Sunday School Lesson
July 25
Lesson 8 (KJV)
Peace with God
Devotional Reading: Isaiah 53:1–12
Background Scripture: Romans 5:1–11
Romans 5:1–11
1. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2. By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4. And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5. And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
6. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
10. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
11. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
Key Verse
Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.—Romans 5:1
Lesson Aims
After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:
1. State the result of being justified by faith.
2. Explain the meaning and significance of Paul’s “much more” argument.
3. Recruit an accountability partner to help make progress regarding the growth stages in Romans 5:3–4.
HOW TO SAY IT
Isaiah Eye-zay-uh.
Moses Mo-zes or Mo-zez.
Introduction
A. Sacrifice for Peace
In the 1964 Cold War epic movie Fail Safe, a series of mistakes sends a squadron of American planes with nuclear bombs to annihilate Moscow, Russia. Despite every conceivable effort by the American president, he was unable to stop the mission.
Realizing that the Soviet Union’s capital city would be destroyed—and desiring to avoid worldwide thermonuclear devastation from retaliatory strikes—the president made a deal with the Soviet premier. They agreed that at the same time the bombs hit Moscow, an equal nuclear strike would lay waste to New York City. Thus an equivalent “eye for an eye” act would even the accounts. The president agreed to this realizing that his beloved wife was in New York City. He knowingly decided to sacrifice her for the sake of world peace.
The great paradox of this film is that the most horrific wartime tactic ever devised by human beings was to be used to forestall hostilities. The saving of hundreds of millions of lives was more important than any single life, even that of the first lady. Parallels between this fictional trade-off and today’s lesson text are thought-provoking.
B. Lesson Context
Romans is both the most challenging of Paul’s letters to understand and the richest depository of what he calls “my gospel” (Romans 2:16; 16:25). The basis and reality of being justified by faith is the subject of Romans 1–4 in general (see lessons 6 and 7) and 3:24, 28 in particular.
Paul quoted Habakkuk 2:4 in Romans 1:17 to set the tone for the entire book: “the just shall live by faith.” Included in the letter are the apostle’s understanding of the Old Testament background for the Christian message, the nature of salvation as it is based on the atoning death of Christ, the centrality of faith as the only path for salvation, the changed relationship between Jews and Gentiles in the plan of God, and several other matters.
Only through faith in Christ may eternal life be found. Eternal life cannot be earned by works, although works are important. Eternal life is not inherited by ancestry, although such ancestry is not unimportant (see Romans 3:1–2; 9:4–5). Eternal life, the life of salvation, is found only in a faith that trusts God to save us.
Abraham, the great patriarch of the Jews, was justified by faith (Romans 4:3, quoting Genesis 15:6; see lesson 7). Thus the idea of faith as the core element of one’s life is not a Christian innovation. Faith is to be the foundation of our relationship with God. But this was nothing new: faith was to have been central in the pre-Israel period, in the nation of Israel itself, and in the church. Having established these facts in Romans 1–4, Paul moved to implications, today’s text.
I. Founded in Faith
(Romans 5:1–5)
A. Peace Made with God (vv. 1–2)
1. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Having established that the life of Abraham is relevant to the Christian, Paul uses the connecting word therefore to signal two things. First, the phrase being justified by faith summarizes thoughts of Romans 1–4.
Second, the phrase we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ introduces a theme that undergoes much expansion and explanation in the verses and chapters that follow. After having sketched the dire condition of humanity in Romans 3:23 (“all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”), the sun breaks through (or perhaps we should say, “Son”). Jesus “was delivered for our offences” and “was raised again for our justification” (Romans 4:25). We are justified by God’s actions, not ours. Our sins invite God’s wrath; our justification from Him by faith results in peace (compare Luke 2:14).
Perhaps you have heard various definitions of the word justification. One such is an appropriate play on the word: being justified means being treated “just as if I’d” never sinned. God himself has provided the means for bridging the rift between Him and humanity, for making peace by satisfying the punishment for sin. That means of peace is Jesus. As Paul has explained and will explain again, since God has forgiven our sins by means of a substitutionary atonement (the death of Jesus), no basis remains for God to impose punishment on those who accept His terms. Christians need not fear future judgment from God.
2a. By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand.
