Pastor Steve's thoughts

I read through the book of 1 John today. It seemed that every other word John used was “Love.” I ran a quick search and found out the word “love” is repeated 68 times. John’s repeated emphasis upon loving God and others is clear in this epistle. Not only are we to love God but we should not love the world.

1 John 2:15-17 says, “15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.”

Let’s define what John means by world. John uses the phrase in a figurative way which was very common in the 1st century. Today we might say “from the sports world” or “from the world of politics.” The Apostle John uses the term in a negative sense. For the apostle, the world system of beliefs and behavior is at odds with God.

Here’s a question to ponder. What are the implications of this verse?