(1 John 2:15-17 ESV Taken from BibleGateway.com)
John is continuing to define an authentic Christian, someone who truly follows Jesus. John continues by saying that there are 2 types of love we have: love of the world and our love for God. John makes it clear that a love of the world is against the love of the God. Why can a Christian not love the world and God at the same time?
James enlighten us from chapter 4 verse 4 by saying, “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” So friendship to world, or like what the worlds gives you, is an enemy to God. The Greek word uses in the love of the world is agapao (G25). According to BlueLetterBible.com, agapao means in view of love towards humans it to welcome, to entertain, or to love dearly. This is the type of love Jesus was talking about in Matthew 5:44 when he was telling us to love our enemies. It is also a love that we should give God (Matt 22:37). It also has a definition for our love to things or stuff. In that case it means to be well pleased or to be contented at or with a thing. In Greek, the love used to show God love to is agapē (G26). That means affection, good will, benevolence, and brotherly love. Another word used is the King James is charity, also used to show God’s charity in offering salvation to us. Agapē is normal used to show God’s love for us. Paul used the same type of love in Romans 5:8, when he wrote, “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
A reason that a love of the world is wrong is that we once followed it ways. Paul says in Ephesians 2:2 that we “once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience.” This walk was in sin and against God. That is why Jesus tells in the Gospels that he has taken out of the world. He has freed us from the hold the world has on us.
John continues is verse 16 to tell us, Christians, that the flesh is part of the world. Paul says, “Those in the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:8) Paul also told the Ephesians, “we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” The desire of the flesh is completely against God (Galatians 5:17). So the natural tendencies of man are natural against God. Romans 3:23 says, “all have sinned and fallen short of God’s Glory.” Proverbs also tells us that our eyes are never satisfied (Proverbs 27:20).
As the desires of flesh and eyes are not of God because of the natural ability to sin, pride in our possessions is also against God. In Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goes before destruction.” The Bible states that God is against prideful people (Proverbs 8:13).
I think the reason that God is against the flesh and its desire is comes down to the fact that this world that hates God will pass away. Isaiah wrote, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” David knew that this world was only a temporary place when he wrote Psalms 102:3-12 & 25-28:
3 For my days pass away like smoke,
and my bones burn like a furnace.
4 My heart is struck down like grass and has withered;
I forget to eat my bread.
5 Because of my loud groaning
my bones cling to my flesh.
6 I am like a desert owl of the wilderness,
like an owl of the waste places;
7 I lie awake;
I am like a lonely sparrow on the housetop.
8 All the day my enemies taunt me;
those who deride me use my name for a curse.
9 For I eat ashes like bread
and mingle tears with my drink,
10 because of your indignation and anger;
for you have taken me up and thrown me down.
11 My days are like an evening shadow;
I wither away like grass.
12 But you, O LORD, are enthroned forever;
you are remembered throughout all generations.
25 Of old you laid the foundation of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
26 They will perish, but you will remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away,
27 but you are the same, and your years have no end.
28 The children of your servants shall dwell secure;
their offspring shall be established before you.
After all of this, there is a separation between God and the world. They are 2 different masters and they are against each other. Jesus tells us that we cannot serve two masters. So which one will you choose? Will you love the world and it thing or will you love God and be called out of this world? Verse 17 is part of what we need to believe, that the world will pass away and at that time we will be judged accordingly. God has a great gift called salvation thru Christ. Even though God loves his creation so much he gave his Son to save it. He still must punish us for the sin we enjoy before knowing him. Romans 6:23 clear expresses, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” All that God asks is that you repent and believe in him. Then you will serve the God your father instead of the world. In the words of Todd Friel from The Way of the Master Radio show, “Go serve your God and King.”
Father God, we were creation love ourselves so much that we made you jealous by serving false God. Before we knew you, we loved our sin. Now the Holy Spirit has turned are hearts to you. We thank you for that gift of salvation you gave through your Son. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.
