1 João 2
F.B. Meyer · Citado em PreceptAustin
1 João 2:17
Meyer - 1 John 2:17—The world passeth away, and the lust thereof The world stands for the entire system of human interests by which we are surrounded. It does not refer to what God made by his creative fiat and moulding hands, but to the shows, fashions, and pursuits of men. It is used here in the sense in which the devil took Jesus into an exceeding high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them, and said, “It hath been delivered unto me, and to whomsoever I will, I give it.” The word used of its evanescence is a remarkably interesting one. It is that employed of the rapid change in some scenic display or performance. A moment ago the stage was full of life and colour; but it is suddenly deserted, and the actors and actresses have put off their splendid dresses, and are habited in mean and common attire. Or we might compare the passing away of the world to the dying colour of the sunset. The tempter offers us some bait, some outward object which appeals to the eye of the body or the mind, and we reach out towards it; but as we gasp it, it is gone. We have caught at a soap bubble, have journeyed after a mirage, have hunted the will-o’-the-wisp. So unsubstantial and fleeting are the things with which the men of this world try to appease their immortal appetite. But it is to be noticed that the desire for these things is even more evanescent than the things themselves. The apostle says that the lust thereof passeth away. The power of enjoyment dies away. The eye is sated with spectacles; the mind with constant change. How great the contrast!—“He that doeth the will of God abideth forever.” Charles Swindoll - 1 John 2:17 Nothing makes us more uncertain and insecure than not being sure we are in the will of God. And nothing is more encouraging than knowing for sure that we are. Then, no matter what the circumstances, no matter what happens, we can stand fast. We can be out of a job but know that we are in the will of God. We can face a threatening situation but know that we are in the will of God. We can have the odds stacked against us but know that we are in the will of God. Nothing intimidates those who know that what they believe is based on what God has said. Adrian Rogers - THE WILL OF GOD The world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does God’s will remains forever. 1 John 2:17 Let me give you three principles about the will of God: 1) The will of God is for your welfare. It is not something you have to do; it is something you get to do. 2) The will of God will never take you where the power of God and the grace of God cannot enable and keep you. 3) God will not force His will on you. You are free to choose. But you are not free to choose the consequences of your choice. How is it that we strive so hard to build our nest here? Mary Winslow "Those who use the things of the world--as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away!" 1 Corinthians 7:31 "The world and its desires pass away--but the man who does the will of God lives forever!" 1 John 2:17 Oh, how uncertain are all events in this changing world! We are here for a little while, and then pass away--the believer to his happy, happy home in Heaven, prepared for him by infinite and eternal love! How is it that we strive so hard to build our nest here--and cling so fondly and with such tenacity to the creature? Did we fully believe all that Christ says to us--then how more willing would we be to depart and be with Him! O eternity! With all your solemn realities--how is it that we frail creatures of a clay think so little of you! A few more struggles and you and I, dear friend, will be there! How soon, how very soon, we shall be fitted for the companionship of Jesus Himself, and shall be with Him, beholding Him in all His unveiled loveliness, and bathing in the ocean of His love! Does not the thought often gladden your heart, while it dissolves in sweet contrition, that ever it should have sinned against One who so loved us as to lay down His precious life for us? What a bauble! - John Angell James "The unsearchable riches of Christ!" Ephes. 3:8 How poor and trifling are all those objects which so much engross the time and attention of the great bulk of mankind! What a bauble is wealth, compared with the unsearchable riches of Christ! How insignificant is the honor which comes from man, compared with the honor which comes from God! And how contemptible the pleasures of sin, which are but for a season—those short-lived enjoyments for which men barter their souls and eternal salvation! "The world and everything in it that people desire is passing away; but those who do the will of God live forever." (1 John 2:17) 288 opinions about the way to happiness Thomas Watson "The world passes away!" (1 John 2:17). Worldly delights are winged. They may be compared to a flock of birds in the garden—which stay a little while—but when you come near to them—they take their flight and are gone! Just so, "riches make themselves wings; they fly away like an eagle toward heaven!" They are like a meteor which blazes—but soon burns out. They