A Biblical View of Love
1 John 2:12-17

But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (Jn. 20:31)—to bring people to faith

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 Jn. 5:13)—to bring people of faith to confidence in their faith

AT RISK:

- confidence, security

- that the “gates of Hell” would be brought into the church

When a Church/Christian loses confidence in its convictions, it starts to make concessions on its confessions. We are to maintain our convictions without losing our confidence by welcoming healthy conviction.

Here’s how to prevent that...

This is the confidence: Know who you are... (2:12-14; Jn. 20:31; 1 Jn. 5:13)

• Forgiven...to not sin and forgive (to love)
  
  
• Know God...to obey His commands (be loved)
  
  
• Overcomers of the evil one...to no longer love what evil offers (be holy)
   

This is the command: Do not love the world or anything in it... (keep the conquest fired up; 2:15-17; Jn. 17:14-18)

You cannot love God and this world too

• Because of what the world is
  
  The system completely opposed to God is not your destiny. The world that fallen man has produced.
  
  People who love the world do not have the love of the Father in them.
  
  Genuine test: -- the love of the Father does not reside in those who love the world.
  
  “the more love of the world prevails, the more the love of God decays.” M. Henry
  

• Because of what the world will do to you
  
  A system that does not come from God.
  
  
  • Handling desires of the flesh sinfully
    
    
  • Passionate over material things
    
    
  • Love of self-importance

• Because of where the world is going

The world is passing away

This is the goal: Doing the will of God... (2:17)

...but those who reject the world in favour of doing the will of God live forever.

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