The central point is reinforced by use of the word grace. There are no “works” that gain our justification. Salvation has been provided by God. It is a gift that we must receive. Faith in Jesus gives us access to grace. A good way to remember the significance of the word grace is to use its five letters to create this phrase:
God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense
What Do You Think?
Would you use the letters of the word grace to explain that concept to an unbeliever as God’s riches at Christ’s expense? Why, or why not?
Digging Deeper
Would you explain to an unbeliever that the word justified means “just-as-if-I’d never sinned”? Why, or why not?
2b. And rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
The word hope as frequently used today is often at odds with how the Bible writers use the same word. Often people today use the word hope to express a desire that they know has very little chance of becoming reality. They talk about something they would love to have or see happen, but they don’t know if it will ever happen. We hear the expression “One can only hope” in contexts of passive resignation where one feels carried along by a series of events that indicate an outcome almost certain to be undesirable. This kind of hope is a forlorn hope; it is not the kind the Bible talks about.
The New Testament uses the word hope in the sense of “confident expectation of something good”; the word is never used in a sense of “fearful anticipation.” Rather, in Christ we rejoice in hope. What He has promised, He will do.
For the one in Christ, there is no doubt. The quality of hope hinges on the character of the one in whom hope is placed. What more needs to be said? We acquire true hope when we abandon the futile practice of trusting in ourselves to shape the future and put our future in the hands of God. When we are in Christ we have peace, grace, and hope. And there is more! The concept of hope is so important to Paul that he uses the noun and verb forms of the word hope a total of 17 times in Romans alone!
B. Love Poured into Hearts (vv. 3–5)
3. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience.
Here begins a teaching chain of character-building virtues that form the core of the Christian life. We will have tribulation (John 16:33), hardship that could drive away all hope. But these troubles build our capacity for patience, a virtue close to the heart of our long-suffering Lord (see Romans 9:22; 2 Peter 3:15). This is not a passive resignation, but rather an active continuance (compare Romans 2:7). Difficulties teach us the value of waiting on the Lord (Psalm 37:7).
When faith is our guiding principle, what appears to be a very bad situation can yield good results. (Read Paul’s later affirmation in Romans 8:28.) Such results are not always immediately seen (see Genesis 45:4–8).
4a. And patience, experience.
The word translated experience is an interesting one, used seven times in the New Testament, and only by Paul. In addition to the two translations “experience” in our text, it is also translated “proof” (2 Corinthians 2:9; 13:3; Philippians 2:22), “trial” (2 Corinthians 8:2), and “experiment” (2 Corinthians 9:13). The overall idea is that of being tested to determine (or improve) one’s mettle.
Testing in this regard comes from many directions and at various stages of life. Yet through the patient handling of circumstances, prayerful discovery of solutions, and the discipline of waiting on the Lord, a wealth of experience is gained.
4b. And experience, hope.
That experience can provide hope not only to the one undergoing tribulations, but also to the one who needs a mentor in that regard, someone who’s “been there” (see 2 Corinthians 1:3–4). We live through hardship sustained by the hope that the Lord has the future in His hands. Our confidence in the future can be based only on God’s faithfulness in the past.
At this point, Paul may appear to be going in circles. But let us not think of this as a circle but as an advancing spiral. With each round of faith-guided living—which blends trouble and joy and lessons learned—we gain strength.
What Do You Think?
If you’re stuck at a particular stage in the sequence Paul mentions, what are some things you can do to get unstuck?
Digging Deeper
What texts in addition to 1 Thessalonians 4:13 help you see the biblical distinction between “hope” and “no hope”?
Embrace the Struggle
Twenty years ago, a neighborhood in my city was overrun with drugs, crime, and poverty. City officials sought out a person who had helped turn things around in a similar neighborhood by means of career-development training. Gail agreed to take on the challenge. Her first step was to buy an old liquor store as her headquarters in the heart of the community.
Gail faced obstacles at first: little interest in training programs, break-ins, and drug paraphernalia left at the front door. Nevertheless, she persisted. As she did, she saw success. People began completing her trainings successfully. The neighborhood began to change as people received better opportunities. The property value of that building soared.
Gail had stepped out with a biblical hope, and she watched God do the impossible. When we adopt a spirit of faithful hope in God in the midst of adversity, He will develop our Christian character through the process. How can you better yield to God in this regard?
—L. H.-P.