are like a castle made of snow—lying under the fiery beams of the sun. Worldly comforts are like tennis balls—which are bandied up and down from one to another. They are like a bouquet of flowers—which withers while you are smelling it. They are like ice—which melts away while it is in your hand. Those things which do more vex than comfort—cannot make a man truly happy. As riches are compared to wind—to show their vanity; so they are compared to thorns—to show their vexation. Thorns are not more apt to tear our garments—than riches to tear our hearts! They are thorns in the gathering—and they prick with anxious care. They pierce the head with care of getting, so they wound the heart with fear of losing. Happiness is not to be fetched out of the earth! Worldly comforts cannot make you happy. You might live rich—and die cursed! You might treasure up an estate—and God might treasure up wrath! Convictions and Teachings George Muller Dear reader, does your soul long to be rich towards God, to lay up treasures in Heaven? The world passes away and the lust thereof (1 John 2:17)! Yet a little while, and our stewardship will be taken from us. At present we have the opportunity of serving the Lord with our time, our talents, our bodily strength, our gifts, and also with our property; but shortly this opportunity may cease. Oh, how shortly it may cease! Before ever this is read by anyone, I may have died; and the very next day after you have read this, dear reader, you may have died! And therefore while we have the opportunity let us serve the Lord. James Smith - The world and all its desires pass away." 1 John 2:17 The world is like a pageant, which, while we look at it — passes on and is gone! Let us therefore daily set our hearts on things beyond it, even on those things which are eternal. Lord, from this world call off my love. Set my affections right; Bid me aspire to joys above, And walk no more by sight! Vanity of vanities, all is vanity! Thomas Brooks Sorrow attends worldly joy, danger attends worldly safety, loss attends worldly labors, tears attend worldly purposes. As to these things . . . men's hopes are vain, their sorrow is certain, and their joy is artificial. The apostle calls this world a sea of glass — a sea for the trouble of it, and glass for the brittleness and bitterness of it. Saving faith makes a man see . . . the prickles that are in every rose, the thorns that are in every crown, the poison that is in the golden cup, the spot that is in the shining pearl. And thus a Christian counts and calls all these things, as indeed they are, "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity!" Ecclesiastes 1:2 "The world is passing away, along with its desires; but the one who does the will of God lives forever!" 1 John 2:17 Excerpt from The Christian Soldier, or Heaven Taken by Storm by Thomas Watson, 1669 1. The world is DECEITFUL. Our Savior calls it, "The deceitfulness of riches," Matt. 13:22. The world promises happiness—but give less. It promises us Rachel—but gives us bleary-eyed Leah. The world promises to satisfy our desires—but only increases them. The world gives poisoned pills—but wraps them in sugar! 2. The world is POLLUTING. "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: . . . to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27 As if the apostle would intimate that the world is good for nothing but to pollute. It first pollutes men's consciences, and then their names. It is called filthy lucre, Titus 1:7. because it makes men so filthy. They will damn themselves to get the world. Ahab would have Naboth's vineyard, though he swam to it in blood. 3. The world is PERISHING. "The world and its desires pass away." 1 John 2:17. The world is like a flower which withers while we are smelling it! Unchanging Love The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:17 Today's Scripture & Insight : Psalm 103:13–22 When I was in high school I played on the varsity tennis team. I spent many hours of my teenage years trying to improve my skills on four concrete courts located just two blocks from my home. The last time I visited that city, one of the first things I did was drive to the tennis courts, hoping to watch others play and reminisce for a moment. But the old courts, so familiar to my memory, were nowhere to be seen. In their place was a vacant field, inhabited only by an occasional weed waving silently in the breeze. That afternoon remains in my mind as a stark reminder of the brevity of life. One of the places where I expended some of my best youthful strength no longer existed! Reflecting on that experience later brought me to this truth, expressed by an aging King David: “The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him” (Psalm 103:15–17). Faithful Father, thank You for Your love that never changes! Help me to love You by serving You faithfully today. In our changing world, we can always depend on our unchanging God. HEAVENLY PEOPLE: Read LUKE 24:44-53, 1Jn 2:15-17. If then you were raised with Christ, seek (present imperative = passionately and persistently as one's lifestyle, for earth is not our home beloved!) those