:37. Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; [and] quicken thou me in thy way.


“Oh, be careful little eyes what you see.”


          3. Confidence (Jas. 4:16)


      The third way the world tempts is with the pride (boast–Rom. 1:30; 2 Tim. 3:2) of life (bios–Lk. 8:14, 15:12; 1 Jn. 3:17).

•          Trench defined the pride of life as a “boaster. . . vaunting himself in possession of skill, or knowledge. . . not truly his.” Endnote

•          Delling defined the pride of life as “the man who does not put his confidence in God.” Endnote Here is the “man who does not ask concerning the will of the Father but tries to sovereignly decide concerning the shape of his life.” Endnote


      Those tempted to live in pride live as if this life is all that is. The proud think life can be lived without God.


Lk. 12:20. But God said unto him, [Thou] fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?


      B. Overcoming (1 Jn. 5:4)


2 Pet. 1:4. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.


      Watchman Nee said, “The ‘flesh’ is too bad to be cleansed; it must be crucified.” Endnote


      Paul told the Colossians the futility of trying to overcome through: 1) legalism, 2) mysticism, or 3) asceticism (Col. 2:23). Believers overcome the lust of the flesh by setting their affection on Christ (Col. 3:1-3).


      Alexander MacLaren said, “Higher tastes drive out lower ones. . . .” Endnote Maclaren wrote, “There is only one thing that will put the collar on the neck of the animal within us, and that is the power of the indwelling Christ. The evil that is in us all is too strong for every other fetter.” Endnote


III. Living in this world (2:17)


      A. Temporal (1 Cor. 7:31; 1 Jn. 2:8-17)


Gal. 1:4. Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:


      B. Eternal (Rev. 11:15)


      Jim Elliot wrote, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”


          1. Subtlety of the world (Jn. 18:36)


      A Christian does not make decisions based on this passing evil age.


Mk. 8:36. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?


          2. Surrender to His will (do the will of God–Mk. 3:5; Jn. 4:34, 6:38, 7:17; Rom. 12:2; Eph. 6:6; Heb. 10:7-9-36; 1 Pet. 4:2)


      On the tombstone of D. L. Moody, who received his coronation on 22 December 1899, were written the words of 1 Jn. 2:17–“He that doeth the will of God abides forever.”


“Only one life, ‘twill soon be past;

Only what’s done for Christ will last.”


ENDNOTES