What Do You Think?
When considering Romans 5:3 alongside James 1:2–4 and 1 Peter 1:5–7, what changes do you need to make in reacting to situations that challenge your faith?
Digging Deeper
What other passages do you find most informative and convicting in this regard?
5. And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Paul’s clarion call in the book of Romans is “I am not ashamed of the gospel” (Romans 1:16). The life of faith exudes confidence and trust. A nuance of the idea of not ashamed is to not be dishonored, which is how the same word is translated twice in 1 Corinthians 11:4–5. False fronts and false hopes lead to both. But authentic hope in the Lord and His faithfulness is neither. We are not fools to hope in the love of God.
This hopeful, faithful approach to life is not self-generated. God changes and empowers us by making His love known in our hearts. He even provides the means for maintaining what He has given, namely, the Holy Ghost. It is He who gives us love and helps us grow in love. When love is clearly visible in the church, it is a sure sign of the Holy Spirit’s presence. Elsewhere, the giving of the Holy Spirit is pictured as being poured on people (see Isaiah 44:3; Ezekiel 39:29; Joel 2:29; Acts 10:45). The Holy Spirit is not a reward, but a gift bestowed to empower us to act in love when and where that is not the normal human reaction.
II. Died for Ungodly
(Romans 5:6–8)
A. The Right Time (vv. 6–7)
6. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
The fact that Christ died for the ungodly is at the center of the Christian faith. That was a monstrous crime, the murder of the innocent Son of God. Paul’s insight, though, is that while the enemies of Jesus had nothing but malice in their hearts, God had planned all along for His Son’s death to be the means of salvation for humanity.
The high priest spoke better than he knew when he declared that it was better for one man to die than to have an entire nation perish (John 11:49–53). And so it happened in due time—God’s time! Just as the timing of Jesus’ birth was no random chance (Galatians 4:4), neither was His death.
What Do You Think?
What is the single, most important lifestyle or prayer-habit change you need to make to live out your conviction that God’s timing is always perfect?
Digging Deeper
How does your response to the question associated with Romans 1:13 in lesson 6 factor in?
The first three chapters of Romans deal with the fact that all sinned and are therefore unrighteous, unjustified, and unholy. Paul was not speaking of careless morality or occasional mistakes. The ungodly turn their backs on God and His expectations knowingly, willingly, and decisively in their preference for sin and its temporary pleasures (compare Titus 3:3). But as Paul says in the beginning of the letter, the ungodly are without excuse for their sins (Romans 1:20). That includes all of us.
7. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
What is the difference between a righteous man and a good man? Some would say that the righteous man describes an especially pious individual who possesses a “holier-than-thou” attitude. He may be highly respected, but he is not the kind of person for whom someone else would be willing to die. The good man would be someone whose good deeds make him a much more likable individual, and thus someone for whom others would be more apt to die.
Others believe that there is basically no difference between the righteous man and the good man and that Paul is making the same claim in two ways. Under this proposal, the first part of the verse states Paul’s claim in a negative way; the second then restates it, but in a more positive manner. The paradox of Christ’s dying for the ungodly contradicts reason as based on human experience. What sort of person would you be willing to die for? Paul knew there were possible examples: a parent dying for a child, a soldier dying for a comrade, etc. Still, the gist of Paul’s thought is this: people are not likely to give their lives on behalf of even the best of human beings.
8. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
In spite of our rebellion and ungodliness, God continues to love us. This has nothing to do with our merit and everything to do with God’s character (John 3:16–18; 1 John 4:16). God continues to love all sinners and desire their restoration to relationship with Him (2 Peter 3:9). The willing and intentional sacrifice of God’s beloved Son is the supreme way that God commendeth his love toward us. The death of Christ was the final and ultimate sacrifice for sins (see Hebrews 7:27).
Christ did not wait until we were righteous ourselves to die for us. When we were yet sinners, we could only wait for the harsh justice of God’s judgment. But Jesus Christ died for our sins according to God’s plan as revealed in Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3).
Jesus’ sacrifice emphatically illustrates one of His most radical teachings: that His followers should love their enemies (see Luke 6:27, 35; contrast Matthew 5:43). In the context of Jesus’ day, this included loving the despised Roman overlords who occupied the land. Love was to be extended also to fellow Jews who collaborated with the Roman occupiers. The good news is that all our enemies can become one with us in Christ, part of the family of God.