things which are above (Colossians 3:1-note). Christians are a "heavenly" people. That's what Paul meant when he told the Ephesians that God has "raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph 2:6-note). We live on earth, but "our citizenship is in heaven" (Phil 3:20-note). We should therefore "seek those things which are above," and store up treasures in heaven. We see a graphic difference between an earthly minded person and a heavenly minded person when we look at two Middle Eastern tombs. The first is the burial place of King Tut in Egypt. Inside, precious metal and blue porcelain cover the walls. The mummy of the king is en-closed in a beautifully inscribed, gold-covered sarcophagus. Although King Tut apparently believed in an afterlife, he thought of it in terms of this world's possessions, which he wanted to take with him. The other tomb, in Palestine, is a simple rock-hewn cave believed by many to be Jesus' burial site. Inside, there is no gold, no earthly treasure, and no body. Jesus had no reason to store up this world's treasures. His goal was to fulfill all righteousness by doing His Father's will. His was a spiritual kingdom of truth and love. Wise are those who gear their goals to heavenly gains. WHERE IS YOUR HAPPINESS? IN THINGS OR GOD? Although the fig tree shall not blossom … yet I will rejoice in the Lord (Habakkuk 3:17-18). Those who center their lives on spiritual values rather than material things are best equipped to endure the adversities of life and to profit from them. In fact, they can even rejoice in them. In 450 Stories for Life, Gust Anderson tells about visiting a church in a farming community of eastern Alberta, Canada, where there had been eight years of drought. The farmers were deep in debt, and their economic situation looked hopeless. In spite of their poverty, how-ever, many of them continued to meet together to worship and praise God. Anderson was especially impressed by the testimony of one of these farmers. Dressed in overalls and an old coat—the best clothes he had—the man stood up and quoted Habakkuk 3:17,18. Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls; yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. Anderson thought, that dear saint has found the secret of real joy. Happiness depends on happenings; Joy depends on Jesus! Unchanging Love The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:17 Today's Scripture & Insight : Psalm 103:13–22 When I was in high school I played on the varsity tennis team. I spent many hours of my teenage years trying to improve my skills on four concrete courts located just two blocks from my home. The last time I visited that city, one of the first things I did was drive to the tennis courts, hoping to watch others play and reminisce for a moment. But the old courts, so familiar to my memory, were nowhere to be seen. In their place was a vacant field, inhabited only by an occasional weed waving silently in the breeze. That afternoon remains in my mind as a stark reminder of the brevity of life. One of the places where I expended some of my best youthful strength no longer existed! Reflecting on that experience later brought me to this truth, expressed by an aging King David: “The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him” (Psalm 103:15–17). Faithful Father, thank You for Your love that never changes! Help me to love You by serving You faithfully today. In our changing world, we can always depend on our unchanging God. CASTLES OF SAND - the world passeth away but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever. 1 John 2:17 Walking along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico early one morning, I came upon quite an elaborate castle of sand. Evidently some youngster the day before had spent hours scooping out the "moats," heaping up the mounds of earth, forming the castle walls, and placing many beautiful shells on them as an added embellishment. How proud he must have been of his work. I can just imagine hearing him call out, "Mommy, Daddy, look at what I made!" and then how his face must have beamed as he received their enthusiastic praise. As I came along at sunrise, however, the tide was coming in, and with it the continual action of the breakers. They seemed to move in a little closer with each succeeding crash. As I stopped to examine this child's castle of sand, a huge wave broke at my feet, disintegrating a portion of it. Then came another wave, and yet another, adding to its ruin. Returning some time later I found the castle was completely destroyed. It made me think of the "castles of sand" which men and women erect in real life. They spend not just a few hours, but precious years toiling and laboring, thinking they are really accomplishing some-thing. But then comes the night, and after the "builders" them-selves are gone, the tides of time swirl in and soon their cherished "castles" disappear, and they and their works are both forgotten. There is only one way to build a life that counts, and a "work" that endures. It is to found it upon the Rock, Christ Jesus, and to do so with eternity's values in view. To rear