From memory, what is the perfect indicative? (Look back at yesterday’s lesson if you need to.)
“It is the verb tense when the action is already complete.
– ‘an objective fact or reality’”
What two things does John tell us not to love in verse 15?
1. The world
2. “Anything in” the world
[starred and underlined for emphasis] John is saying don’t love “human society, temporarily controlled by the power of evil, organized in opposition to God.” John doesn’t mean don’t love the Earth itself or its people…The very fact that Jesus took on flesh and came to earth to redeem us, demonstrates His love for the material world.
How do verses 16-17 help interpret verse 15? In other words, how do the things that belong to the world and their qualities (vv. 16-17) fuel John’s command for us not to love the world in verse 15? Take some time with this.
“They break it down into some practical, structural examples or framework of everything wrong and dangerous about the world.”
John uses three descriptions to define what belongs to the world (what he doesn’t want us to love). List them below:
1. “the lust of the flesh/the cravings of sinful man (NIV)
2. “the lust of the eyes/the lust of his eyes (NIV)
3. “the pride in one’s lifestyle/the boasting of what he has and does (NIV)”
Our flesh can bust after over-eating, over-spending, excessive entertainment… Activities we know do harm to ourselves, others, and our fellowship with God.
In your own words, describe an every day example of the lust of the flesh that you personally encounter. What does a continual attempt to fill your lust result in?
“My frequent overindulgence in computer games and somewhat TV as well leaves housework put off, piled up, and undone, and me overtired and underslept, and thus even less inclined to get chores done.”
Read 2 Samuel 11:2-17. List the progressive steps of David’s sin from the moment he saw Bathsheba from his rooftop (I filled in some for you).
saw her –> lusted after her –> “adultery (slept with her)” –> “attempted deception” –> “murder”
We don’t have to degrade the gift of sight by pouring over what is cheap, depressing, sensual, or deceitful.
What do you need to stop watching or reading? What wonderful things could you dwell on in its place?
“I should probably stop watching 1000 Ways to Die. It’s mostly reenactments, but once in a while, they actually use some security cameras, or a camcorder footage of the gruesome events.”
If our pride is like fire, social media is the wood that fuels it.
How would your social media presence change – be specific – if what you posted was meant to love others versus promoting your pride, position, accomplishments? (Don’t get legalistic and don’t judge others motives. And if you’re not a part of social media, simply pull the question into another area of your life).
“I rarely post unless my high score is just too amazing to not mention. For Gardens of Time, I just like to let people get coins as they play. But in reality, I love comments on my clothes, hair, and youthful appearance.”
First, from where do these three things originate? (v. 16)
“The world (not the Father)”
What eventually happens to these desires? (v. 17)
“They pass away with the world.”
The one who does God’s will “remains/lives (NIV)” forever.
Speaking of the eternal, I can’t help but have you briefly turn to Luke 10:38-42. According to verse 42 what did Jesus say about what Mary had chosen?
“It was better, and it would not be taken away from her.”
As we close week 2, write down the most prominent truth or revelation you’ve encountered this week.
“I feel like I got one on page 47, but it could just be my own idea rather than divine revelation, so I should probably go with mid 61 and top of 62 and be convicted and try to do better. (Though I’ll bet that my Secret Passages energy is refilled by now 🙂)”
Dearest Rachel –
I know you did this study before I was able to quit working, but I can’t think of this passage without remembering that one song from the 77s that goes into detail about each component of ‘the things of the world’ listed in 1 John 2:16 that I practiced using AfterEffects on:
I think that, over the course of trying to put this together, we both got a little sick of the song for a while. But it (the song, not my attempt at illustrating the lyrics) elegantly describes each of the world’s attractions, so I hope you don’t mind my including it here.
Of course, your conclusion that they pass away with the world is particularly poignant, considering all the stuff of yours I’ve cleared out since your passing (and for which I’ve asked forgiveness from you several times as I’ve done so); it’s an actual illustration as to the fact that the things you held so dear when you were here are useless to the rest of us now that you’re gone. And by contrast, so many things you hid away when you were done with, like these studies (although in fairness, you kept them around for me to discover and show to the world, rather than disposing of them, so you may have sensed there was some importance to them – although perhaps no more so than anything else you clung to) are the truest treasures of what you left behind. They were ‘the better thing,’ and I’m glad they were not taken away from me.
As for the most prominent insight, while I agree that the idea of our obedience perfecting (or rather, completing) His love was an interestingly unique concept, I understand why you chose to emphasize the more conventional revelation that you needed to cut down on your computer and television time, and took the baby step of dropping a particularly worthless series. I know I collected those episodes for you (although I rarely bothered to watch any of them myself), which may have been a waste of my own time in turn, but I recall you making a point of informing me that you’d set that one aside. Granted, there were always others to grab your attention in its place…
And as far as your wish to take on chores, I do wish you had asked for more help; even if things wouldn’t have been done ‘your’ way, they might have at least gotten done. For what it’s worth, they have been now, but at a greater cost than I think either of us would have wanted to pay.
Letters to Rachel 