The Love for World Error (2:15-17)

Early Errors
A Study of 1st John

15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 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. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

1. How does the command here fit together with the statement that God loves the world?
The word "world" has a large semantic range. It can mean the universe, the planet, the people on a planet, a system, etc. Here, John is using it to mean the worldly system (the kingdoms of the world). In John 3:16, he uses the term "world" to mean "people"

2. What is meant by “the world” here?
The worldly system, the kingdoms of the devil

3. What are the “things” of this worldly system?
a. The cravings of sinful man
b. The lust of his eyes
c. The boasting of what he has and does

4. Isn’t it possible to love the Kingdom of God and the worldly system?
No. (See James 4:4). Christians may struggle with these systems, but they certainly don't love them. You cannot serve 2 masters, it's impossible.

5. What will become of the worldly system?
It passes away (Rev. 18)

6. What will become of the Kingdom of God?
It goes on forever (1 Peter 4:2-4, 1 Peter 2:11-12)


Next Week:
The ‘Antichrist’ Error (2:18-27)