Introduction:
A. One day a group of 1st graders took a tour of a hospital.
1. The person who had guided them on the tour then opened it up for questions.
2. One little fellow asked, “How come the people who work here are always washing their hands?”
3. After the giggles had subsided, the tour-guide gave a wise answer: “They are always washing their hands for two reasons. First, because they love health; and second, because they hate germs.”
4. In more than one area of life love and hate go hand in hand.
B. Today we want to talk about the love that God hates.
1. So far in John’s little letter we have been reminded of the importance of love – the right kind of love - love for God and for others.
2. Today John is going to warn us that there is a wrong kind of love – a love that God hates.
3. And this is love for what the Bible calls “the world.”
C. We will get into what all of this means in just a minute, but before we do let me point out that as Christians we are in a battle.
1. Very soon after each of us becomes a Christian, we discover that the Christian life is not a playground, rather it is a battleground.
2. We are caught in the middle of the struggle of good and evil.
3. God through His Spirit is trying to influence us for good, and Satan and his cohorts are trying to influence us for evil.
4. We, however, have this tendency to want to straddle the fence, having one foot in God and the other in the world.
5. John is going to point out very clearly, that such a position is unacceptable.
6. There is no middle ground in his understanding – either you love God or you love the world. You cannot love both.
7. Jesus taught us that it is impossible to serve two masters (Mt. 6:24), and James said much the same things in James 4:4 when he said, “friendship with the world is hatred toward God.”
8. The famous preacher, Billy Sunday, used to make fun of the term “worldly Christian” – it is kind of an oxymoron. He used to say that talking about a worldly Christian makes about as much sense as talking about a heavenly devil.
D. So, as John tries to address these kinds of issues in today’s text, he is really doing two things: first, he gives some encouragement, and then he gives an exhortation.
I. A Word of Encouragement
A. The challenge that John faces in this section is how does a person put people on guard without making them feel altogether insecure.
1. In Chapter 2, verses 12-14 John attempts to assure those who remained in the congregation that they are in good standing with God.
2. He wants them to know that they have been properly taught, and were appropriately grounded in the genuine faith.
3. These were surely some of the charges being made against the church by those who had left.
4. So, John wrote, “I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, dear children, because you have known the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.”
B. As we look at these words of encouragement, we notice that there is a wonderful symmetry here.
1. Each of the three groups (children, fathers, and young men) are addressed twice in the same order.
2. And what is said the second time repeats and reinforces what is said the first time.
C. There is some question as to the meaning of these titles.
1. Are we to understand these groups as literal age groups? (literal children, fathers, young men)
2. Are we to see them as symbolic of stages of maturity?
3. Or are we to see this simply as a literary device that actually refers to all the members equally?
4. In my opinion the designation of “children” stands for all the Christians to whom John is writing. “Fathers” refers to the older ones, both men and women, and “young men” refers to the young men and women in the faith community.
5. It was commonplace among early Christians to address the members of the church with family terms. (Using general categories)
6. And in John’s writings he commonly used “children” to refer to the whole faith community.
7. To the whole community of “dear children,” John offers two reassurances and each of them directly corresponds to the controversies they have been facing.
a. First, John reassures them that their sins have been forgiven.
b. Second, John reassures them that they have known the Father.
c. These are bedrock truths that Christians can cling to – we are uniquely God’s children and can cry out “Abba!” “Father.” “Daddy.” We know God and our sins are forgiven.
8. To the older, more mature members of the community referred to as “Fathers,” John reassures them that they, like the whole community, have “known the Father,” but have done so “from the beginning.”
a. We have seen thus far that the phrase “from the beginning” is an important one to John.
b. He has used it in reference to Jesus (1:1); and in reference to the command to love (2:7).
c. John is suggesting that those who are mature in the faith, those whose spiritual maturity and experience reach back many years, have a knowledge of God that is anchored in years of experience. Thus they have known God from the beginning.
d. It is their seasoned wisdom that makes for steadfast faith in the present circumstances.
