1 John 2:15-16: Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.
A good friend of mine read these verses and brought up a great point, “I thought that we should love one another, but I don’t think that is what is portrayed in these verses.” Throughout the New Testament, the term “world” is used 179 times. In most cases, this term is referencing what you might think exactly it means – the Earth and everyone who lives in it. The term is also linked to the concept that within the world there are many kingdoms (Luke 4:5). According to Jesus, these kingdoms are under the control of Satan. We can say this because when Satan is tempting Jesus, he tells Him in Luke 4:6-7, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.” Since Jesus does not correct Satan with this claim of authority, we can draw to a conclusion that He is in agreement with Satan’s claim of authority of this world.
This confirmation from Jesus may be unsettling, but don’t be afraid. Jesus makes a proclamation that this world is not the only world. He says in John 18:36, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” What and where is Jesus’ Kingdom? It is the Kingdom of God, and it is in the spiritual world. This is a crucial point for every person to come to understand.
This world that is under the authority of Satan is filled with sin (John 1:29), there is tribulation (John 16:33), is sorrowful (2 Corinthians 7:10), and it is condemned (1 Corinthians 11:32). Not a pretty picture is it? Sadly, though, a look at what is going on around us quickly validates these truths. Importantly, all of these truths of the condition and fate of this world are due to the choices of man. God did not create a world like this. He created a world that was good (Genesis 1:31), and He created man and gave it to him to care for it (Genesis 2:15). By choice, due to the temptation of Satan, man obeyed Satan’s temptation over God’s command, brought sin into the world, and effectively gave the keys to the world that God had given him to Satan. Satan confirmed this in his above statement to Jesus “for this [authority] has been delivered to me”.
God could have chosen to abandon His creation, but He didn’t. God loves what He creates, so He chose to make a way to save a condemned world. This truth of God’s love for His creation – for you – and His plan for saving it was confessed by His Son in John 3:16-17, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” Jesus is the Savior of this world (1 John 4:14), and those who come to believe this truth are plucked out of the condemned kingdoms of this world and are permanently placed into Jesus’ kingdom – the Kingdom of God.
God made a choice to create the world and man. Man made a choice to not trust God but trust Satan. God made a choice to offer salvation to those who choose to trust in His Son. Do you see the theme? People aren’t sent to heaven or hell – they have the liberty to choose which place they want to end up for eternity. Those that choose hell – choose Satan – they are the ones that “love the world or the things in the world” that are mentioned in today’s verses. God’s desire is that all be saved (1 Timothy 2:4), but, very sadly, many don’t. Choices have consequences, and we are accountable for them.
So, as my friend points out, is there a disagreement between God’s command to love one another (John 13:34) and today’s verses which tells us to not love the world or the things of the world? What “loving the world” means is loving the ways of the world – the world that is under the authority of Satan. His ways lead to sin, tribulation, sorrow, and condemnation. Love is a choice, so for those who choose to love the ways of the world, they will suffer from their choices. Those who make this choice pain God, and this is proven at the Cross.
Jesus said we’re to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44). Our “enemies” are those who have been deceived by Satan into choosing to love the world – to follow in Satan’s ways. Can you see the difference? We’re to love people – but not their choices in following the ways of the world. The people are not our enemy, Satan and his ways is the enemy. That is why there is no disagreement between our command to love one another and our command to not love the world. It’s everyone’s choice – the kingdoms of this world and darkness vs. the Kingdom of God. There’s a world of difference.