“Dangers to Avoid” – 1 John 2:15-27
Introduction
Believers will be tempted by the things of this world and by the deceit of false teachers, but they can abide in the truth of the gospel by the power of God’s Spirit.
Some jobs are dangerous, but the value and necessity of the work outweigh the risk involved in completing the tasks. Miners face cave-ins. Medical professionals risk daily exposure to infectious diseases. Firefighters could easily lose their lives at the next blaze. Individuals who regularly face hazards pay attention and try to minimize their risks. Similarly, we believers can’t abandon the work God has given us to do in this world; rather, we must be alert and diligent.
Over View
John guided his readers along a spiritual path that would lead them away from danger. He used this section of his letter to warn his audience about sinful interests that lead away from God and toward self-centeredness. The end result of such values is destruction, but the reward of following God’s path is everlasting fellowship with Him.
John identified those who taught false doctrines as antichrists—misguided or deliberately evil individuals, some of whom had previously identified with the group of believers to whom John was writing. Their straying away from truth was proof that they didn’t know God and, in fact, were living in disobedience to Him. An antichrist is someone who refuses to acknowledge Jesus as Lord and who denies both the Father and the Son. John assured his readers of their salvation by proclaiming that they were living in light of God’s truths by opening their lives to the Lord. Because God is truth, He can’t lie or mislead others, as the false teachers were doing.
John reminded his readers to continue abiding in Christ, remaining obedient to His commands. Although human effort is important in terms of living out one’s professed beliefs, John asserted that salvation depends solely on God’s faithfulness, not on human achievement. By receiving John’s instruction, readers could distance themselves from the misinformation of the false teachers and could experience dynamic fellowship with God.
Read 1 John 2:15-27
15 “Do not love the world or the things that belong to the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. 16 For everything that belongs to the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s lifestyle—is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does God’s will remains forever. 18 Children, it is the last hour. And as you have heard, “Antichrist is coming,” even now many antichrists have come. We know from this that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. However, they went out so that it might be made clear that none of them belongs to us. 20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you have knowledge. 21 I have not written to you because you don’t know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie comes from the truth. 22 Who is the liar, if not the one who denies that Jesus is the Messiah? This one is the antichrist: the one who denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son can have the Father; he who confesses the Son has the Father as well. 24 What you have heard from the beginning must remain in you. If what you have heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that He Himself made to us: eternal life. 26 I have written these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 27 The anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you don’t need anyone to teach you. Instead, His anointing teaches you about all things and is true and is not a lie; just as He has taught you, remain in Him.”
LOVERS OF THE WORLD (1 John 2:15-17)
15 “Do not love the world or the things that belong to the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him.”
John had instructed his readers to demonstrate their love for God through holy conduct (1 John 2:3-6) and to love fellow believers (1 John 2:9-11). Next John commanded believers not to love the world or what’s associated with the world. John’s emphasis here isn’t a warning against appreciating the created world or against loving other humans. Rather, believers are to refrain from attaching themselves to attitudes and values that are directly opposed to God. Such affections can absorb or replace our love for God. (See additional notes)
Because we can’t express genuine love for God and the world simultaneously, to love one is to exclude the other (Matthew 6:24). Love is a powerful emotion that can be either misapplied to an inappropriate object or person or expressed in ways that honor God, who is the very definition of love (1 John 4:8).
16 “For everything that belongs to the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s lifestyle—is not from the Father, but is from the world.”
According to John, the world prioritizes all the body desires, all our eyes long to see, and all we can possess. John simply identified these as basic ways sinful humans rebel against God. John didn’t mean that the created world itself was evil but that the presence of sin has caused people to worship created things instead of worshiping the Creator.
“The lust of the flesh” refers to sinful interests and desires that lead us away from God. Because of our sinfulness, humans seek to fulfill natural desires in ungodly ways. While John certainly had in mind sexual desires, the meaning here is more encompassing, including any human craving used to gratify inappropriately. “The lust of the eyes” addresses our tendency to ascribe worth to the things we see without evaluating their eternal significance. The eyes are frequently the means by which sinful desires enter our mind. “The pride in one’s lifestyle” is an attitude that glorifies self and worldliness as opposed to complete dependence on God. All these values hinder our fellowship with God.
17 “And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does God’s will remains forever.”
Whatever belongs to the worldly nature might seem important during our lives on earth, but these things won’t last for eternity. God’s kingdom is eternal, and those who live for God’s glory above our sinful desires will be a part of God’s eternal kingdom. The things of the world are a poor substitute for an eternal destiny of fellowship with God.
ENEMIES OF THE GOSPEL (1 John 2:18-23)
18 “Children, it is the last hour. And as you have heard, “Antichrist is coming,” even now many antichrists have come. We know from this that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. However, they went out so that it might be made clear that none of them belongs to us.”
Once again referring to his readers with the affectionate term children, John identified this period of history as the last hour, which likely refers to the time between Christ’s first and second comings. That time is characterized by the coming of antichrists, people who oppose God’s kingdom as revealed in Jesus. The presence of opposition to the gospel validates that God’s kingdom was initiated on earth in the coming of Christ and one day will be ultimately fulfilled with His second coming.
