Resource Detail

2026 1 John Lesson 3

DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD

1 John 2:12-27

Key Verse: 2:15

1. Who are “children,” “fathers,” and “young men” (12-14)? What reasons does John give for writing to each group?
2. Why is loving the world incompatible with loving the Father (15-17)? What does each phrase mean: “the lust of the flesh,” “the lust of the eyes,” and “the pride of life”?
3. What had the believers heard was coming in the last hour (18-19)? What is the meaning of “the anointing from the Holy One,” and how does it help believers in their lives (20-21)? Why is denying that Jesus is the Christ such a serious issue (22-23)?
4. What does the author urge them to hold on to, and what promise is given (24–25)? Why does John say believers do not need anyone to teach them (26-27)? What practical steps can you take to continue in Christ faithfully?

2026 1 John Message May 3, 2026

DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD

1 John 2:12-17

Key Verse 2:15

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.

Today’s message is titled, “Do not love the world.” When you hear that, what do you feel? It sounds a little heavy, right? Almost like… “Wait, does this mean I can’t enjoy anything anymore?” It can feel like God is saying, “No fun, no dreams, no goals!” And honestly, as I was preparing this message, I felt the same way. I thought preaching on “God loves you” or “God will bless you” would be much easier than “Do not love the world.” But we’re studying 1 John, and this is the passage for today. I can’t just skip it and move on to something more comfortable.

The truth is, there are so many enjoyable and attractive things in this world. These days I’m enjoying tennis. Just this past Monday, I played with some Korean pastors—and my team won several matches, so I felt great. I really enjoyed the fellowship with them as well. I’m leaving for Korea tomorrow night for the World Mission Congress. When I get there, I will have some tennis fellowship with UBF shepherds. I’m even bringing my racket with me. When I was doing business in Venezuela, I used to play golf because my business partners loved it. I also enjoyed nice restaurants—steak, Japanese, and Italian—and sometimes wine. When I traveled, I flew first class, stayed in five-star hotels, and even spent time on yachts in the Caribbean. Looking back, I experienced many of the pleasures this world can offer.

But after becoming a pastor, my life became much simpler. Most of my time is spent studying the Bible, meeting people, gathering at church, and worshiping God. Of course, I still watch YouTube—current events, politics, and the economy. I watch highlight videos of tennis, soccer, and golf. And yes, I watch Netflix too. If there’s a good K-drama, I enjoy it. Recently, my wife and I watched the Korean movie The King's Warden at a theater, and it was very touching. I don’t use social media much. Maybe I’m just lazy… or maybe I don’t trust it that much.

But the point is this: there are so many things in this world that can bring us enjoyment. After living in the U.S. for more than ten years, I can honestly say that life here feels very comfortable. For people living in poverty, life can feel like a daily struggle, almost like hell, so they earnestly long for heaven. But for people living with comfort and abundance, it’s easy to feel like, “We don’t really need the kingdom of heaven.” But right in the middle of all this, God speaks to us today and says, “Do not love the world.” So what does that really mean? And how can we practically live it out in our daily lives?

Before giving this important command, the Apostle John draws the attention of his church members. In verses 12-14, we see three groups of people: children, fathers, and young men. Who does each of these refer to?

First, “children.” Verse 12 says, “I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.” And in verse 14, it says that these children know the Father. John uses the word “children” many times throughout his letter. He is not simply talking about little kids, or even just spiritually immature believers. Rather, he is speaking to all believers—those who have received Jesus as Savior and have been born again.

Second, “fathers.” Verse 13a says, “I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning.” “Fathers” are spiritually mature believers. They are people who have walked with God for a long time and have experienced Him throughout their lives. We are blessed with many spiritual fathers and mothers—our senior missionaries and elders. They have shown us a good example of a life of faith, and we can learn so much from them. Personally, I deeply respect M. Grace Jeon. At the age of 70, she is still going to QCC, meeting young people, and teaching them the Bible. Not only that, she is caring for many people in our church. In many ways, M. Grace Jeon is like a spiritual mother to our community.

