Do You Love The World And The Things That Are In The World?

Brothers and sisters, John continues to warn us. He tells us that if we do not love our brother, we are in darkness. He then tells us that if we love the world and the things that are in the world, the Father's love is not in us. Do you understand how serious this is? Many believe they belong to God because they said a sinners prayer or did some other good deed, but they are actually headed for hell.

The teachers have lied to so many. Wolves in sheep's clothing had already entered into the church when John wrote this 2,000, years ago. We must examine ourselves in light of the scriptures. It is about our souls. We must repent and follow Jesus, doing what he said. Do not trust man. Do not trust a teacher. Trust God and the scriptures. They are not of private interpretation.

I know Joel Osteen tells you that you can have your best life now and God wants you to prosper financially, etc. Brothers and sisters, he is a deceiver. People choose to be deceived because they want the things of this world and they love Joel because he tells them God wants them to have those things, even though the scriptures tell us God's love is not in those who love the things of this world.

1 John 2 ISV

7Dear friends, I am not writing to you a new commandment, but an old commandment that you have had from the beginning. This old commandment is the word you have heard. 8On the other hand, I am writing to you a new commandment that is truly in him and in you. For the darkness is fading away, and the true light is already shining.

9The person who says that he is in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. 

10The person who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no reason for him to stumble. 

11But the person who hates his brother is in the darkness and lives in the darkness. 

He does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

12I am writing to you, little children,

because your sins have been forgiven

on account of his name.

13I am writing to you, fathers,

because you have known the one who

has existed from the beginning.

I am writing to you, young people,

because you have overcome the evil one.

14I have written to you, little children,

because you have known the Father.

I have written to you, fathers,

because you have known the one who

has existed from the beginning.

I have written to you, young people,

because you are strong

and because God’s word remains in you

and you have overcome the evil one.

15Stop lovingc the world and the things that are in the world. 

• If anyone persists in loving the world, the Father’s love is not in him. 
• 16For everything that is in the world—the desire for fleshly gratification,d the desire for possessions,e and worldly arrogance—is not from the Father but is from the world. 
• 17And the world and its desires are fading away, 
• but the person who does God’s will remains forever.