THEME: LOVE NOT THE WORLD
LESSON: TWO
TOPIC: identifying the World (Part 1)
TEXT: 1John 2:15,16; 5:4,5; Galatians 1:14; 6:14
MEMORY TRACK:
By the grace of God, in our last lesson, we say that the term “world” as is used in the scriptures does not always imply evil. There are good worlds, which are by-products of God’s word, first in the soul of God’s creations, then in their environment through them. We also saw that there are bad worlds, which are bye products of the perverted and twisted nature of the word levels in fallen and disobedient angels. It is this bad perverted world we are told not to love, but to overcome (1 John 2:15; 1 John 5:4).
IDENTIFYING THE WORLD
On the heels of our last lesson, we shall begin to identify the world in terms of the theme of this study. Improper or inaccurate recognition of what the world is would make it difficult to comply with this express command in the scriptures. We are not to love the world as instructed by the Lord through His Holy Apostles (Peter, John and Paul) (2 Peter 2:20; 1 John 2:15; Romans 12:2). Even our Lord Jesus stated openly that the world hates Him and His followers (John 15:17- 19; John 17:14). So clearly, the world is not a friend or friendly in particular to anyone towing the path of salvation.
WHICH WORLD ARE WE TO HATE?
The earth was designed to function by a world. God created the earth and the world (Psalm 24:1; Hebrews 11:3; Acts 17:24). The present world before the fall, was the working system given to Adam to operate in the earth. Satan came along and hoodwinked Adam into giving up his rights to the operating system of the earth. He then swapped it out with his own WORLD (2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:1-2).
The Greek word “KOSMSOS” which translates to WORLD in our theme text (1John 2:15) does not readily distinguish between the world as a:
- Material Universe or the physical earth or the physical realm in which we live. The call not to love the world is not a call to hate the earth. The Lord God is the creator of the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). Not loving the world does not entail hating planet earth. No level of technological advancement in space travel will serve much advantage in the fulfilment of the command not to love the world.
- Inhabitants of the earth i.e., entire human race, often in a context that highlights their alienation from God. The command not to love the world is not an instruction to HATE human beings (Galatians 6:10). Jesus did not exemplify His contempt for the world by treating people who are not born again with disdain and despite. In truth, we are to live such and exemplary life in the presence of those who do not share our faith as believers (Philippians 4:4; 1 Peter 3:1; 1 Timothy 4:12).
- Worldly or earthly order or system of life and its affairs (referring to the harmonious order or arrangement for existence and hierarchy in the earth). This order was created and is controlled by an intangible, spiritual entity, its god (satan who is in direct opposition to God and all He stands for), and it is exemplified in the whole circle of worldly goods, endowments, riches, advantages, and pleasures
WORLD CONNECTS MAN TO ITS AUTHOR
Worlds are the creation of gods. Any world introduced to men by its author is with the specific aim to lead its recipients to the author itself. The connection to any god is the world the god introduces. In order for satan to connect with man and reign amidst men, he gave them his world (Ephesians 2:2; 1Corinthians 2:6). His world is his order and arrangement of life that he gave to men as a means of living and livelihood in the present.
It is so seamlessly woven into the present day existence and so pervasive, that it will only take the introduction of another world for man to be made free from it. He is called the god of this world and man received his world and loved it. Hence, anyone that loves this world, CANNOT have the love of the Father in him (1John 2:15). Why so? This is because the Father also comes with His own world (His order and arrangement of life) in order to connect man back to Him.
In our next lesson, we shall, in more detail, delve into the world we are called not to love, aiming by God’s grace to uncover its expressions, mannerisms and nuances.