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Renouncing Any Love of the World (1 John 2:15)
Christians are admonished not to love the world. How does Scripture define the term world?
The term kosmos (translated "world") designates the universe, the earth, humankind, the realm of existence, and the way of life opposed to God. The term occurs more than 20 times in 1 John and 2 John. The world needs salvation (1 John 4:14), yet it is hostile to God and His people (1 John 3:13). It lies in the power of the evil one (1 John 5:19), and false prophets, antichrists, and deceivers are in the world (1 John 4:1, 3; 2 John 7). It is not wrong to possess the world's goods, but they should be shared with the needy (1 John 3:17). Finally, the world needs to be overcome (1 John 5:4, 5). In the Johannine epistles the term world is predominantly a negative term, because the world is in rebellion against God.
An interesting tension arises in Scripture regarding our relationship to the world. On the one hand, we are told not to love the world, but then on the other hand, the Bible is clear that God loves the world (John 3:16). Meanwhile we are told not to love the things in the world, yet we are admonished, over and over in Scripture, to love people, and people are certainly in the world.
The end of verse 15, and the next verse, help us to understand what John has in mind. He does not say we should hate humans or despise Planet Earth; rather, we should hate the things of the world that, if cherished by us, will keep us from knowing and experiencing for ourselves the love of God. That is, we need to stay away from the things of the world that will keep us from having a saving relationship with God. Be painfully honest with yourself. What are some of the things of the world that you love, that you know are wrong? Or are there things in the world that, of themselves, aren't bad but that you love more than God? What will it take to make you give them up?
Colossians 2:8 (New International Version) "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ."
Christians are admonished not to love the world. How does Scripture define the term world?
The term kosmos (translated "world") designates the universe, the earth, humankind, the realm of existence, and the way of life opposed to God. The term occurs more than 20 times in 1 John and 2 John. The world needs salvation (1 John 4:14), yet it is hostile to God and His people (1 John 3:13). It lies in the power of the evil one (1 John 5:19), and false prophets, antichrists, and deceivers are in the world (1 John 4:1, 3; 2 John 7). It is not wrong to possess the world's goods, but they should be shared with the needy (1 John 3:17). Finally, the world needs to be overcome (1 John 5:4, 5). In the Johannine epistles the term world is predominantly a negative term, because the world is in rebellion against God.
An interesting tension arises in Scripture regarding our relationship to the world. On the one hand, we are told not to love the world, but then on the other hand, the Bible is clear that God loves the world (John 3:16). Meanwhile we are told not to love the things in the world, yet we are admonished, over and over in Scripture, to love people, and people are certainly in the world.
The end of verse 15, and the next verse, help us to understand what John has in mind. He does not say we should hate humans or despise Planet Earth; rather, we should hate the things of the world that, if cherished by us, will keep us from knowing and experiencing for ourselves the love of God. That is, we need to stay away from the things of the world that will keep us from having a saving relationship with God. Be painfully honest with yourself. What are some of the things of the world that you love, that you know are wrong? Or are there things in the world that, of themselves, aren't bad but that you love more than God? What will it take to make you give them up?
Colossians 2:8 (New International Version) "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ."
God Bless! Betty