Episode Details

Welcome to the Hope Bible School verse-by-verse Bible study of 1 John. This is Jeff M Newman. Get a new lesson every other week on Mondays at 12:00 PM Eastern.

In Lesson 40, we are going to study the first part of 1 John 2:15.

Let’s read our verse.

1 John 2:15 Do not love the world or anything in the world...

Let’s take a look at the definitions of the words of this part of the verse.

Do not (3361. mé - Adverb) means to negate the underlying idea of a statement, ruling out its possibilities (HELPS Word-studies).

love (25. agapaó - Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural) means to wish well to, to take pleasure in, or to long for.

the world (2889. kosmos - Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular) means something ordered or an ordered system like the universe or creation. (HELPS Word-studies)

or (3366. méde - Conjunction) means not even or neither.

anything in the world (2889. kosmos - Noun - Dative Masculine Singular) means anything in this ordered system.

In other words, we are to rule out all possibilities of taking pleasure in or longing for the world or the ordered system. And, we are not to love anything in this ordered system.

What is this ordered system, or what is the world?

The evil one, or Satan, is known as the god of this world.

Satan created an ordered system that is designed to cause you to disobey and turn your attention away from God.

The things of the world are the values, desires, and behaviors that are contrary to God's will.

You have a choice. You can either love the world or love God.

You cannot love both simultaneously.

You are called to resist the temptations of the world that lead you away from God.

The temptations of the world will attack you from all angels.

In 2 Corinthians 4:4, we read that the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving. The god of this world's goal is to keep you from seeing light of Christ and to entangle in the things of the world.

2 Corinthians 4:4 The god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

In Ephesians 2:1-3, we read that before you knew Christ, you walked according to the course of this world. The world is controlled by the Satan or the evil one and is also known as the prince of the power of the air. His world system is designed to control you through the lust of your flesh and cause you to indulge in the desires of your flesh.

Ephesians 2:1-3 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3