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#Post#: 3254--------------------------------------------------
Love not the world
By: Gaffer Date: November 18, 2015, 6:18 pm
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I don't know how widespread the practice is elsewhere; but where
I live, out in the country, people often have signs along the
road with Bible verses on them. They put effort into the signs
which are attractive and neatly done. I enjoy these signs too
since if I'm in a secular frame of mind, they often get me back
on track.
About two days ago, I saw one of the signs had changed. It now
has part of 1 John 2:15 -- "Love not the world."
As I drove on, I began thinking and then wondered how that fit
in with something else John wrote. Here are the two passages.
What do you make of them?
1 John 2: 15 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.
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.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that
doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,
but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world;
but that the world through him might be saved.
If God loved the world, why does John tell us not to?
#Post#: 3255--------------------------------------------------
Re: Love not the world
By: Piper Date: November 18, 2015, 7:14 pm
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[font=trebuchet ms]In 1 John 2, "world" seems to indicate the
things here that cause temptation, envy, pride--as stated in
verse 16. Such 'things' may give us temporary pleasure, but
they cause us to sin and/or have no eternal value.
In John 3:16, "world" speaks of people-- the people of the
world, who might "believe" and be saved.[/font]
#Post#: 3256--------------------------------------------------
Re: Love not the world
By: Kerry Date: November 18, 2015, 8:13 pm
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Thanks for that reply. I had something similar going round in
my mind. Yes, there seems to be a difference between loving
things as they are right now and loving people for what they can
become in the future, doesn't there?
Something similar is seen in these two passages, I think. At
first glance, they seem to contradict each other.
1 Corinthians 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and
blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption
inherit incorruption.
Matthew 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there
should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days
shall be shortened.
We could read that verse from Matthew to mean flesh is going to
be saved in its present form; but I read it to mean the "flesh"
is saved but not as fallen flesh. It is changed and then
saved.
#Post#: 3264--------------------------------------------------
Re: Love not the world
By: Deborah Date: November 19, 2015, 1:18 am
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The world that God created is inherently good, because it
originated from God (Genesis 1:31). It is therefore right and
proper for Christians to enjoy the good things that God has made
(such as marriage and food); asceticism is not part of the
Christian gospel (I Timothy 4:1-5). And we are commanded to love
the people in the world, all of whom are our neighbours (Luke
10:25-37).
The `world’ that we are to reject is the value system of the
society in which we live, which is under Satan’s rule and is in
many ways opposed to God’s values (I John 5:19). The human race
transferred its allegiance to the devil way back in the Garden
of Eden, and has been in his thrall ever since. He has distorted
and perverted human creativity for his own ends, so that human
philosophy and culture is directed not towards God but away from
Him. There is still much ‘good stuff’ in the world, because many
individuals are aware that there is something better to strive
for; but it always tends to get corrupted in the end.
HTML https://deborahsbiblestudies.wordpress.com/spiritual-warfare/the-world/
#Post#: 3266--------------------------------------------------
Re: Love not the world
By: Oneoff Date: November 19, 2015, 2:53 am
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[quote author=Piper link=topic=383.msg3255#msg3255
date=1447895668]
[font=trebuchet ms]In 1 John 2, "world" seems to indicate the
things here that cause temptation, envy, pride--as stated in
verse 16. Such 'things' may give us temporary pleasure, but
they cause us to sin and/or have no eternal value.
In John 3:16, "world" speaks of people-- the people of the
world, who might "believe" and be saved.[/font]
[/quote]
I agree with that and wonder if further understanding might come
from equally different meanings to different usages of the word
love.
One perhaps being a 'feeling' from the heart, and the other not
needing to be taken further than how we 'act' towards people.
Love your enemies seems too steep if we reckon it to mean a
feeling from the heart towards some of the worst people we can
imagine, so maybe we are only required to love them in our
'actions', without necessarily loving them 'from our heart'.
And BTW Kerry the 'team' notice to members re a subject of such
challenge is a brilliant way of pulling members back into the
posting habit ...... but don't forget to get the approval of
those who might berate such endeavour. ;)
#Post#: 3274--------------------------------------------------
Re: Love not the world
By: Piper Date: November 19, 2015, 12:41 pm
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[quote]Oneoff: And BTW Kerry the 'team' notice to members re a
subject of such challenge is a brilliant way of pulling members
back into the posting habit ...... but don't forget to get the
approval of those who might berate such endeavour. ;)[/quote]
Huh?
#Post#: 3277--------------------------------------------------
Re: Love not the world
By: Piper Date: November 19, 2015, 2:13 pm
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[font=trebuchet ms]Well-put post, Deborah.
Kerry, "flesh and blood" in that first verse seems to speak of
man without the Spirit--carnal man, generally corrupt. In the
second verse, it seems "flesh" simply means man.
Mike, yes love manifests in different ways. Bible study taught
three distinct ways: eros, philos, and agape. Eros is, I
believe, as between lovers; philos is brotherly love; and
agape is the love of God, sacrificial love, love in action, love
based on need rather than frivolous emotion, yes--the love we
must strive for toward our enemies. (I think Scripture says we
were once enemies of God.)
[/font]
#Post#: 3502--------------------------------------------------
Re: Love not the world
By: Twinc Date: December 26, 2015, 7:26 am
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the best understanding and explanation imho may be found via
google at [an appeal to charismatic pretenders] - twinc
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