Do Not Love the World | In light of love | 1 John 2: 15-17 | Ep.7

Welcome to Preaching from Bryans and Bible Church, located in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg, South Africa.

It is our prayer that this teaching would bless you, deepen your love for God's Word, and encourage you as you follow Jesus.

And if you are not a Christian, we pray that this message would encourage you as you explore the Christian faith.

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.

For all that is in the world, the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and the pride of life is not from the Father, but is from the world.

And the world is passing away along with its desires.

But whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Yes, and well, we are jumping back into a series uh yeah in the book of um uh letter of one John.

And so before I get started, I want to make a small confession to you.

And uh, my confession is simply is that my phone is cracked, it is properly cracked, the kind of cracked way every single time you're scrolling through your phone, you're also praying, Lord, please protect my thumb, because it is that cracked.

Uh cracked, and so when your phone gets to that stage, you start dreaming about having a new phone, one that is not cracked, one that is not slow, one that does is not full of storage messages, those ones that you get, or one that needs to be charged three times before lunch.

That kind of new phone, brand new phone that I am longing for.

And so the then there is something, and I'm sure we all relate with it, something strangely powerful when you lay your hands on one of these, right?

Something strangely powerful.

You just started feeling your own heart as you're just grabbing hold of the box.

You cannot wait to open it.

In fact, opening it is not just opening a random box, it is a ceremony.

And so when you open the box, you peek inside.

Oh, there it is, right?

You see the fans in there, you cannot wait to just slowly peel off the plastic off the screen, and so you will take it out of the box like it is a treasure, some sacred treasured object.

And in fact, in the weeks that are to come, you are going to take care of it, give it royal treatment, right?

Right, you won't even uh allow anyone to touch it with greasy hands, you won't allow anyone to just breathe over the screen right off the floor, and you will uh go and buy a screen protector.

In fact, you won't even put it in the same pocket as your keys, right?

You know, uh, you know, all that story, and so you say to yourself as you look at this uh uh funula this one I am going to treat properly, it's going to be my treasured baby forever.

But we all have seen that story before, right?

Oh no where it goes, right?

Sooner or later, you find the kids playing on it with sticky fingers, uh uh uh right, and so and and then all of a sudden the battery laugh after you had a uh head for a while starts to irritate you.

Or has this happened to anybody?

You drop it in between the car seat and the console into that dark place, right?

With coins and receipts and the old trip goes to die.

Or even worse, what happens?

We all know it, you would eventually drop it.

Eventually drop it.

And then all that hope, all that joy that you had, that satisfaction, that thing that you thought would ultimately bring you satisfaction and joy, you wash it, uh you watch it or become nothing but a disappointment.

And so then, friends, this morning, isn't that the thing with the things of this world?

Right?

That they do not remain new forever.

They don't remain shiny, they do not re remain these things that will that will bring us the hope that we thought that they would.

Sooner or later, they come crashing down, cracking under the pressure of the satisfaction that we place on them.

And that's the thing about the world, right?

The world has got this ability to take passing, fleeting things, and make them seem like they are permanent.

That they will bring us long-lasting satisfaction and joy.

And so we just see it crack often, time and time again.

It just cracks under the pressure, the weight of the joys that we place on them.

And so it happens with a phone or happen with a home or a car or whatever really, the things of this world cannot ultimately bring us the satisfaction that we long for, the satisfaction that we are searching for.

And you would think that when that happens, we will learn from, right?

Our mess, our for the false promises of the world, but that doesn't often happen, right?

No sooner as something or as something broke, uh breaks, or is no longer bringing us the satisfaction we thought it would, we move on to the next shining thing.

Still holding out for the same false promise.

Very much like phone upgrades themselves, right?

No sooner than the new model comes out, you start looking at the older model that you had that you once believed, would change your life.

And it becomes the very thing that you're looking to upgrade from.

And so, such is the things of this world, and that brings us right into the heart of what the apostle John is saying in our text this morning.

Last week, Pastor Mike took us through, teased us through uh John's pastoral heart toward us.

And so John wanted to remind us of what is already true about us in the Lord Jesus Christ, that your sins are forgiven, that you know the Father, and that you have overcome the world.

