Good stuff Dale - can I share my message on the same passage - Peace, Steve Worldly Affections Intro. He has just given assurance so they would not be discouraged, but he also does not want them to be overconfident so he adds this caution to bring about a balance and to help them stay focused on the grace of God in their lives. I. The world and its things: To love or not to love that is the question A. A Conflict? 1. John strongly commands – “Do not Love the World” – what does he mean by this … after all wasn’t it also John who recorded the words of Jesus in his Gospel 2. John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 3. Is there a conflict here? 4. If God loved the World so much that He would send His Son Jesus Christ to die for it, then why is He now commanding us through John to “Not” love the World? 5. Why is God telling us to not love something that He loved greatly? Seems quite strange. 6. The only solution seems to be that John 3:16 and 1 John 2:15 are speaking about two different “world”s and indeed they are, as well as two different loves. B. Shades and Shadows 1. There are slightly different nuances and shades of meaning in many words 2. e.g. being in a Jam 3. The same is true in biblical language as evidenced by these two passages with some of the same words. As in interpreting any passage, context is always king. 4. World – can mean the cosmos> the universe, life on earth, or human society under the grips of Satan (anti-God and in rebellion against Him) a. John 3:16 – World clearly is referring to people, i.e. people in the world, and not just any people but His people – that is a slightly different subject b. I John 2:15 – World clearly is not the people, but the dominion of the evil one as he rules over human society, culture and organization as it demonstrates itself in being opposed to God i. Earlier John urged that we should love the people – love our brother in vs. 10 ii. He is not contradicting what he said earlier – he is calling us to not love the anti-God mentality of the world iii. He will demonstrate this more clearly when he describes in vs. 16 what is in the world. 5. Love – can be a pure self-less love or it can be a self driven obsession a. John 3:16 – the holy love of Redemption and the aim is to save the sinner’s person. b. I John 2:15 – the love specified is an obsessive love of participation where the aim is to share the sinner’s sin. 6. We are commanded not to obsess or participate in worldliness or anti-Godness in the world 7. As in John’s day – our own society and culture is saturated with this anti-God worldliness. a. Not often what we think of as do’s and don’ts or a list of taboo activities – as these things tend to change over time – what was forbidden yesterday is ok today and may or may not be ok tomorrow b. Worldliness is a mindset – a heart issue, it is “not things” but rather a ‘devotion’ to anything that is contrary to God and His Word – we can certainly see this in government structures, political correctness and even in churches where there seems to be no difference between moral and immoral, right and wrong, truth and falsehood. 8. John gives two reasons in support of this Command to not love the World II. Reason #1: (vs. 15-16) The Incompatibility of Loving God And the World A. Cannot Have Two Loves (15b) 1. Love for the anti-God world and the love for God the Father cannot exist side by side. 2. They are mutually exclusive – there is no middle ground –it is “either-or” It cant be “both-and” 3. Hence the words of Jesus: Matthew 6:24 24 " No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. 4. But isn’t this what we see people trying to promote today – even in the visible church. You can love your sin and God at the same time – you don’t have to deny your sinful ‘alternative lifestyle’ or renounce your faith, because both are just fine. Can’t we all just get along – don’t we all just love Jesus – even though some of us think he was just a man and not the only way to God the Father or mother as it may be. Can’t we live in peace and unity together – 5. The answer my friends is simply – NO! - 2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 6. You cannot serve or love both God and the World that denies and hates Him B. Different Fruit: (vs. 16) Comparing Apples and Withered Fig Trees 1. All that is in the world (i.e. the fruit we are calling worldliness) is from the world – it is not from God the Father. 2. The Evil Fruit a. Lust of the Flesh – the passions and desires of the heart run amok, not kept in check by the Gospel of Christ and the Spirit of God – The cravings of sinful man bent on satisfying oneself. b. Lust of the Eye – temptations and desires that are brought on from the outside – a captivation via the eyes – “the love of beauty divorced from the love of goodness” and God. Led to Achan’s sin in the Israelite camp during the time of Joshua as well as David’s sin of adultery and murder. c. Boastful pride of life – NIV – Boasting of what he has and does – exalting one’s self over others – arrogance - seeking to outshine even the shiniest of our neighbors – Not just keeping up with the Jones’ but surpassing them all together and making them look like they live in poverty compared to one’s self. 3. Possibly even the three Great Temptations – Eve and Jesus - compare this list with Genesis 3:1-6 and Matthew 4:1-11 4. This is the dead, wicked fruit of worldliness – it certainly doesn’t come from God – the Fruit that God produces is the same which is produced by the Spirit 5. Galatians 5:22-23 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control 6. The two fruits are opposite and incompatible with each other – one is living and life giving the other is dead and deadly. III. Reason #2: (vs. 17) The Transience of the World compared to the Eternal God A. The World is passing away along with all that it contains including its lusts and temptations 1. The World is passing away just like in vs. 8 2. It will be no more – there will be nothing left of this wicked anti-God world of which John speaks 3. James 1:10-11 as a flower of the field he will pass away. 11 For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man (or worldly man) also will fade away in his pursuits. 4. The world will go and pass out of existence, it will disappear not only the form of it but also all those who love it. 5. Why love something that will not only not last but will also bring upon you your own destruction. B. But…There is a hope and a way out 1. vs. 17b 2. Or in the words of the prophet Isaiah - Isaiah 40:6-8 "All flesh is grass, And all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. 7 The grass withers, the flower fades, Because the breath of the LORD blows upon it; Surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever." 3. The one who obeys the command of God to not love the world not only is the word of God perfected in him (as in vs. 5) but he abides – he dwells, has his home rest and refuge in the Lord forever. 4. And forever lasts, well, forever! IV. Gleanings A. Will you be caught up in the affections for this world or will you keep your primary focus heavenward and glorify God by doing His will and bearing His fruit in your own lives as well as spreading the seeds of the Gospel that they might take root wherever you may go. B. The assurance we considered this morning in vs. 12-14 is balanced by this great caution in vs. 15-17. But even this caution should give us strength and assurance as it gives us the hope of the everlasting life with our Father in Heaven and His Son Jesus Christ