In (Jn 3:16), For God so loved the world that He gave...
Why are we told not to love not the world in (1Jn 2:15) neither the things that are in the world, when God loves the world? Are these two statements contrary or do they define the love of God? I say they compliment each other and reveal the heart of God toward the world. If we are to love the world then we must give the world what God has given to the world. What are we giving to the world? I am not interested in a theological discussion but a heart to heart discussion based upon what God has given to the world.
Three things in scripture have defined what is in the world:
- the lust of the flesh
- the lust of the eyes
- the pride of life
Does God love these things about what is in the world? Surely not! He has no affection or love for these things that are in the world and neither should we. So what is it about the world that God loved so much that He gave... When God loved the world and He gave, was He looking for anything in return or was He giving to the world what is contrary to it?
We know that God gave His Son to the world. Was his Son born of this world? Surely not! So gave gave to the world that which is not of the world and is contrary to all that is in the world. What God gave to the world would not and could not fulfill the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes or the pride of life. Therefore the world could do nothing but reject and hate that which is not of this world.
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God, therefore the world knoweth us not, because the world knew Him not (1Jn 3:1). This can only apply to those that love the world and are giving what God has given to the world. The world loves it own (Jn 15;19) but God so loved the world that He gave what the world would never receive. There is not a single person of the world that has been able to receive what God has given to the world. It is like God threw a 'screwball' that no one could hit. They keep swinging at it but they keep missing it. They keep seeking but can't find it, they try to understand it but can never know it or figure it out or measure up to it.
This is how God loves the world, it is a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles and in them that perish (1Cor 1:18-23). We are to keep loving the world by giving them what God has given and has been rejected by the world that God loves. There is not another thing that God has given to the world that He so loves, then who He has given and that is the gift of His Son and this is who we give and how we love the world. The world has nothing to offer those who have become the sons of God, because we are no longer of it, but we have something to offer the world and it can only be received by the world through simple child-like faith from one heart to another.
Why are we told not to love not the world in (1Jn 2:15) neither the things that are in the world, when God loves the world? Are these two statements contrary or do they define the love of God? I say they compliment each other and reveal the heart of God toward the world. If we are to love the world then we must give the world what God has given to the world. What are we giving to the world? I am not interested in a theological discussion but a heart to heart discussion based upon what God has given to the world.
Three things in scripture have defined what is in the world:
- the lust of the flesh
- the lust of the eyes
- the pride of life
Does God love these things about what is in the world? Surely not! He has no affection or love for these things that are in the world and neither should we. So what is it about the world that God loved so much that He gave... When God loved the world and He gave, was He looking for anything in return or was He giving to the world what is contrary to it?
We know that God gave His Son to the world. Was his Son born of this world? Surely not! So gave gave to the world that which is not of the world and is contrary to all that is in the world. What God gave to the world would not and could not fulfill the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes or the pride of life. Therefore the world could do nothing but reject and hate that which is not of this world.
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God, therefore the world knoweth us not, because the world knew Him not (1Jn 3:1). This can only apply to those that love the world and are giving what God has given to the world. The world loves it own (Jn 15;19) but God so loved the world that He gave what the world would never receive. There is not a single person of the world that has been able to receive what God has given to the world. It is like God threw a 'screwball' that no one could hit. They keep swinging at it but they keep missing it. They keep seeking but can't find it, they try to understand it but can never know it or figure it out or measure up to it.
This is how God loves the world, it is a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles and in them that perish (1Cor 1:18-23). We are to keep loving the world by giving them what God has given and has been rejected by the world that God loves. There is not another thing that God has given to the world that He so loves, then who He has given and that is the gift of His Son and this is who we give and how we love the world. The world has nothing to offer those who have become the sons of God, because we are no longer of it, but we have something to offer the world and it can only be received by the world through simple child-like faith from one heart to another.