“I write to you, dear children, because YOU KNOW THE FATHER. I write to you, fathers, because YOU KNOW HIM WHO IS FROM THE BEGINNING. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and YOU HAVE OVERCOME THE EVIL ONE.” (1 John 2:14) We have this discourse made to the various stages and positions in the members of the church. All Christians are not of the same standing; there are babes in Christ, there are grown men, and old disciples. As each of these have their peculiar situations, so they have their peculiar duties; but there are precepts and a correspondent obedience common to them all, as particularly a strong mutual love and hatred of the world! The word of God must abide in us WILL, so we can minister it to others; it is the nutriment and supply of strength to them; it is the weapon by which they overcome the devil; the sword of the Spirit, is what they use to quench the devil’s fiery darts: and those who have the word of God dwelling in them are well furnished for victory over the world. “DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father IS NOT IN THEM. For everything in the world–the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life–comes NOT FROM the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but WHOEVER DOES THE WILL OF GOD LIVES FOREVER.“ (1 John 2:15-17) Be crucified to the world, be dead to the affairs and enticements, of it. Each “level” of Christian should unite in this, in being dead to the world. Were they united in this “loving NOT the world”, they would soon unite upon other accounts: their love should be reserved for God; do not throw it away on the world. Now here we see the reasons of this encouragement and caution. There are several dangers in the world; it takes hard work to dispute or deter followers from the love of the world! “I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. As for you, the anointing you received from Him REMAINS IN YOU, AND YOU DO NOT NEED ANYONE TO TEACH YOU. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit–just as it has taught you, REMAIN IN HIM.” (1 John 2:26-27) Jesus has given us salvation, the most wonder, beautiful and extremely awesome gift we will ever receive, so hang on to it, and share it with others! “And now, dear children, continue in Him, so that when He appears WE MAY BE CONFIDENT AND UNASHAMED BEFORE HIM AT HIS COMING.” (1 John 2:28)
WILL, THE WORLD AND ITS DESIRES WILL PASS AWAY, BUT WHOEVER DOES THE WILL OF GOD LIVES FOREVER!
-Bill Stockham