DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD

Passage: 1 John 2:12-17

Key verse: 17

NIV

Reasons for Writing

12 I am writing to you, dear children,(A)
    because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.(B)
13 I am writing to you, fathers,
    because you know him who is from the beginning.(C)
I am writing to you, young men,
    because you have overcome(D) the evil one.(E)

14 I write to you, dear children,(F)
    because you know the Father.
I write to you, fathers,
    because you know him who is from the beginning.(G)
I write to you, young men,
    because you are strong,(H)
    and the word of God(I) lives in you,(J)
    and you have overcome the evil one.(K)

On Not Loving the World

15 Do not love the world or anything in the world.(L) If anyone loves the world, love for the Father[a] is not in them.(M) 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh,(N) the lust of the eyes,(O) and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away,(P) but whoever does the will of God(Q) lives forever.

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Footnotes
  1. 1 John 2:15 Or world, the Father’s love
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

12 I am writing to you, little children,
    because (A)your sins are forgiven for his name's sake.
13 I am writing to you, fathers,
    because you know (B)him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
    because (C)you have overcome the evil one.
I write to you, children,
    because (D)you know the Father.
14 I write to you, fathers,
    because you know (E)him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
    because (F)you are strong,
    and the word of God abides in you,
    and you have overcome the evil one.

Do Not Love the World

15 (G)Do not love the world or the things in the world. (H)If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—(I)the desires of the flesh and (J)the desires of the eyes and pride of life[a]—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And (K)the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

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Footnotes
  1. 1 John 2:16 Or pride in possessions
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. I write you because...(12-14)

John writes to all believers. Some are children in the faith, some are mature shepherds and fathers, and others are growing young men. He reminds us that we are no longer under the bondage of sin, for our sins have been forgiven. Knowing God is the fountainhead of life (Jn 17:3). To know God the Father means to have an intimate love relationship with him. Shepherds must not only love their sheep; they must also have a personal love relationship with God. Otherwise, they cannot help anyone. Young men must have fighting spirit--but their strength is not physical. It comes from the word of God in their hearts. With this sword of the Spirit anyone can overcome the evil one.

2. Love God, not the world (15-17)

If we love the world, i.e., spend our time thinking about and/or trying to satisfy our large and small worldly desires, then there is no room in us for the love of the Father.

Prayer: Lord, renew and refresh my love for you so that the love of the world may not occupy my heart.

One Word: Love God and overcome the world