Third, “young men.” Verse 13b says, “I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.” Verse 14c says that they are strong, and the word of God lives in them. “Young men” are believers who are actively engaged in spiritual battle. They may not yet have the deep, long experience of the fathers, but they are strong. They are growing. They are fighting. These are people who are spiritually awake. They are standing firm against sin, temptation, and the influence of the world. And I also think about our young people—our college students and young adults. Each of them is engaged in their own spiritual battle. I pray that they will grow stronger, be clothed with the power of God’s Word, and overcome the evil one. And I pray that the presence and power of the Holy Spirit will be with all of us.

Now the Apostle John gives them a very important teaching. Please look at verse 15: “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.” What does it mean, “Do not love the world or anything in the world”? I think we need to avoid two common misinterpretations:

First, there is an ascetic interpretation. This is the idea that Christians must literally leave the world and separate themselves from society. It leads people to form isolated communities and live a monastic life. If you go to Pennsylvania, you can see Amish communities. They try to separate themselves from the influence of a sinful world by living very simple, humble lives. They avoid modern technology like television, the internet, and smartphones. I respect their way of life and their strong sense of community. But I don’t think this is what the Apostle John is teaching here.

Second, there is a legalistic interpretation. Sometimes people try to define “worldliness” by making a list—and then telling everyone, “You must not do this, this, and this.” For example, in the early 20th century in America, churches said, “Christians should not go to the theater. It’s too worldly.” But today, most churches wouldn’t say that anymore. In the mid-20th century, churches didn’t allow drums in worship. Even clapping was not allowed. People thought, “Worship has to be quiet and formal to be holy.” But now? Drums are everywhere. People clap, raise their hands, and even dance. Worship has become much more expressive and joyful. Another example is politics. Some people said, “Christians should completely stay away from politics.” So they just ignored everything happening in society. But a legalistic interpretation is not the right understanding of “Do not love the world.”

To understand this command correctly, we need to be clear about what John means by “the world” in this passage. What does the Gospel of John 3:16 say? “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” This verse is often called the key verse of the entire Bible. It says that God loves the world so much. But here in his letter, he says, “Do not love the world.” The same Greek word is used in both places: kosmos. But the meaning is different. In John 3:16, “the world” refers to God’s creation—all people, all that He has made. It is the object of God’s love. But in 1 John 2:15, “the world” refers to a fallen system—corrupted by sin, turned away from God, and under the influence of evil. So in the Bible, “the world” can carry these two different meanings. On the one hand, we are called to love the world that God created, including people. On the other hand, we are called not to love the world as a fallen system that stands against God.

Why is that? Because “If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.” These two loves cannot exist together. Loving the world and loving the Father are not compatible. God is light, and Satan is darkness. We can’t say, “I’m walking in the light…but also a little bit in the darkness.” If we truly love God, we cannot love this fallen world. If we find ourselves loving the evil world, it shows that the love of the Father is not filling our hearts. So we need to examine ourselves carefully. What do I really love? It is very easy to be deceived. We may love the sinful world and still think that we love God. Galatians 6:7 says: “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked.” God knows the desires of our hearts. So we must come before Him honestly. We must confess our love for the world and sincerely repent. Then we need to make a clear decision to love God alone.

Verse 16 describes three key characteristics of this fallen and sinful world: “For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.” Let’s take a moment to understand what each of these means.

First, the lust of the flesh. The word “lust” here comes from the Greek word epithymia, which means a strong desire. In a negative sense, it can be translated as “lust.” Now, desire itself is not the problem. Without desire, we could not survive. Think about it—hunger is a desire. If you don’t feel hungry, you wouldn’t eat, and that would be a serious problem. Sleep is also a desire. If you’ve ever had insomnia, you know how precious sleep is. You’re lying in bed thinking, “If I could just get one hour of deep sleep.” And what about sexual desire? God has given it to us as a blessing—part of love, marriage, and His command to “be fruitful and multiply.” So these desires are important. But the problem begins when desire goes in the wrong direction—when it becomes distorted, uncontrolled, and turns into lust.