But then as John moves on with the with our text this morning, he knows that the comfort that those truths are supposed to bring to our lives can be easily overshadowed if we fix our gaze on the things of this world.

If we fix our gaze on the things of this world, and so then what he's wanting to do, he wants to lift up our gaze, peel, take away the veil so that we will see the world for what it truly is, and not give our heart towards it.

And so John is not continuing in the text, moving away from the pastoral case, sought to bring us last week, but he's still remaining on it.

Because sometimes what a pastor, what a pastor could do as he seeks to try to love us is not just simply tell us what is true about us, but also warn us about what will kill us.

That's what a loving pastor will do.

And so John in this particular text wants us to understand that the world, the world is fleeting, it is passing away.

And so do not become attached to this world.

And so the pastoral warning of care and love that John is extending to us in this text can be summarized simply in this way that the world will pass away and take you with it if you love it.

The world will pass away and take you with it if you love it.

And so let's jump into our text, verse 15.

Here's how John begins by saying, Do not love the world or the things in the world.

Now, there are different ways in which John uses the word world in his writings.

And so sometimes when he speaks about the world, it just simply means to create a world that has been made by God, that is full of beauty and blessings to be enjoyed.

But then at other times, when he speaks about the world, what he means is he's talking about the world that is in opposition against God, through its desires, through its uh uh cravings, and through its systems and its values.

And so when John writes, yeah, he's saying do not love the world and all the things in the world, what he is not saying is that we should hate the creation and people that God has made, or that we should not have a general love for creation or genuine appreciation or affection towards people.

Or neither is he saying that we should actually act suspiciously towards the good things in the world.

Think that everything that is in the world is somewhat inherently evil.

That's not what John is saying.

But when he says, do not love the world and the things in the world, he's saying, do not love the rebellious world that is in opposition against God.

That's the world that he's referring to.

The world that teaches us or tells us that we ought to build our lives apart from God.

The world that teaches, uh, teaches us that somehow we'll find satisfaction apart from God.

The world that teaches us that our true life is found or enjoyed as we disobey or move away from God.

It is that world that John is saying, do not love.

Why?

Because when you love that world, you are then participating in its rebellion against God.

You're participating in its rebellion against God.

That's why then he goes on to say, uh end of verse 15 if anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him or her.

It's not in him or her.

Now, let's not make the mistake here again to think that John is somewhat saying that God does not love worldly people.

That's not what he's saying.

Because if that was true, then God, the Father, would not have sent his son so that we would be saved.

Those of us who are broken and sinful in the world, then he would not send his son.

And so that's not what John is meaning.

And so what John is meaning here in this particular part of the text, he's talking about having a divided heart.

Divided heart that you cannot love the world that is in rebellion against God while still maintaining a love for God.

You cannot do it, and so you cannot give your deepest allegiance to both the Father and this world at the same time.

Now, for those of us who think like, well, I can do it, right?

Love the world and God at the same time, then you're underestimating, friend, the power of this world.

And so the world is not neutral, just sitting there innocently waiting for you to decide what you will do with it.

No, the world has got its own agenda, the rebellious world, its own agenda, and yes, its agenda to win you away, rip you away from your love of God and shape you into its rebellious uh nature towards God.

That's the agenda of the world, and so we are living in a hostile sinful world that is dead set, dead set on you rejecting God and your love for God.

And so that's the world that John is warning us against.

And so the world is actively looking, actively seeking to preach to us messages all the time, all the time, that you ought to build your life on this, or pursue that if you want significance uh and to matter in the world, or allow this to become your source of comfort, uh comfort, or choose that upgrade in order for you to be uh happier.

The world is preaching to us every all the time.

A single message to reject our love for God, to reject our love for God, and John is warning us against that message, would have us heed, would have us understand that there is a hostile world that is looking to pull you away from God, looking to pull you away from God, and so therefore, do not give your heart to the world.

Do not give your heart to the world.

That's his pastoral warning of care and love to us.

Now, as you're sitting here, maybe you're already thinking to yourself what loving the world looks like looks like.

Okay, what does it look like for us um or to love the world?

And so John wants to show us what loving the world will look like by actually showing us in the text what a heart that is given toward the world turns to.

And so look at verse 16.

