1 John 2:15-27
Big Idea: Abiding In God Is The Antidote To The Counterfeit Allurements Of The Ways And Words Of The World
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.”
– 1 John 5:13
Two Loving Warnings:
1) Don’t pursue counterfeit worldly allurements: they won’t satisfy or last (v. 15-17)
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
– Matthew 6:24
3 Reasons why the world won’t satisfy you (v. 15-17)
1) The world can’t meet your greatest need (v. 15)
2) The world’s allurements aren’t sufficient for you (v. 16)
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
- Matthew 5:27-28
3) The world can’t give you what will last (v. 17)
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”
– Matthew 5:6
2) Don’t believe counterfeit truth: it can’t give you eternal life or true fellowship (v. 18-27)
The antidote of abiding:
1) Abide in God the Holy Spirit (v. 20, 27)
“These things I have spoken to you while I am with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”
– John 14:25-26
2) Abide in God’s truth (v. 20-21; 24, 27)
3) Abide in God the Father (v. 23-24)
4) Abide in God’s promise of eternal life (v. 24-25)
5) Abide in God the Son, Jesus Christ (v. 24, 27)
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. …. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”
– John 15:5,10-11