Who do you love? - 1 John 2:15-17

In this very familiar passage, John offers the first command of this epistle - do not love the world. What does that mean? It has often been stretched and made to say things John did not necessarily intend. John is still addressing the issues that are confronting this church, but through this command, calls the believers not to be influenced by those who have left the church and by their actions demonstrate a love and commitment for the world that preempts their love for God. True believers must live a life motivated by love for God displayed in obedience to his will. John connects love with obedience again in this text. 1 John has often been described as a letter written to offer assurance to believers. Believers can know that they have indeed been delivered from their sins and stand justified before God, only through Jesus, and a right understanding and belief about him and in him alone. John also makes statements about not living in darkness or continuing in the practice of sin 1 John 1:6-8; 3:9-10; 5:18. These statements can seem confusing and this is one of the elements of the epistles of John that can be hard to fully understand. How can we be sure of our salvation, of our relationship with Jesus, if the measure is not sinning anymore? We can confidently know that we are believers, resting in the finished work of Jesus. John’s epistles are unique, in that, John is clearly addressing antagonists against Jesus, the gospel and these believers (the audience may be the churches of Asia Minor that he addresses in Revelation). No matter the audience, there is clearly antagonism from outside the church, from some who have left the church, but are still causing chaos and confusion for those remaining in the church. Remember, belief in Jesus alone saves; the evidence of salvation flows from this belief.