TEMPTATION BY THE WORLD
I John 2:15 – Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
The term world does not always refer to the universe as created by God. It often is used to describe the community of sinful humanity that possesses a spirit of rebellion against God. “We know that we are of God and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.” (1 John 5:19).
Because of its opposition to God, the world values those things that are contrary to God’s will: “the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16). Its temptations to the believer are thus twofold: lust for the sensual and pride in the mastery of one’s own life.
The attraction of the world is amplified by Satan who is head of its system. He is called the “ruler of this world” “Now is the judgement of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.” (John 12:31).
“I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.
(John 14:30) “Of judgement, because the ruler of this world is judged,” (John 16:11).
“And the whole world is said to be under his power. (I John 5:19), where “wickedness” can also be translated as “wicked one”).
Some of the tragic effects that love of the world will produce in the believer’s life are:
a) A turning away from the Lord’s work and other believers.
“For Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and had departed from Thessalonica – Crescens from Galatia, Titus from Dalmatia.” (2 Timothy 4:10);
b) Alienation from God.
“Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (James 4:4).
c) Corrupting sins.
“by which we have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2 Peter 1:4);
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not him. For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world.
And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. (I John 2:15-17);
d) Deception by false teachers.
Beloved do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (I John 4:1)
For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and an antichrist. (2 John 1:7)
The solution to the love of the world is to have greater love for the Father (I John 2:15).
The Christian who seeks daily to please God in everything and who strives for spiritual growth through prayer, study of God’s Word and witnessing need not fall prey to the temptations of the world.
Sol.Gerardo J. Fernandes