The antichrists John mentioned had once been affiliated with believers in the church. Their presence caused dissension, and they eventually removed themselves from fellowship with believers. As John put it, “they went out from us” (v. 19). Their departure from orthodox Christian beliefs proved they were never genuine believers.
List anti-Christian influences in our culture. In what ways can Christians minimize the influence of those who oppose the gospel?
20 “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you have knowledge. 21 I have not written to you because you don’t know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie comes from the truth. 22 Who is the liar, if not the one who denies that Jesus is the Messiah? This one is the antichrist: the one who denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son can have the Father; he who confesses the Son has the Father as well.”
In contrast to people who hold false teachings about Jesus, As Christ followers, we are blessed with an anointing from God. Both the Spirit and the Word work in harmony to reveal God’s truths, affirming the gospel message of salvation through Jesus Christ. Thus, John could confidently say that believers know the truth, as opposed to heretics, who claimed knowledge but only deceived themselves. Because genuine believers know God, they’re able to distinguish God’s truths from the lies of false teachers. As a result, there’s no need to try to supplement our Christian faith with any kind of mystical experience or insights purported to be available only to a select few. Rather, as authentic believers, we know enough of God’s truths to spot counterfeit teachings when they arise.
John labeled the false teachers as liars for failing to acknowledge the truth about Jesus. John exposed their hypocrisy by stating that Jesus and the Father are distinct but inseparable: to be in fellowship with one is to be in fellowship with the other, and to deny one is to deny the other. We must either confess Christ or deny Him; there’s no middle ground.
FAITHFUL TO THE GOSPEL (1 John 2:24-27)
24 “What you have heard from the beginning must remain in you. If what you have heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that He Himself made to us: eternal life.”
The idea of remaining (abiding) in Christ was central to John’s theology. A relationship with God must be cultivated daily if we’re to grow as Christians (John 15:4-5). Being faithful to biblical teachings and abiding in Christ give believers reassurance of our salvation. The reward for trusting our lives to Jesus is eternal life, which is based on God’s faithfulness, not on human achievement. God’s promise of eternal life for believers is both a future expectation in heaven and a present reality as believers remain in fellowship with Christ.
26 “I have written these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 27 The anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you don’t need anyone to teach you. Instead, His anointing teaches you about all things and is true and is not a lie; just as He has taught you, remain in Him.”
The false teachers were trying to lure believers away from faith in Christ through heretical doctrine. The power of the indwelling Holy Spirit of God and obedience to the gospel message strengthen us as believers to resist giving in to false teachings. Because the Holy Spirit reveals the truth about salvation in Jesus Christ, we don’t need additional teachings invented by misguided humans.
Concluding Remarks and Application
As Christ followers, we must avoid embracing the world’s beliefs and values. No matter how glamorous and convincing any worldly philosophy may sound, following the appeal and allure of this world will only lead to destruction. Eternal life can be found only in the truths of the gospel. By rejecting the world’s values and keeping a distance from false teachings, we can remain faithful to the gospel and strong in our faith.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
The term “world” as it used throughout the New Testament often refers to the vast world system that exists independent of God (i.e., going its own way without regard for Him) and basically opposed to Him. It is how things in the world have operated ever since the first human gave in to Satan’s temptation, disobeyed God and brought the curse of sin upon all creation. As a result of defying
God, humankind gave up the authority over creation that God had originally delegated to them. Satan then seized control and began to dominate human endeavors (ideas and efforts) with his evil purposes. This means that the “world” in its present condition is characterized not only by wicked, immoral and selfish lifestyles, but also by a spirit of rebellion and indifference toward God and His revelation. This attitude is characteristic of all humans and human endeavors that are not submitted to Christ’s leadership and authority.
Consequently, Satan often uses the world’s ideas of morality, its philosophies and the social customs that oppose God, His people, His Word and His standards. Most of these issues and areas of life are not evil in and of themselves, yet Satan works through any or all of them to promote his purposes and cause spiritual deception. For example, health systems may be used to promote the taking of lives, as with abortion, or educational systems may be used to nurture in students an ungodly and humanistic philosophy. Or more subtly, the clothing industry can be greatly used to promote general habits of dress that would bring shame and offense to those who live according to the standards given God for His people.
The “lust of the eyes” refers to coveting (i.e., desiring what belongs to someone else) or lusting for things that are appealing to the eye but forbidden by God or outside His perfect plan. This includes the desire to read, listen to or watch things that offer immoral pleasure and promote ungodly ideals. In the present modern age, this includes being entertained by watching pornography, violence, vulgarity, ungodly conduct, nudity, or immoral behavior portrayed on a wide range of media.
The “pride in one’s lifestyle” refers to an attitude of subtle pride and arrogance that often comes with wealth, material blessings, positions of power, personal achievements, honors or other apparent successes. This can lead to to a feeling of self-sufficiency that does not recognize God as Lord or His Word as the final authority. This attitude of the human spirit seeks to exalt, honor and promote oneself in life. It is the opposite of submission to God and His Word, and it defies the spirit of humility demonstrated by Jesus and required of His true followers.