It is also important to understand what “flesh” means. The word “flesh” comes from the Greek word sarx, which refers to the physical body. Our bodies are good because God created them. When the word “flesh” is used negatively, it refers to our fallen nature—the tendency to live according to our own desires without God. So the lust of the flesh is the sinful desire to live according to our own cravings rather than God’s will. For example, appetite is a good desire, but overeating or alcohol addiction is not. Sexual desire is also given by God, but when it goes outside of God’s design, it turns into sin. This fallen world promotes distorted desires that go against God’s will. Instead of living with self-control and obedience to God’s Word, following the lust of the flesh leads us into sin.

Second, the lust of the eyes. We see and interpret the world through our eyes, so our eyes are closely connected to our values. For example, when looking at a woman or a man, a person with a spiritual perspective will see someone made in God’s image. But someone with a worldly perspective may see that person as an object of lust. When King David saw Uriah’s wife bathing, lust entered his heart, and it led him into the sin of adultery. But if he had seen her with God’s heart, the outcome would have been very different. Today, many temptations come through our eyes. We live in a flood of media. Through TV, computers, and mobile phones, we watch YouTube, Netflix, TikTok, Instagram, and so many other forms of content. In a time like this, it is very easy to fall into the lust of the eyes.

Third, the pride of life. Here, “pride” refers to boasting, exaggeration, and showing off. So the pride of life is an attitude that elevates ourselves—taking pride in our life, our possessions, and our status. People like to boast about things like money, career, education, appearance, and achievements. Some even find satisfaction in thinking, “I’m better than that person.” In today’s world, this is especially visible on social media like Instagram. People usually post only their best moments—pictures at fine restaurants, luxury streets in Paris, large homes with pools, or posing in front of expensive cars with designer bags. Many people are living for what others will see. They become tied to likes, views, and followers. And those who see these posts often feel envy. Very few people share the ordinary or difficult parts of their lives. This is the reality we live in. The pride of life has become very normal in our society. But it pushes God out of the center and puts ourselves there instead. It leads us to present a false version of ourselves as if it were true. It also causes us to compare ourselves with others, leading to either pride or insecurity. In the end, we begin to value the things of this world more than God.

Then what should we understand about the world and its desires? Verse 17 says, “The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” The things of this world are temporary. They will not last. But the one who does the will of God lives forever. So we need to have this clear spiritual perspective. The Bible clearly teaches us what to love and what not to love. We are called to love God and love our neighbors. But we should not love the world or anything in the world.

Then how can we live this kind of life? We cannot do this by our own strength. We need God’s grace and power. We need to repent, accept Jesus, and be born again by the Holy Spirit. When we are born again, we become a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” Our desires begin to change. Instead of the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes, we begin to have holy, spiritual desires. Our perspective also changes. The things of the world that once looked so attractive—the glory and pride of this world—no longer look the same. Because we are a new creation, our spiritual eyes are opened. Now the things of God, the spiritual world, begin to look far more beautiful to us. In that new life, we can turn away from the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Instead, we begin to desire to know God, to follow Jesus, and to live as God’s people.

Then how should our Christian community view this world? As I mentioned earlier, we should be careful not to misunderstand this command “Do not love the world” as a call to an ascetic life. We are not called to turn our backs on the world and run away into the mountains. At the same time, we should not become a community that is indifferent to the world, ignoring things like politics and the economy. And we should not become a political group that simply supports a certain party or leader. Instead, we are called to speak God’s truth to the injustice of this world. We are called to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world—an alternative community. What is an alternative community? It is a community that does not follow the ways of the world, but lives by the way of God’s kingdom. It is a community where people honestly confess their sins and experience restoration. It is a loving community where people genuinely care for one another in both word and action. It is a community that serves and sacrifices for one another. It is a missional community where people follow Jesus as His disciples and share His gospel to the end of the world. This is a transforming community, empowered by the Holy Spirit, that has a positive influence on society and brings real change to the world. An alternative community is called to actively transform this fallen world with the value of God’s kingdom. I pray that our church may become an alternative community—a new humanity—empowered by the Holy Spirit to transform this world. The command of God is this: “Do not love the world, but love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength; and love one another as Jesus has loved you.” Amen.