A Risky Investment
One of my wife’s grandmothers immigrated to America from Jamaica. Once she arrived, she worked hard and pursued her education, all the while raising three sons by herself. She invested wisely in buying a home, put money away for retirement, and had multiple streams of income. She did all this to build wealth for her family for generations to come. At her death, she left a sizable fortune that was inherited by her only surviving son and her grandchildren. But she could not know whether they would appreciate it or squander what she had worked so hard for.
Christ’s work on the cross was intended to benefit the entire world for generations to come. He knew that some would accept His sacrifice and that others would spurn it. Yet He made the sacrifice anyway.
In what ways do you still do a disservice to Christ’s offer by living contrary to His will?
—L. H.-P.
III. Reconciled in Joy
(Romans 5:9–11)
A. Wrath Averted (v. 9)
9. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
The substitutionary death of Jesus paid the price for our sins, a price we could never pay on our own. We are now counted as righteous because we are justified by his blood. We can be at peace with God. The work of Christ has been done. We are new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17), we wear a new name, and we have a new destiny. Even so, that destiny will not be realized fully until our time in our present world is finished and our time in Heaven has begun.
Because of Jesus’ work, our faith, and God’s grace, we no longer need fear the future. We respect the mighty wrath of God, but we do not fear it because we have forgiveness through faith in Jesus. Thus our past, present, and future are all in God’s hands.
B. Salvation Awaiting (v. 10)
10a. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son.
The ungodly, the unrepentant sinners, are still enemies of God. Sin severed the relationship between sinner and Creator. But God has provided the way by which those who are separated from Him can come back. The new relationship is one of being reconciled. Salvation involves being returned to an ongoing relationship with God. Reconciliation comes only and always by the death of his Son.
10b. Much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Now that Jesus is alive and reigning as Lord, how much more will He help those who have accepted His gift of salvation! We can have no doubt that Jesus will return and complete God’s plan of redemption. Jesus’ resurrected life and reign is the firm basis for the assured hope of our own resurrection. If our hope in Christ goes only as far as this life, then we are to be pitied for having believed a lie (1 Corinthians 15:17–18).
C. Atonement Accepted (v. 11)
11. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
Paul’s phrase and not only so is an expression meaning “there is more.” We have been reconciled (reunited) with God. We have been saved from sin and death by means of His grace. As a result, we can have joy. Like hope, joy is not a mere fleeting emotion; rather, it is a constant sense of gratitude and praise for all that God has done and will do.
This joyous reaction comes when we focus on God’s great gift to us. We have now received the atonement that results in being restored children of God. The hostilities have ceased. We are no longer enemies of God or slaves to the fear of death. Through our faith in Jesus Christ, our hope is secure, and our joy is complete. All of what Paul described comes through our Lord Jesus Christ.
What Do You Think?
How would you explain to an unbeliever that having peace with God comes only through Christ?
Digging Deeper
How will you prepare for a “Surely a loving God would not …” kind of reaction?
Conclusion
A. Freedom from Fear
On a grand scale, we understand the truth of Jesus’ teaching: the God of all creation chooses to love and save His enemies rather than hate and destroy them (John 3:16–17)—at least for now (Romans 2:5–9). But we must take that grand scale down to the level of the individual person, beginning with ourselves.
Although we live in fearful times, we are not to fear the future. Though people around us fear many things—being laid off, losing loved ones, catastrophic weather, etc.—we are not to let fear of such things control us. The key always is to focus on the future Christ has prepared for us (John 14:2), made possible by the price for peace that Jesus paid on the cross.
B. Prayer
Father, we stand amazed at Your love for us, and we praise You for it. Our hope is in You for having redeemed our past, giving meaning to our present, and delivering us into our future. In Jesus’ name we rejoice and pray. Amen.
C. Thought to Remember
Christ’s death has brought about our peace with God.
