I John 2:16 (Part 3)

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For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.

THE STUDY:

          John lists the third tendency in words that cannot be translated easily. Translators provide a number of equally valid versions. Here are some representatives:

“The pride of life” (KJV, NKJV, RSV)

“The boastful pride of life” (NASB)

“All the glamour of its life” (NEB)

“The life of empty show” (NAB)

“Pride in possessions” (ESV)

“The boasting of what [man] has and does” (NIV)

The reason for these numerous variations lies in two Greek words: “boast” and “life.” The first word means the boasting of a braggart or impostor (compare James 4:16). This boasting may even approach the point of arrogant violence. The second denotes life with respect to actions and possessions. The person who brags about his deeds and goods expresses “lust for advantage and status.”^[1]

          What I tend to find in a person who boast about what he or she has materially is a person who is insecure about themselves. They find their identity in the material things they have and fill or replace that which is missing inside their heart. As a believer we know what is missing; Jesus. Finding contentment in Christ fills the void that has been missing since the fall of man. We cannot replace that with the world. If we try to do this, John tells us we are not from the Father but ….. from the world.

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away with the understanding this morning that the void that has been in our hearts and lives for all these many years can only be filled with the original occupant, Jesus Christ. Nothing else will suffice.

CONCLUSION:

          Paul tells us to live victoriously and to avoid excesses of the flesh. Moody once illustrated this truth as follows: “Tell me,” he said to his audience, “How can I get the air out of this glass?” One man said, “Suck it out with a pump.” Moody replied, “That would create a vacuum and shatter the glass.” After many impossible suggestions, Moody smiled, picked up a pitcher of water, and filled the glass. “There,” he said, “all the air is now removed.” He then went on to show that victory in the Christian life is not by “sucking out a sin here and there,” but rather by being filled with the Spirit.

          My prayer for you today is that you not try and fill that void in your life with material things of this world but with the original occupant of that void, Jesus Christ!

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

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^[1] Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953-2001). Vol. 14: New Testament commentary : Exposition of James and the Epistles of John. New Testament Commentary (272). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

I John 2:16 (Part 1)

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For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.

THE STUDY:

          As John continues on with the idea regarding “the world” we see him pointing out three things; desires of the flesh (Craving), desires of the eyes (Lust), and pride in possessions (Boasting). John is not saying “all that is in the world” is not of God. The word “all” that is used here is a word that can exhibit a completely normal sense, or can signal a narrative style that reports a certain event with exaggeration.^[1] I would lean toward the understanding that John is exaggerating this point. We do this in our everyday talk. I am sure all of us have said, “Every time I go into that store they lower the prices!” Is it really, “EVERY TIME?” We say this to exaggerate out point. John is doing the same thing in this verse.

          This morning John talk to us about the “desire of the flesh” which can be summed up in one word; craving. God created us with cravings; for food, for fellowship, and for sex. None of this is wrong except when it is abused or when it supersedes our relationship with God. When it becomes “our god” and we worship it instead of the one true God, this is when we are walking down a slippery slope!

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• Today, let us walk away with the understanding that not everything in the world is bad, wrong, or evil! It is how we handle, deal with, and display these worldly things that make them “not from the Father.”

• We need to make sure we don’t fall into this trap that Satan has for us when it comes to the world. We are to be in the world just not of it.

CONCLUSION:

          With an unprecedented number of Americans out of work, a reporter visited the famous Ocean Reef Club, Key Largo, Florida. This exclusive club has a membership of about thirty-five hundred, most of whom are millionaires or approaching it. On this day, the men had just returned from their yachts, tennis courts, and the links, and were ecstatic over the exotic buffet of expensive and colorful foods. When asked, “Is there a recession here?” a member replied, “I don’t know of anyone who has been laid off or anyone who is hungry. That isn’t part of our world.”

          Today, don’t try and have Jesus live in your “world” (abusing what is good)! Jesus wants for us to live in His world (everything is good)! AMEN!     

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

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^[1] Balz, H. R., & Schneider, G. (1990-). Vol. 3: Exegetical dictionary of the New Testament (48). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans.