The Evidences Of Life

A Caution to Heed

1 John 2.12-17

[So far in 1 John we have discovered that there is:] 

• [A Communion To Cherish]
• [A Covenant To Proclaim]
• [A Cleansing To Receive]
• [A Commandment To Keep]
• [A Compassion To Show]

[In this study we will discover that there is A Caution to Heed.] 

[A Caution to Heed (1 John 2.15-17, cf vs 15; Col 3.2; Matt 6.19-21) - Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. - Love not the world, and the distractions and allurements that accompany it.  A born again Christian should be naturally disposed to,] 

[Colossians 3:2 ² Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.]

[Matthew 6:19-21 ¹⁹ Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: ²⁰ But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: ²¹ For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. ]

[A born again Christian should realize the evidence of a new outlook on life.  Their life in this world, while real, and vibrant is but a vapor.  The New Testament reminds us,

[James 4:14 ¹⁴ Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.]

[Christians are but sojourners in this mortal life.  This temporary existence will one day give way to their eternal life in Christ and their everlasting home will be forever revealed.  A spiritually mature Christian will come to realize that everything offered in this life is but a stepping stone into eternity to come, and should be used to prepare themselves and guide others to their eternal home. ]

[Our mortal lives are but a preparation for our eternal life to come.]

[But the natural tendency of mankind is to place higher priorities on the things of this life and world then they ought.  Our success in life is often and normally measured by our perceived success in life.  We measure our accomplishments in terms of our prosperity, our social and political prowess or position, and a number of other purely mortal and vain cultural tests.  There is nothing spiritually or morally wrong with stature and success in life.  There is no inherent evil that accompanies prosperity or position, until either of these becomes the presiding priority in ones life.]

[For the born again Christian there should be an acute awareness and accounting of that which is mortal and temporal in comparison to that which is eternal and enduring.  The things of this life and this world need to be viewed and used in their proper place within God’s eternal plan and kingdom.  Our affections will direct our allegiances which will guide our priorities which in turn will determine our actions.  For this reason John reminds every born again Christians that there is a caution to heed in this mortal life.]

[Consider that the realization of and heeding to this caution are a mark of spiritual life in a truly born again Christian.  The recognition of this caution is an evidence of spiritual life.]

In this passage we discover: [In verses 12-14 the apostle address Christians of varying levels of spiritual growth.  It is important to link verses 12-17 together as one chapter or thought in the context of the passage.  It is as though John is saying, you are born again and are at different levels in your spiritual growth, but you have all realized some form of spiritual renewal and growth in your Christian Journey.  No matter where you are in your spiritual journey there is a universal caution that must be reiterated continuously in your life.  This caution is equally important to every born again Christian.  The allurements of this world are relentless.  They continuously draw upon us and seek to vex our righteous souls.  Remember lot and what the New Testament records about lot.] 

[2 Peter 2:7-8 ⁷ And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: ⁸ (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)]

[The prosperity, prestige, and prowess of this world and life in it will draw upon your spiritual well being for the duration of your Christian life.  At every level in your Christian Journey this caution is the presiding caution in your spiritual development.  Renew it in your mind, remember it and heed it continuously.] 

A.     The Attractions of Life (vs 15) [Those things that attract - Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. - The world and its things - How do you look at them? They should not be the source of your fulfillment or your meaning of life.   If you base your sense of self-worth and satisfaction on this world’s goods, your focus is wrong.  If you consider them as resources and tools to use to fulfill God's purposes, your focus is right. ] 

1.      God and Stuff  (Gen 1.26-28; Matt 6.19, 21,24; Col 3.1-2; Rev 4.11) [- How God looks at this world’s stuff: ] 

a.       [Things provide a Domicile (Gen 1.26-28) – Dominion – Everything is a part of the dominion granted to mankind by God.   All of creation was designed and put in place for God’s special and supreme creation mankind.  God did not make man for creation, but made creation for mankind.  When God place Adam in the Garden of Eden God gave Adam dominion and told Adam to subdue the creation God had made.] 

[Genesis 1:26-28 ²⁶ And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. ²⁷ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. ²⁸ And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.]

(1)   [Dominion – רָדָה  raw-daw' (Heb)  - have dominion, rule dominate ^[1] ]

(2)   [Subdue -  כָּבַשׁ kabash kaw-bash' (Heb) – to tread with the feet, to trample under feet^[2] ]

b.      [Things are Decaying (Matt 6.19) - This worlds things are fleeting - They will decay and can be stolen. ] 

Matthew 6:19 ¹⁹ Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

c.       [Things can become Dictators (Matt 6.21,24) - They are intended to serve man, not for man to serve them. ] 

[Matthew 6:21 ²¹ For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. ]

[Matthew 6:24 ²⁴ No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. ]

d.      [Things Distract (Col 3.1-2) The things of this world were never intended to be the center of mans affections, they do not last and should not be looked upon as our greatest treasures. ] 

[Colossians 3:1-2 ¹ If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. ² Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. ]

e.       [They are intended to be used as tools to please God (Rev 4.11). ] 

[Revelation 4:11 ¹¹ Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. ]

2.      God and Significance (vs 15; Matt 19.16-22) [- The focus of your heart  - Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. - You will either love God or you will love the world, never both. ] 

a.       [Our Singular Focus - God created man with a singular focus, you can only focus upon one thing at a time. ] 

(1)   [Likewise your heart can only hold one thing as truly preeminent - God or the world. ] 

(2)   [Everything else, while valuable, will fall under that which is truly preeminent. ] 

(3)   [Jesus demonstrated this with the rich young ruler (Matt 19.16-22).  Jesus revealed what really ruled the rich young ruler’s life when Jesus told him to sell everything he had, give to the poor, and come follow Jesus.  We must hear the message of the Lord clearly in our own lives.  Who or what rules our lives.] 

b.      [Our Priorities] 

(1)   [For some it is their prosperity - Their possessions - The rich young ruler.] 