KID’S CORNER
The Love of the World
Sunday, July 25, 2021
1 John 2:15-19
1 John 2:15-19
(1 John 2:15) Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
John did not write that people should not appreciate and care for the beautiful world that God has made; rather, no one should love God’s creation more than they love the Creator. The world has not remained exactly as God created it, so what God originally made does not point perfectly to the character and wisdom of God. Therefore, Jesus came and taught the truth about God and the world and how to live in the world. In the Bible, “the world” or “this world” can also mean a civilization, culture, fellowship, society, or philosophy that promotes rebellion against God and God’s commandments. Rebellion includes lawlessness and unbelief. Worldly people created many of the ideas, religions, groups, and other things in the world to mislead the true followers of God away from God. Those of the world and the true followers of God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son also have a spiritual enemy, the devil (also called “the evil one”) who does all it can to mislead people, enslave unbelievers, and keep people away from God. Those who love the world regard the things of the world more important than the God of the Bible and obeying God as revealed in the Bible and through nature. In Romans 1:18-20, Paul described the situation of those who love the world and their worldliness more than they love our Holy God: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” God’s creation is no longer as perfect as God made it due to the damage evil beings and sinful people have brought upon creation for generations. However, enough of God’s perfect creation remains that anyone who loves the world instead of loving God has no excuse for their disobedience and unbelief. By their actions and words, those who love the world demonstrate that the love of the Father is not within them. The love of the Father is not in them because they have rejected God as revealed in nature and the Bible—they prefer to love the world and the things of the world.
(1 John 2:16) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
“The world” or “this world” (as described above), those of this world, and the devil create and provide more and more opportunities for people to disobey God and gratify the desires of their thoughts and feelings (their flesh), which misleads people away from and further away from the true God. When people sin, most of the time they have chosen to follow their temptations, their emotional and intellectual desires, and their feelings, rather than obey God, God’s commands, and their sound reason. In an increasing variety of ways, the world and worldly people also create evil visual experiences (such as some evil advertisements) to mislead people into doing what will harm others and themselves. In Matthew 6:23, Jesus taught, “But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!” If someone loves the world instead of God, then their eye is bad and the light in them is darkness. They will be easily misled by the desires of their flesh and the evil opportunities to gratify their desires that they see presented before their eyes, which will lead them to behave in evil ways. The “light” within such a person is “darkness,” and such a great darkness that only by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ can the Light of Christ begin to shine into such a person. As John wrote about Jesus in John 1:9, “The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.” The true Light must enlighten people; otherwise, the light within them will remain darkness, which does explain the otherwise inexplicable evil behavior of many who should know better. Furthermore, in John 3:19-20, Jesus declared, “And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed.” Finally, John mentioned the pride that some people can have in their riches and “the boastful pride of life” (NASB) that can lead people to aggressively pursue the things of this world with a single-minded purpose that totally disregards the commands, plans, and purposes of God. In 1 John 2:16, John teaches believers and unbelievers not to blame God for all the evils and temptations that exist in the world that the devil and those of this world have designed to lead people away from God and away from the compassionate love that everyone should have for everyone else. When believers are tempted to do evil, they need to remind themselves that their temptations do not come “from the Father but from the world,” as James also wrote in James 1:13-15, “No one, when tempted, should say, ‘I am being tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself tempts no one. But one is tempted by one’s own desire, being lured and enticed by it; then, when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death.”
(1 John 2:17) The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.
When they are tempted to sin or return to worldly ways, believers also need to remind themselves that the world, the worldly, the tempter, and the temptations from unholy desires are passing away. The world may seem to be “getting worse” morally and spiritually as evil and sinful behavior remain less hidden; still, the world and the things of this world are passing away and will someday completely pass away. Doing evil is self-destructive, and if not turned from, doing evil will eventually lead to the just judgment of the King of the universe. However, “those who do the will of God live forever.” Jesus has given eternal life to all who believe in Him, and true belief in Jesus includes doing the will of God. In Mark 3:35, Jesus said, “Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” In John 3:36, Jesus taught, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but must endure God’s wrath.” The Father and the Son have commanded us to obey Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. We will love to live with the Father and the Son forever if we have learned on earth the joy that comes from doing the will of God; otherwise, we would be miserable in heaven among holy, obedient, lovers of God. No matter what we may say we believe, God knows our actions and our real thoughts and feelings about the Father and the Son.
(1 John 2:18) Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour.