For all that is in the world, the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and the pride and pride of life is not from the Father, but is from the world.

And so there are a few things that a heart given to the world turns to.

The first one, the desires of the flesh, the desires of the flesh.

Now, that word that desires refers to cravings, passions, longings, and the word itself is not negative at all.

And so telling us that not every desire is inherently sinful.

But the problem comes when those desires are no longer falling under the authority and are not submitting to God.

That's where the problem then comes.

In fact, that's what is meant by the word flesh in the text.

And so the desires of the flesh simply means fulfilling natural human desires in a way that is contrary to God.

In a way that's contrary to God's will.

That's what it means means.

And so the desires of the flesh, then whisper to us if you want it, have it.

If you feel like it, give yourself to it.

If it will make you happy, then you know it's good for you.

And so then those whispers start to train us to believe that self-denial is oppression, that self-discipline is deprivation, and that obedience to God's will somehow gets in a way to our ultimate happiness, the desires of the flesh.

And so it starts to train us to believe that we are slaves to our bodies, that our bodies essentially are our master, our our Lord.

And so we start to live in that way.

But John would have us know that living in that way, end of verse 16, is not from the Father, but is from the world, and so do not turn toward it.

Second, the desires of the eyes.

Again, yeah, the eyes are not inherently evil.

In fact, God gave us eyes so that we will see much beauty and give him glory for it.

But again, the problem comes in a fallen and broken world where our eyes start to become windows that allow discontentment to enter into our soul by way of coveting.

And so the eyes look and they begin to compare.

And out of that comparison they made, we begin to envy, and then we begin to crave certain things we do not have.

And so then the whisper of the desires of the eyes goes something like this.

If you see it, then you need it.

If they have it, then you should have it too.

And so you don't even know that you wanted a luxury car until you saw someone else driving with it.

You were content with your home until you saw their renovations.

You were grateful for the holiday you had, the family holiday you had, until you saw where they went.

You were proud of your child until you saw someone else's child achieving something your child has not.

And then you were fine with your life until your eyes started telling you that theirs seems more successful than yours.

And in a world of social media, of influencers, you are paid to sell us lies, advertising, and uh a constant visibility and wealth comparisons, we start to allow our eyes to sinfully disciple us into desiring those things.

John again would warn us, brother, sister in Christ, that way of seeing, end of verse 16, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

And so do not turn toward it.

And a third, in the pride of life.

That is a boastful confidence over the boastful confidence we place over the things we have, over the things we have achieved, over what we own, or what we know, or who we know, or how others see us.

And so basically, it is a life that is built upon status.

Status.

My title, my achievements, my success, my education, my influence, my ministry, my reputation, my ability to provide.

And so the pride of life whispers to us.

Look at what I have built.

Look at who I have become.

Look at why I matter.

And then we start developing this arrogance, this overconfidence that leads us not to depend on God.

As our hearts begin to turn away from trusting God, to actually be seeking for life in this world.

And John would warn us lovingly, as a pastor, that that way our seeking, end of verse 16, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

And so, friends, if we take a step back and just look at these three things, I hope, I hope that as we're looking at them, that we're beginning to see just how subtle worldliness actually looks.

Very subtle.

It can look like the cravings that we have stopped questioning, the desires that we have stopped guarding against, the comforts that we now feel entitled to, the comparisons we have started calling motivation.

That status we have started calling responsibility.

And in the place in which we lead our lives, yeah, in the northern suburbs or Joburg, northern Joburg abundance, often, often it trains us not to guard against the desires of the flesh, the eyes, the pride of life.

In fact, what does it do?

It calls us to admire it, to embrace it, to normalize it in our lives, to even brand it as true success.

As true success.

But John would warn us.

John then goes on to tell us exactly why.

Why, in this next warning, verse 17.

And the world is passing away along with its desires.

There's the crux, crux of John's burden in this particular text.

Thanks.

And it is simply this brother, sister in Christ, don't give your heart to the world.

Why?

Because it cannot last.

The world is passing away.

The world is passing away.

Now I know when we look at To uh look at the world, we can see some sort of kind of permanence that we can desire, that it looks impressive, it looks like it can give us all that we have ever wanted.

