In 1 John 21 John 2 we have learned that lovelove is the key to a Christian (Christ-likeChrist-like) life.

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For God so For God so loved the loved the

worldworldJesus gavegave Himself for us.

He died that wewe might have life.

12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His Name's sake. 13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known Him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.

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14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known Him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the Word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

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The Lord is speaking to His familyHis family in The Holy Scriptures.

He writes notnot because of our faults, but because we know Him and love Him.

He writes because our desire is toward Himtoward Him and we want to serve Himserve Him.

The Lord speaks to us becausebecause our sins are forgiven; we are delivereddelivered from the power of sin.

Therefore the devil has no powerno power over us.

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We areWe are overcomersovercomers through Jesus Christ.

We areWe are strong in the PowerPower of His Might.

We areWe are strong becausebecause the Word of God abidesabides in us and we abide in the Wordin the Word.

Matthew 11 15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

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Only those who are willingwilling and desirousdesirous to hearhear and obeyobey the Truth

Will be helpedhelped by the Truth.That's who God is reallyreally talking to in His Word.

Those who immediately rejectreject sound teaching will nevernever be helped by such teaching.

They will go on in their own wayown way.

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.

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"Love not."

We have already been taught to be careful to love God and one another as we ought.

Now we are taught the things we should not lovenot love.

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As God's children we must have no affectionno affection whatsoever for the worldworld nor its stuffstuff.

It is impossibleimpossible to love the Lord and this world at the same time.

The two are in total conflicttotal conflict.

This world, its stuff, and its pleasures are alwaysalways striving to seduceseduce people away from God.

The world thus conceived is a system of values and goals from which God is excluded.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty.

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The world draws the heart from God; and the more the love of the world prevails, the more the love of God decays.

Matthew Henry Concise Bible Commentary.

World = kosmos -- this world's order.The valuevalues, prioritiespriorities, and belief systemsbelief systems of

the people of this world.

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.

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The lust of the flesh = sinful bodily appetites.

Sins like gluttony, drunkenness, fornication, pornography, adultery come out of these appetites.

Example: Sexuality is a gift from Godgift from God for a married couplemarried couple to enjoy and love one another.

Fornication, pornography, and adultery pervertpervert God's gift.

A good appetitegood appetite is a gift from God. GluttonyGluttony is a perversion of that gift.

The lust of the eyes -- we want everything we see.

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It is the opposite of the Scripture:

Hebrews 13 5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be contentbe content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

The pride of life -- The NIV translates this as

"Boasting of what he has and does."

The TLB says, "The pride that comes from wealth and importance."

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FamePower Wealth

It's notnot the fame, or power, or wealth;

It’s the attitudeattitude that is sin.

17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the Will of God abideth for ever.

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Matthew 6 19 Lay not up for your-selves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Do the Will of Will of GodGod, all the

time in every place.