Next, John names some of the most misleading “worldly people” of all—“the antichrists.” You can once again feel the tenderness in John’s appeal to his readers when he calls us “children.” As an elderly apostle of Jesus Christ, perhaps the last one of the original disciples still alive, John considered his readers so close and important to him that they were like beloved children. John loved his readers as much as Jesus Christ loved him. In John 6:40, Jesus declared, “This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day.” And in John 12:48, Jesus warned, “The one who rejects me and does not receive my word has a judge; on the last day the word that I have spoken will serve as judge.” A “last day” will assuredly come when Jesus returns and raises from the dead all who believe in Him. Only in 1 John 2:18 did anyone in the New Testament write about the “last hour.” Today, we are still in a “last hour” and we need to live with the understanding that “this very hour” may be our “last hour.” Though our “last hour” may be many days from now, someday everyone will experience a “last hour” and even a “last moment in time.” Our behavior will become consistently better, and we will become more obedient to God when we think that every hour may possibly be our last hour before we meet Jesus—a believer in Jesus will not spend their last hour or any possible last hour in worldly pursuits. Only John uses the name “antichrist,” though we understand more about such a person or spirit as we read the Bible. An “antichrist” is one who works against and in opposition to Jesus Christ and His followers. Consider all John’s uses of the name “antichrist.” In 1 John 2:22” John wrote, “Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.” The antichrist is a liar who denies the truth. In 1 John 4:2-3, John wrote, “By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. And this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming; and now it is already in the world.” The antichrist rejects Jesus and the truth about Jesus as recorded in the Bible. And in 2 John 1:7-8, John warned, “Many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh; any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist! Be on your guard, so that you do not lose what we have worked for, but may receive a full reward.” The antichrist will work to deceive Jesus’ followers and lead them away from Jesus. From the beginning of the Church, the followers of Jesus Christ have confronted antichrists. The same as John’s first readers, we too live in “the last hour” before Jesus Christ returns to make all things right.
(1 John 2:19) They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.
As John described the antichrists, he recognized them as those who at one time had been in some way involved in the Church, but who had left the fellowship of believers in Jesus Christ. They may have remained active in the visible Church, but morally, spiritually, and intellectually they had departed from faith in Jesus Christ. If they remained active in the Church, then they probably remained to “educate” or mislead the true believers. John explained that these antichrists had never really belonged in the Church, for if they had they would have never left the Church (physically or spiritually). They would have remained in the Church. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit indwell the true believer in Jesus Christ because the true believer has bowed before Jesus Christ as their Lord; they have repented of (turned from) their sins and have resolved to obey Jesus in all things with God being their Helper. An antichrist has never truly repented and placed their faith in Jesus Christ. The true believer in Jesus Christ loves the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and they know the love of God within them. In John 2:21, Jesus spoke of His human body as His temple, the temple of God. In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Paul wrote about our human body as believers in Jesus Christ: “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.” The true God never indwelt the one who has left the Church to become an antichrist in thought, word, and deed. By their words and actions, the antichrist makes it plain to the discerning mind that they are not followers of the Lord Jesus Christ or the Bible’s teachings. They love this world and the things of this world rather than God. It is plain to the discerning spirit that they do not belong in the Church. The Bible talks repeatedly about unclean spirits, and the antichrists are indwelt by unclean spirits rather than the Holy Spirit, and their behavior demonstrates this in a variety of ways. Paul wrote of a few ways the antichrists can deceive believers. In Colossians 2:8, Paul warned believers, “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ.” And in 1 Timothy 4:1-2, Paul warned, “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will renounce the faith by paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared with a hot iron.” And in 1 John 4:1-3, John advised, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. And this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming; and now it is already in the world.” Today, antichrists can deceive in many ways.
Sunday, July 25, 2021
1 John 2:15-19
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.
If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in
him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the
lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but
is of the world (1 John 2:15-16—KJV).
Do not love the world nor 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 and the lust of the
eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but
is from the world (1 John 2:15-16—NASB).
Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of
the Father is not in those who love the world; for all that is in
the world—the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the
pride in riches—comes not from the Father but from the
world (1 John 2:15-16—NRSV).
John did not write that people should not appreciate and care
for the beautiful world that God has made; rather, no one
should love God’s creation more than they love the Creator.
