1 John 2:15-17

I. “DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD” (1 John 2:15)

A. What type of “love”? Agape – sacrificial love
B. What is “the world”?
1. God’s creation (John 1:10)
2. Mankind (1 John 2:2; John 3:16)
3. “The mass of unbelievers hostile to Christ and resisting salvation” (John 15:18; 1 John 3:1; 4:4-5)

C. What is your primary concern? (Romans 12:2)
D. “…or the things of the world” (Mark 10:17-22)
E. “…the love of the Father is not in him” (Matthew 6:24; Romans 8:5)

II. THE TEMPTATIONS OF THE WORLD (1 John 2:16)

A. “The three avenues of temptation”
1. The lust of the flesh — the lust of the eyes — the pride of life
2. Good for food — pleasant to the eyes — make one wise (Genesis 3:1-6)
3. Stones to bread — riches of the world — heavenly protection (Matthew 4:1-11)

B. How to avoid the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (Galatians 5:16-24)

III. THE FLEETING NATURE OF THIS WORLD (1 John 2:17)

A. The world is fleeting, temporary, non-permanent (2 Corinthians 4:18; 2 Peter 3:10-12)
B. “God himself is eternal; and those who abide in him, will share in his eternal nature” (Guy N. Woods)