PT-1 "The Command Not to Love the World" (1 John 2:15a)

 

EVENING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 10/30/2024 10:22 PM

 

My Worship Time                                      Focus:  PT-1 “The Command Not to Love the World”

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                        Reference:  1 John 2:15a

 

            Message of the verse: “Do not love the world or the things in the world.”

 

            The first thing we want to do is to talk about the word “world.”  I will not quote from my Online Bible dictionary on the word “world.”

 

2889 κόσμος kosmos kos’-mos

 

probably from the base of 2865; n m; TDNT-3:868,459;  {See TDNT 407 }

 

AV-world 186, adorning 1; 187

 

1) an apt and harmonious arrangement or constitution, order, government

2) ornament, decoration, adornment, i.e. the arrangement of the stars, ‘the heavenly hosts’, as the ornament of the heavens. 1Pe 3:3

3) the world, the universe

4) the circle of the earth, the earth

5) the inhabitants of the earth, men, the human family

6) the ungodly multitude; the whole mass of men alienated from God, and therefore hostile to the cause of Christ

7) world affairs, the aggregate of things earthly

7a) the whole circle of earthly goods, endowments riches, advantages, pleasures, etc, which although hollow and frail and fleeting, stir desire, seduce from God and are obstacles to the cause of Christ

8) any aggregate or general collection of particulars of any sort

8a) the Gentiles as contrasted to the Jews {Ro 11:12 etc }

8b) of believers only, {Joh 1:29; 3:16; 3:17; 6:33; 12:47 1Co 4:9; 2Co 5:19 } {See Pink_Sovereignity Appendix D, John 3:16 21 }

 

            Now I will quote from John MacArthur’s commentary on what he has to say about this word world.

 

            “By examining the use in a particular biblical context, and properly comparing Scripture with Scripture, one can understand the various meanings of the term world.  In this verse it is clear what John is not referring to.  First, he is not speaking of the physical world, or the created order. John would not have commanded his readers to hate something that God in Genesis 1:31 pronounced was originally ‘very good.’  Even through creation is marred by the fall (cf. Genesis 3), nature’s physical beauties still reflect God’s glory and demand praise.  The psalmist expressed this principle eloquently:

 

            The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. 2 Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech, nor are there words; Their voice is not heard. 4 Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their utterances to the end of the world. In them He has placed a tent for the sun, 5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber; It rejoices as a strong man to run his course. 6  Its rising is from one end of the heavens, And its circuit to the other end of them; And there is nothing hidden from its heat. (Ps. 19:1-6; cf. 104:1-32; Acts 14:15-17; 17:23-28; Rom. 1:20)”

 

            Lord willing, we will look at the second point from MacArthur’s commentary, and try and finish up this section then too.

 

10/30/2024 10:41 PM