(2)   [For some it is their posterity - Their families – Abraham, God made Abraham decide in the most profound way whether God or his family ruled in Abraham’s life.  We must hear God message to Abraham for our selves.  Who hold the preeminence in your life? ] 

(3)   [For some it is their position - Their reputation or social standing - King Saul.  King Saul revealed the God’s command was secondary to his opinion of the current situation.  It was a presiding reality in King Saul’s life.  There are many in our day who call Jesus Lord, but live under the light of their perceived needs or situational ethics.]  

[Notice God's call - Love God first, and let everything find its proper place under God. ] 

B.     The Allurements of Life (vs 16) [– For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. - Those things that distract.  The indicators of Spiritual Maturity. ] 

1.      Physical Distractions (Gen 3.6) [- The lust of the flesh  - It is important to note that the allurement here is the lust of the flesh, not just the desires of the flesh.  To desire in normal, human, and an evidence of life.  Consider the word lust and compare it with desire.] 

a.       [Lust - ἐπιθυμία epithumia ep-ee-thoo-mee'-ah (gk) - desire, craving, longing, desire for what is forbidden, lust.  This is taking a natural and normal desire and changing it in to an inordinate desire.  It is not wrong to have sexual desires, however it is wrong to allow those desires to become sinful desires or desires that lead into sin.] 

b.      [Your physical desires can lead you astray.  They will draw you away from God. Any desire that would lead you into sin and break your fellowship and communion with God is a lust.] 

c.       [The needs of your body can become the love of your life - Gluttony, Sexual perversion, addictions, etc . . .  If the desires of your flesh have become inordinate desires, if they take you to the point where you would do anything to fulfill a fleshly desire then your desire has become a lust and that lust has become your idol or God.] 

d.      [The interaction of Eve with the serpent in the Garden of Eden demonstrates how all three of these allurements worked together to lead her into her rebellion against God. ]  

[Genesis 3:6 ⁶ And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, . . . ]

[Eve wrestled with the lust of the flesh and lost the battle.  She saw the fruit on the forbidden tree and allowed her desire to taste of that fruit to overpower her mind.  The lust of the flesh is a powerful allurement.  Most of us have wrestled with some physical allurement and know how compelling a desire that has turned inordinate and become a lust can be.]

[Desire is lust under control.  Lust is desire out of control.  In other words, do not allow your physical desires to control what you do.]

2.      Psychological Distractions (Prov 4.23; Gen 3.6) [- The lust of the eye – The eye is one of  the gateways to the heart and is possibly the most powerful of all gateways.  You “see” something you want and that image is burned into your mind and will not be relieved until the desire is achieved.  This is why the Bible warns,] 

[Proverbs 4:23 ²³ Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. ]

a.       [Those things that you see can lead you astray and draw you away from God. ] 

b.      [The things you want can become the ultimate goal of your life - A better house, A nicer car, A larger bank account, ect . . . ] 

c.       [For Eve in the Garden not only did the fruit promise to satisfy her taste and hunger, the fruit just look good.  It was pleasing to her eyes.] 

[Genesis 3:6 ⁶ And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, . . . ]

[Even was driven by her fleshly desires, she was also driven by her covetous eyes.  She was out of control in what se saw.  She looked with lustful desire upon the fruit of the tree, and she failed to control what she saw.  Sin and rebellion often look good on the outside, but on the inside, given a little thought, a spiritual and wise being should be able to discern the deadly poison inside.]

3.      Spiritual distractions (Gen 3.5-6) [- The pride of life - Pride deals with your sense of position, regard, or standing in the minds of those around you.  Pride is an issue of perception and presumption.  What you feel might provide a desired reputation may actually be very different than what might really give you or rob you of status and position.  ] 

a.       [Those things that give you standing and a sense of fulfillment can draw you away from God. ] 

b.      [That which truly touches our heart, or who we feel we are, can become the focus of our lives - Our Parents, our children, our reputation, etc . . . ] 

c.       [The serpent allured Eve with the powerful enticement of ultimate authority and individuality.  ] 

[Genesis 3:5-6 ⁵ For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. ⁶ And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.]

d.      [The foolish idea that we are or can be God’s in and of ourselves, or even God’s of our own lives is the ultimate delusion.  Do you think you are a God or even the God of your own life.  Then reach down into the dust of the ground and form a human being and then breathe life into that creation.  You must one day admit that you are no God. ]  

C.     The Adjustment of Life (vs 17) [- And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. - Those things that Contrast.  When you come to your senses, and receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior there is a reckoning in your mind and life with the reality that God is God and you are not.  There will also be a renewed focus in your life.  You live under the light of your life’s focus.  There are two possible focuses for your life.] 

1.      Mortal Focus [- Those Things that cannot last - Every thing in this world will one day perish. ] 

a.       [Everything that satisfies our physical needs will one day be gone, and even now are perishing. ] 

b.      [Every item that enlightens the eye and satisfies its lust will one day fall apart and perish. ] 

c.       [Every one that might lift us up in our own heart and in the hearts of the world will one day die and stand before God. ] 

2.      Immortal Focus [- The only things that will truly last - anything that is done for God. ] 

a.       [If we meet the God given needs of this flesh so that is can glorify and please God, that will last. ] 

b.      [If we use every resource that man has invented to glorify and please God, that will last.]  

c.       [If we nurture, encourage, and raise up our families and children to love, glorify and please God, that will last.]  

CrossRoads Baptist Church, April 20, 2008, Evening