9. The final group John addressed are the “young men”, whom I believe are the young men and women of the faith community.
a. Their knowledge of God brings a zeal often not found among the more mature.
b. Therefore, John affirms them by saying that they are strong and that the Word of God abides in them.
c. But that strength is for a purpose – to overcome the evil one.
D. As I said, keep in mind that John’s overall point is to give the church the assurance that it needs.
1. He is about to give them a strong warning, and he has already given them some very strong words about those who profess certain things but are way off course.
2. So, John, guided by the Spirit, paused for a moment to offer some encouragement.
3. We need this kind of assurance as well, don’t we?
4. We need to be reminded that our sins are forgiven on account of his name.
5. We need to be reminded that we have known him who is from the beginning.
6. And we need to know that we are strong because the Word of God lives in us and enables us to overcome the evil one.
7. It is important for us to be secure in these things, but that security should not lead to overconfidence nor apathy.
II. The Word of Exhortation
A. John now offers a stern warning.
1. Look at verses 15-17, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 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. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.”
2. Two choices stand before everyone – even God’s children.
3. Either we love the Father or we love the world.
4. John cautions us about falling away into spiritual duplicity – claiming to love God while our hearts are possessed by the world.
B. What does it really mean to love the world?
1. Why can’t we love the world, doesn’t the Bible say in John 3:16 that God loved the world?
2. We must realize that the word “world” is used in several different ways in Scripture.
a. The word “world” often refers to the physical world – the earth.
b. The word “world” sometimes refers to the world of mankind – human beings.(Jn. 3:16)
c. The word “world” sometimes refers to the world system – the way of life that is opposed to God.
3. This last meaning is certainly the one that John is referring to in this passage.
4. John is telling us that we must avoid infatuation with worldliness, and then John lists three characteristics of such infatuation.
5. Older versions called these three the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.
6. Peterson’s paraphrase renders verse 16 like this, “Practically everything that goes on in the world – wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important – has nothing to do with the Father.”
C. We could spend a lot of time on each of these three characteristics this morning, and go into great detail on what each of them might entail, but I really don’t think that is necessary.
1. I think in our heart of hearts, we know what loving the world really looks like. Don’t we?
2. But part of our challenge is that our heart is deceitful. No matter how carefully we might define these terms, it is so easy for us to rationalize whatever we might be involved in.
3. The desire of the flesh is what draws us to that which is sensuous, sexual, and self-indulgent. It is opposed to the Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit which includes self-discipline and purity.
4. The desire of the eyes includes our attraction to the tangible; all the material stuff to which we attach so much importance. Materialism is the enemy of contentment, and spirituality.
5. And the pride and boasting in what one has and does needs little explanation. The arrogance of money, achievements and awards combine to erode our sense of our utter dependence on God.
D. Certainly John’s opponents in this letter were ruled by this unholy trinity of worldliness, and John wants his dear children to be on guard about this spiritual battle.
1. John is quick to remind them and us that the world and its desires pass away, but the person who does the will of God will live forever.
2. I love the promise that Peter gives in 2 Peter 1:3-4, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”
3. We must trust that God has enabled us and equipped us to escape the corruption of the world caused by evil desires.
4. But we must be vigilant and make every effort to keep our hearts fixed on loving God and not be drawn to this world.
Conclusion:
A. As we conclude, allow me to give us three things to remember.
B. First, Let’s remember that we must be in the world but not of the world.
1. One man said, “It is right for the church to be in the world; it is wrong for the world to be in the church. A boat in the water is good; that is what boats are for. However, water inside the boat causes it to sink.” (Harold Lindsell)
2. It might be helpful to picture ourselves in the world like a scuba diver in the water.
a. The scuba diver puts on a protective suit and takes his special environment with him. He doesn’t breath the water, but breathes air from elsewhere.
b. Likewise, we must put on our protective armor and take our special environment with us as we walk in fellowship with God in the world.