But John is saying, do not believe the facade, do not buy into its false promises.

Everything that the world holds out before you to chase after is temporary.

Why?

Because the world itself is temporary, it is passing away, and so then we're seeing that love for the world, love for the world is not only sinful, it is foolish.

Foolish, it is a fool's errand.

Why?

Because loving what will ultimately pass away means that you will pass away with it if you place your hope and your heart in it, and so it's a fool's error, and so John is begging and pleading with us through his days.

I don't love.

Why?

Because when it passes away, you will pass away with it if you love it.

Pass away with it if you love it.

Now, John does not just leave us with a warning, yeah, but he also gives us, extends to us an invitation.

Look at the end of verse 17.

But whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Friends, we've got to see that a beautiful, amazing contrast in this text.

That the world and everything in it will pass away.

But the person who does the will of God abides forever.

That person abides forever.

There's such a beautiful contrast to see.

Why?

Because it is telling us that the opposite of loving the world, friends, is not withdrawing from the world, it's not hiding from the world and waiting until its worst bloods over.

That's not the opposite of loving the world.

The opposite of not loving the world is doing the father's will.

That's the opposite.

Not loving the world, to do the father's will.

And so that means leading lives that increasingly yield and are shaped by the Father's will.

And when we begin to grasp that, oh, we begin to see Jesus Christ coming to the fall.

Right?

We begin to see Christ Jesus so beautifully.

Why?

Because if there was ever anyone who perfectly yielded to the Father's will, it would be Jesus Christ.

And so Christ Jesus did not live according to the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, or the pride of life.

No, he did not build his life on what this passing world would offer.

In fact, John tells us what Jesus himself had said about this.

You know, he confirmed that he didn't live by the things of this world.

As John captures this for us in John's gospel, he said Jesus said to them, his disciples, my food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work, who sent him, the father.

And so then what are we seeing?

We're seeing that what satisfied Jesus, what sustained Jesus, what directed Jesus was the will and the work of his father.

The will and the work of his father.

That's what satisfied Christ and Jesus Christ's obedience to the Father's will and to the Father's work was not just theoretical or just inner bubbles.

Oh no.

It led him ultimately to the cross.

To the cross, where the world would have said to Jesus, save yourself.

Choose comfort, preserve your life.

Jesus Christ chose obedience to the Father's will instead.

He humbled himself, was obedient to death, and ultimately death on the cross.

Why?

So that he would rescue us from our sins.

And it's because Christ Jesus pursued and was dead obedient to the Father's will, that's why death has got no hold over him.

Because he was faithful to the Father's will, the Father's word was the final word of a Christ Jesus.

What's the final word?

And the Father rose him up from the grave.

And that is why Jesus Christ lives forever.

And so when John is saying to us, whoever, whoever does the will of God abides forever, he's inviting us, friends, to step in the path of Jesus, to follow after Jesus, who obeyed the will of the Father.

And so the world threw its worst at Jesus.

And yet he kept remained faithful to the Father's will.

Faithfulness that seemed like foolishness to the world, but in the Father's arms has led to eternal life.

Eternal life.

And life to the full.

That's the invitation being extended to us.

And as we have seen already, begun to see in John's epistle, and we will go on to continue to see doing the Father's will as we follow after Jesus looks like leading lives of Sun doctrine, sincere obedience and sacrificial love, walking like Jesus.

That's what we're called to.

That's what we're called to.

And so John is warning us do not build on what were lost.

And so if you will not build on what were lost, yes, then the final calling, love what will lost.

Love what were lost.

And so what were lost, the father.

What were lost is the things that the father loves.

That's what we lost.

That's what we're lost.

And you guys put a twist.

One of the things that the father loves is the broken world.

Full of people created in his image.

Lost in sin.

Desperate need.

Desperate need of his saving grace.

That's who God loves.

Don't take my word for it.

John in his gospel tells us it.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only son.

That whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

And so the opposite.

And how is he loved?

With gospel compassion, with gospel truth, and with gospel mission.

That's how you love.

And so as we walk like Jesus in obedience to the Father's will, let us be a people who love like the Father loved through gospel compassion, gospel truth, and gospel mission.

Thanks for listening to the sermon from BBC.

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God bless you.