But the world has not remained exactly as God created it, so
what God originally made does not point perfectly to the
character and wisdom of God. Therefore, Jesus came and
taught the truth about God and the world and how to live in
the world. In the Bible, “the world” or “this world” can also
mean a civilization, culture, fellowship, society, or philosophy
that promotes rebellion against God and God’s
commandments. So, a “worldly person” follows their feelings
or thoughts to gratify themselves supremely instead of loving
God supremely and others as the Bible teaches. By doing so,
they misuse and damage themselves and others. A “worldly
person” can easily become deceived by what they see or hear
that someone else has designed to manipulate them, take
advantage of them, and lead them further away from God. A
“worldly person” can love money so much that they become
arrogant and search for “legal” ways to steal from others and
further enrich themselves. John warned the followers of Jesus
Christ that they can also be tempted to become “worldly
persons,” so they must remember that the world is passing
away, “but those who do the will of God live forever” (1 John
2:17).
Thinking Further
The Love of the World
Sunday, July 25, 2021
1 John 2:15-19
Name ______________________________
1. How would you define or explain “world” as John uses the word?
2. How would you describe someone who loves the world?
3. How would you describe someone who has the love of the Father within them?
4. What did John say comes from the world and not from the Father?
5. Who does John say will live forever? Do you agree? Why or why not?
Discussion and Thinking Further
- How would you define or explain “world” as John uses the word?
In the Bible, “the world” or “this world” can mean a civilization, culture, fellowship, society, or philosophy that promotes rebellion against God and God’s commandments.
- How would you describe someone who loves the world?
A “worldly person” follows their feelings or thoughts to gratify themselves supremely instead of loving God supremely and others as the Bible teaches. By doing so, they misuse and damage themselves and others.
3. How would you describe someone who has the love of the Father within them?
They obey the commandments of Jesus and love God and others. They also love their fellow Christians as Jesus Christ loves them. The love of God within them enables them to love others according to the will of God.
4. What did John say comes from the world and not from the Father?
The desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches comes not from the Father but from the world.
5. Who does John say will live forever? Do you agree? Why or why not?
In 1 John 2:17, John wrote, “And the world and its desire are passing away, but those who do the will of God live forever.” Yes. The will of God definitely includes believing in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as our Lord and Savior, which will lead the true believer to follow and obey Jesus, which is according to the will of God.
Word Search
The Love of the World
Sunday, July 25, 2021
1 John 2:15-19
Name _________________________________
N E R D L I H C P L F C B G W
U G N O L E B A S O T A F N X
R M Z U T K S Y R N S U I M F
U G F D V S R E U T I Z F X S
B E U W I I V P O G R P N J O
D V L N C E C J H X H D K S U
E A G H R H S E L F C Z O E M
S L E C T H I N G S I W G R Q
I S J I P W U Q E K T R K A K
R P E A Z R Y H V W N E N L D
E T S W G E I Z O O A O D E Q
R V U I V H E D L R J S A N R
M D S W F T Y M E L N X L B C
Y V Y T Z A E Z P D Q U T Z F
F U P I N F S M I M F K L D V
Love
World
Things
Father
Desire
Flesh
Eyes
Pride
Riches
Passing
Forever
Hour
Children
Antichrist
Belong
True and False Test
The Love of the World
Sunday, July 25, 2021
1 John 2:15-19
Name ________________________________
Circle the True or False answers. Correct the False statements by restating them.
1. True Christians will learn to love and enjoy the world and all the things of the world. True or False
2. When John wrote of the world, he did not mean creation as God had created the world. True or False
3. In John’s letters, the world meant a human society or group of people that stood in opposition to God and in rebellion against God. True or False
4. The love of the Father cannot be in one who lives in rebellion against God. True or False
5. When a person takes pride in their riches, others should praise them for their awesome achievements and ask them for money. True or False
6. A person who follows the desires of their flesh does not sin. True or False
7. The world with its desires is passing away, but those who do the will of God will live forever. True or False
8. When John wrote his letters, no antichrists had appeared yet. True or False
9. Antichrists go out from among the true followers of Jesus Christ because they never actually belonged among them. True or False
10. The true followers of Jesus Christ remain among other true followers of Jesus Christ and make plain they belong with them. True or False
True and False Test Answers
- False
- True
- True
- True
- False
- False
- True
- False
- True
- True
Prayer
Father, we stand amazed at Your love for us, and we praise You for it. Our hope is in You for having redeemed our past, giving meaning to our present, and delivering us into our future. In Jesus’ name we rejoice and pray. Amen.