The Love God Hates I John 2 12

The Love God Hates I John 2: 12 -17

Reasons for washing hands: first, love of health & second, hate of germs Love and hate go together “Ye that love the Lord, hate evil” (Ps. 97: 10) Right kind of love (I John 2: 7 -11) & wrong kind of love Love for the world

4 reasons why Christians should not love the “world” Because of what the world is World – 3 meanings Physical world, the earth God that made the world (earth) and all things therein (Acts 17: 24) Mankind: “For God so loved the world” (John 3: 16) He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew Him not. (John 1: 10)

Individual spiritual system opposed to God and Christ I John 2: 16 “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (John 5: 19) Unsaved people are energized by “the prince of power of the air” (Eph 2: 1 -2) Unsaved people belong to “the world” (Luke 16: 8)

People of “this world” did not understand Him (I John 3: 1) Christian is a member of the human world, and he lives in the physical world, but he does not belong to the spiritual world that is Satan’s system for opposing God. Believer’s citizenship in heaven (Phil 3: 20) -16) Because of What the World Does to Us (2: 15 “If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (I John 2: 15)

Worldliness is a matter of attitude & heart Worldliness affects your response to the love of God and the will of God I John 2: 17 – “The world passeth away…but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever. ” Doing the will of God is a joy for those living in the love of God

Test of worldliness Responding to the Father’s love (personal devotement) Doing the Father’s will (daily conduct) World system uses three devices to trap Christians “The lust (desire) of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (2: 16) Eve (Gen 3: 6)

Lust of the flesh appeals to man’s fallen nature not the body, nature we receive in physical birth (John 3: 5 -6) flesh & spirit (Gal 5: 17 -23) hunger vs. gluttony weariness vs. laziness sex vs. sexual immorality

“work of the flesh” (Gal 5: 19 -21) Flesh – negative “no good thing” (Romans 7: 18) Profits “nothing” (John 6: 63) “no confidence in the flesh” (Phil 3: 3) “no provision” for the flesh (Romans 13: 14)

The lust of eyes Gratify sight and mind Achan (Johsua 7) Eyes are the gateway into the mind The pride of life Pride: describe a braggart impressing people with importance Sacrifice honesty & integrity

Gradual Process Friendship of the world (James 4: 4) World & Christian are enemies Christian becomes spotted by the world (James 1: 27) The world ceases to hate Christian Believer becomes conformed to the world (Romans 12: 2) Conformed to the world (I Cor 3: 12 -15) Lot (Gen 13 -14, I Cor 3: 12 -15)

Because of What Christian Is (2: 12 -14) “little children…fathers, young men…little children. ” Little children: all believers; “born ones” Fathers: mature believers who have an intimate personal knowledge of God Know the dangers of the world “Young men”: conquerors Through the Word of God (2: 14, Eph 7: 17) not yet fully mature, but they are maturing “Little Children” in I John 2: 13: immature ones or little children still under the authority of teachers & tutors Some growing to do

Because of Where the World Is Going “The world is passing away” not permanent “Strangers and pilgrims on the earth” (Heb 11: 13) 2 ways of life Worldly person lives for the pleasures of the flesh; a dedicated Christian lives for the joy of the will Worldly believer lives for what he can see; a spiritual believer lives for the unseen realities of God

Worldly Christian lives for the pride of life; the vainglory appeals to men; a believer who does the will of God lives for God’s approval “Change and decay in all around I see” Henry F. Lyte (1793 -1847) God’s servants remains while else be forgotten Christian who loves the world never have peace or security

“The will of God” (Acts 22: 14, Col 1: 9) Understand His Will (Eph 5: 17) From the heart (Eph 6: 6) Doing what He tells us (Matt 7: 21) Obedience (Romans 12: 2) Stand complete (Col 4: 12); be mature in God’s Will

How to discover the will of God? “Present your body a living sacrifice…be not conformed to the world…that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. ” (Rom 12: 1, 2) If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine (Johnm 7: 17) Through His Word (Ps 119: 105) Through circumstances Through prayer and the working of His Spirit in our heart Inner voice

Christian is in the world physically (John 17: 11), but he is not of the world spiritually. One built on the sand the other on the rock (Matt 7: 24 -27) Kind of materials: temporary & permanent (I Cor 3: 11 -15) Love of the world is the love God hates.