“Warning: Lusts and Lies Ahead!”

(1 John 2:15-27)

Series: A Word for the Church [on screen]

Rev. Matthew C. McCraw, EdD

First Baptist Church, Bartow, Florida

September 19, 2021

The Passage

1 John 2:15-27

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s possessions—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 the will of God remains forever.

18 Children, it is the last hour. And as you have heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. By this we know 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 know the truth. 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 Christ? This one is the antichrist: the one who denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father; he who confesses the Son has the Father as well.

24 What you have heard from the beginning is to 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 concerning those who are trying to deceive you. 27 As for you, 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 it has taught you, remain in him.

Introductory Comments:

There are certain signs that we come across that are meant to warn us about particular dangers that lie ahead. Here are a few; see if you can guess what they are.[show pictures on screen]

Well, in this passage today, John is giving us some warnings about dangers that lie ahead for the Christian. It’s almost as if this passage provides warning signs for us as we live our lives for the glory of God.

We’re continuing our series in the book of 1 John. Today’s sermon has to deal with looking out for certain things. I’ve entitled this passage: “Warning: Lusts and Lies Ahead!” [on screen]

Let’s pray together as we begin this passage and as we learn what John wants to warn us about.

(prayer)

As John speaks to us about what to look out for, he also gives us some things that we should desire. So, in this passage, he gives two things that we should not love and two things that we should love. 

So, let’s check it out. First, . . .

I. Don’t love the world (15-17)[on screen]

Let’s see how John very clearly speaks to this. Look at verses 15-17.

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s possessions—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 the will of God remains forever.

Now, let’s establish, first of all, that John is not merely talking about the things of the world that are the material things of this earth, such as water, dirt, plants, and animal life. John is more so talking about the things of this world that are against the heavenly things that come from God. 

So, this would include the negative things of this world such as power, greed, hate, racism, lust, un-forgiveness, and the like. That’s easy. John would say don’t love those things!

However, this could also include