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Eric Otchere I http://www.livingourbible.com I Tuesday 24th February 2026

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Introduction

The Apostle John delivers a clear and uncompromising command: “Do not love the world or the things in the world” (1 John 2:15–17). This was not written to unbelievers but to believers—people washed by the blood of Jesus Christ. The instruction is not a suggestion; it is a divine command.

In every generation, including ours, the church faces competing influences—false teachings, cultural pressures, and subtle compromises that blur the line between godliness and worldliness. John reminds us that loving the world is incompatible with loving the Father. The Christian life is not about blending into culture but about belonging fully to God.

The Meaning of “World”

When Scripture speaks of “the world” in this context, it is not referring to trees, oceans, or physical creation. It speaks of a system—a mindset and value structure that operates independently of God.

Romans 12:2 warns us, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” The world thinks differently, chooses differently, and defines success differently. It prizes accumulation, self-exaltation, and pleasure. Yet Scripture calls us to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37). There is no percentage left over for divided loyalty.

“Loving the world is incompatible with loving the Father.”

The Three Dangerous Gateways

John identifies three primary channels through which the world captures hearts:

1. The Lust of the Flesh

This refers to sinful appetites—physical desires that operate outside God’s boundaries. Galatians 5:19–21 lists works of the flesh and warns that those who practice them will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Sin often begins as “occasional,” but unchecked appetites grow into habits that enslave.

2. The Lust of the Eyes

The eye is a powerful gateway. Jesus raised the standard in Matthew 5:28, teaching that even lustful looking constitutes adultery in the heart. What we repeatedly expose ourselves to shapes our inner world. Images, ambitions, and desires can quietly redefine our convictions.

3. The Pride of Life

This is the pursuit of status, power, and recognition apart from God. It was pride that led Lucifer to fall (Isaiah 14:12–15). Ambition is not wrong, but ambition without submission to God’s will becomes rebellion. The world celebrates self-promotion; heaven honors faithfulness.

The World Is Passing Away

John gives a sobering reminder: “The world is passing away, and the lust of it.”

Malachi 4:1 speaks of a coming day that burns like an oven. Matthew 24:35 declares that heaven and earth will pass away. 2 Peter 3:10 describes elements melting with fervent heat. Everything we cling to—possessions, platforms, applause—will one day disappear.

Why then anchor our hearts to what is temporary?

“The Christian life is not about blending into culture but about belonging fully to God.”

What Truly Endures

“But he who does the will of God abides forever.”

God’s will includes salvation (2 Peter 3:9), sanctification (1 Thessalonians 4:3), perseverance in trials (James 1:2–4), and transformation (Romans 12:1–2). Jesus warned in Matthew 7:21 that not everyone who says “Lord, Lord” will enter the Kingdom—but those who do the Father’s will.

It is not about speech. It is not about achievements. It is about faithfulness.

Conclusion

The call is simple yet profound: examine your life. Are your appetites, affections, and ambitions aligned with God—or shaped by the world?

The world is passing away. God’s will remains forever. Choose what lasts.

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