Do not love the world [Grk. kosmos] nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. (1 John 2:15-16)
When John writes and tells the Christian “do not love the world”, he’s not talking about the physical planet. The Greek word kosmos as it is used by the apostle John and others most often refers to “that which is hostile to God…lost in sin, wholly at odds with anything divine, ruined and depraved.”[1]
The world-system is mankind and society functioning without God. It is first and foremost “a way of thinking about life that is contrary to the biblical way or divine viewpoint.”[2]
...the Bible repeatedly warns the believer not to love the world or the things in the world. We are to be set apart (Col. 2:8; Jas. 1:27; 4:4; 1 John 2:15-16).
The world is the Christian’s enemy because it represents an anti-God system, a philosophy that is diametrically opposed to the will and plan of God. It is a system headed by the devil and therefore at odds with God (2 Cor. 4:4). Likewise, the world hates the believer who lives for Christ (John 17:14). The Lord never kept this a secret from his own. He told them often of the coming conflict with the world (e.g., John 15:18-20; 16:1-3; 32-33; cf. 2 Tim. 3:1-12). It is in this wicked world we must rear our families and earn our livelihoods. We are in it, yet are not to be a part of it.[4]
If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. (John 15:18-19)
These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)
I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. (John 17:14-17)
Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you. (1 John 3:13)
2 comments:
Any thoughts on what is coming next? Jobs are supposedly going back up, the protests have leveled out with the rioting/looting being very minimal now, curfews are getting lifted, there has to be something else coming, right? No way we start getting back to normal after all of this, yeah?
It felt like we were in hyperspeed for a few months and now it almost seems like it's slowing down. Just curious your thoughts.
Birthpains - there will be a lull and then right back again - who knows what the next set of birth pains will look like...Israel is bombing Iranian strongholds near the northern border, ebola is threatening again in africa, the locusts in the far east now, quakes....But they are coming faster and w more intensity....Also the gathering up happens while people eating and drinking and having marriage ceremonies - so life is returning to normal in that regard.
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