Pastor Billy Myron continues the Sunday School series in First John, focusing on the world system introduced in chapter 2. He reads 1 John 2:15-18: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves 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 is passing away, and its lusts, but he who does the will of God abides forever. Little children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that an antichrist is coming, even now there are many antichrists.”
The message examines three main points: who rules the world system, that the system is opposed to God, and the future of the world and its ruler. Satan is identified as the ruler. Isaiah 14 records Lucifer’s original rebellion and five “I will” statements declaring his intent to exalt his throne, sit in the mount of the congregation, and be like the Most High. In Luke 4 Satan claims all the kingdoms of the inhabited earth have been delivered to him and that he gives them to whom he wills. Ephesians 2:2 calls him the prince of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the sons of disobedience. 1 John 5:19 states that the whole world lies in the evil one, resting as a child in its mother’s arms.
The world system hates believers. 1 John 3:13 says, “Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hates you.” Colossians 2:6-10 warns believers not to be taken captive through philosophy and empty deceit according to the tradition of men and the elementary principles of the world, because they are complete in Christ who is the head of all principality and power. 2 Peter 1:2-4 speaks of escaping the corruption that is in the world through lust by becoming partakers of the divine nature through God’s precious promises.
John defines antichrist as anyone who denies that Jesus is the Christ, denies the Father and the Son, or denies that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh (1 John 2:22; 4:1-3; 2 John 7). Many such deceivers were already present when John wrote.
The world and its desires are temporary. 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 states that the form of this world is passing away, so believers should use the world without abusing it. 1 Timothy 6:6-8 reminds that we brought nothing into the world and can carry nothing out; godliness with contentment is great gain. Revelation 19–20 shows the final end: the beast and false prophet are cast alive into the lake of fire; Satan is bound for a thousand years, later loosed to deceive the nations once more, then cast into the lake of fire to be tormented forever. During the millennium the world is ruled by Christ rather than Satan. The danger for Christians is allowing the world’s priorities to distract them from what is true of them in Christ. Future lessons will examine why believers must not love the world.