3. Let’s regularly check ourselves individually and collectively to see to what extent worldliness and worldly values have invaded the church.
4. Satan is oh, so crafty. So we must be ever vigilant!
C. Second, Let’s remember to value the whole family of God.
1. When John was offering the encouragement in verses 12-14, he said something specifically to the older and the younger believers.
2. Often times these two groups have a hard time understanding and appreciating each other.
3. But in reality, both groups need each other desperately.
4. Now, although we realize that age doesn’t give a person intrinsic spiritual maturity or authority, those who have an older and more mature faith provide an unparalleled service to the body of Christ – they have an anchored faith that is “from the beginning.”
a. The church needs the stability and wisdom that can only come from many years of walking with God.
b. Older and more mature Christians have a savvy about the Christian life that can be found nowhere else.
c. That is something that I had a hard time understanding and valuing when I was younger, but as I age and mature in the faith, I have an increased appreciation for those who have gone before me and who continue to walk with the Lord.
5. Likewise, the younger men and women have something very different to offer the faith community.
a. The younger ones have a freshness, passion and transparency that forms a different kind of strength for the church.
b. Without the stability of the older ones, this youthful, exuberant zeal might take the church in a direction other than its historic and biblical moorings, which is usually tragic.
c. However, the impulsiveness and recklessness of youth are a needed balance to the carefulness and slowness of age.
6. So, let’s be sure to value everyone in the fellowship for the necessary contributions they make, both young and old.
D. Finally, Let’s remember that our security is not in our perfection, but in the grace of God.
1. God’s grace is no excuse to walk in worldliness, but it is our ongoing source of assurance.
2. John reminds us, his dear children, that our sins are forgiven on account of his name.
3. Kevin Young tells a story in an article called, "Cliffhanger: Reaching Out for the Father," that sums up our security in Christ.
a. Young was at a Special Olympics competition as runners were being helped to their marks for a 400-meter race.
b. A man in front of him who had on a three-piece suit jumped up and began yelling, “Lenny! Lenny!”
c. An overweight middle-aged man with Down’s Syndrome turned his head and looked up to the man calling his name.
d. The starting gun sounded and the runners leaped forward — all except Lenny, who was dead last and losing ground.
e. He had a preoccupation with his hands, which he wrung furiously as he tried to make his way around the track.
f. Pointing to him, the fellow who had called his name turned and spoke to the people around him. “That’s my son, Lenny. Isn’t he doing great?”
g. When Lenny reached the last turn on the track, the other runners had already finished.
h. The man in the suit began to shout encouragement to his son, waving his arms in the air. “Great job, Lenny! Way to go, son. Keep going, you’re doing great!”
i. He turned to the spectators again and announced that his son was about to finish.
j. People applauded dutifully, feeling somewhat embarrassed.
k. When Lenny crossed the finish line, the man made his way down to the track and hugged his handicapped son who was exhausted – and still wringing his hands.
l. Young writes: While I watched them embrace, I began to weep. As I thought about what I saw, it seemed as though God was saying to me, “You’re like Lenny in this race I have called you into. You’re challenged, perplexed, far behind the pack. Most days, you’re a pitiful pile of exhaustion. But I’m here cheering you on. I love you the way that man loves his son.” (Kevin Young, "Cliffhanger: Reaching Out for the Father" Pray! (Jan/Feb 2003), p. 40-41.)
4. That, my brothers and sisters, is our security.
5. That is what the world cannot give.
6. That is why we must be on guard against the evil desires, materialism, and pride that can tear us away from God.
7. And that is why we will live forever, because our sins have been forgiven on account of His name!
E. What do you need today?
1. Do you need some assurance; some encouragement? You can find that in today’s text.
2. Or do you need some exhortation; a warning; a wake-up call? You can find that in today’s text also!
3. In this text we find John telling us to watch out – loving the world will kill you, but loving God will bring life, both now and for eternity!
