Love Not the World

Just a short post today, but to the point nonetheless: “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. 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. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” (I Jn. 2:15-17). There it is my friend, plain and simple. That is all that is in the world, apart from the life, the love, the holiness, and the truth of God; all of which are actually the same. So this is the point here, very plainly: If the lust of the flesh, or the lust of the eyes, or the pride of life, are things that are exercising power over us; then we are not loving God, and we are not being saved. And just throw all of the nonsense about how you “got saved” out, because that myth is simply not in the Bible. I’m talking about reality here, with the stakes being at the highest level. Jesus clearly said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin” (Jn. 8:34). Somebody needs to read at least the sixth chapter of Romans, and at least skim through verses 1,6,7,11,12,14,15. If anyone wants to hold to the modern Christian mindset of “sinners saved by grace” after that, then we will just have to say, “But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant” (I Cor. 14:38). To think that sin is acceptable in the new covenant, is simply to not think; or at least to not think according to what is written in the scriptures.

It is absolutely amazing [and appalling] the number of people in the body of Christ who actually believe they are saved while they are playing games with sin at the same time. Surely you don’t think that you can be motivated by pride, or live after the lust of the flesh and/or the lust of the eyes, and be saved from the wrath of God. But let’s not just take my word for it. Let’s let the scriptures confirm this short but sobering and powerful point of truth: “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. LET NO MAN DECEIVE YOU WITH VAIN WORDS: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them” (Eph. 5:3-7). Now somebody looking for an excuse for sin will readily say, “He’s talking about the world there.” Well my friend, he surely is indeed; and that is why he said “Be not YE partakers with them.” Because if YE, meaning WE, ARE partakers of ‘the world’ that we started this article describing; we will not inherit eternal life, but rather the wrath of God. That IS what both of these apostles and Jesus said, plainly and clearly. Amen.