and educate your children to succeed in this life is fine, but what are you doing to help them prepare for that which is to come? To be successful in business and receive the plaudits of men may give temporary pleasure and satisfaction, but what are you doing for eternity? What are you building: a "castle of sand," or a work that abides? It was Daniel who said, "… they that turn many to righteousness, [shall shine] as the stars forever and ever" (Da 12:3). To wealth and fame I would not climb, But I would know God's peace sublime; And everywhere, and all the time, I want my life to tell for Jesus! — Mrs. F. Breck Only one life, 'twill soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last! (Ed: And only what's done IN Christ will last - cp Jn 15:5, 16+) Anxiety about temporal things does not befit us now. The world is to us like an inn, where we lodge tonight—but shall leave it tomorrow! -- James Smith J C
1 João 2:18-23
Meyer - Our Daily Homily The world stands for the entire system of human interests by which we are surrounded. It does not refer to what God made by his creative fiat and moulding hands, but to the shows, fashions, and pursuits of men. It is used here in the sense in which the devil took Jesus into an exceeding high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them, and said, “It hath been delivered unto me, and to whomsoever I will, I give it.” The word used of its evanescence is a remarkably interesting one. It is that employed of the rapid change in some scenic display or performance. A moment ago the stage was full of life and colour; but it is suddenly deserted, and the actors and actresses have put off their splendid dresses, and are habited in mean and common attire. Or we might compare the passing away of the world to the dying colour of the sunset. The tempter offers us some bait, some outward object which appeals to the eye of the body or the mind, and we reach out towards it; but as we gasp it, it is gone. We have caught at a soap bubble, have journeyed after a mirage, have hunted the will-o’-the-wisp. So unsubstantial and fleeting are the things with which the men of this world try to appease their immortal appetite. But it is to be noticed that the desire for these things is even more evanescent than the things themselves. The apostle says that the lust thereof passeth away. The power of enjoyment dies away. The eye is sated with spectacles; the mind with constant change. How great the contrast! — “He that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” One evening I went out with a shepherd to collect his sheep. After they had been gathered together, and were being driven off the moor, I observed that there were some among them who did not belong to his flock. I particularly noticed, also, that he paid no attention whatever to these wandering strangers, urged forward, though they were, by the barking dog, further and further from their rightful companions. At last, thinking I must have been mistaken in supposing they were not his, I pointed to one or two of them, and said, “Are those your sheep?” And he answered, “No.” I said unto him, “Why, then, do you not separate them from the flock?” And he answered, and said, “They will find out directly they are not of us, and then they will go away of themselves.” And immediately I remembered the words of John, and how he had said, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.” - D L Moody Impostors Among Us 1 John 2:19 - Frank Ray Since these people went out from the group it means that they had been a part of the fellowship. By leaving, they denied Christ. When you deny him, you not only deny his person you also deny his power. Matthew 28:18 All power is given unto me. He takes his power and places it behind us to give us power. Acts 1:8 Ye shall have power. Also, they deserted the church. If you are going to stay with the Lord do not leave the church. I know there are those that say “I can make it without the church.” You can be saved and not be in church; that is true. But after you are saved you’ll want to be in the church. The wise person will stay in the church where lies their strength and help. When you leave the church, you lose fellowship with God. One of the problems with our church today is that we assume that everybody who attends the church and functions are saved. Consequently, we let our guards down around church folk. Just because somebody responds to you, it does not mean they have been born again Most of our enemies came out of the church. Satan himself was a choir director who decided that he wanted his throne to supersede God’s throne. But there’s a difference between just being a church member over and against being saved. Many church members are offensive and act in a manner unbecoming to church folk. Now remember the problems come from church folk, not saved people. There is a big difference between the two. Just because you’re in church does not mean you’re saved. Just because you sing in the choir doesn’t mean you’re saved. Because you preach does not mean you’re saved. Or just because you can pray eloquently, it does not mean you’re saved. Can a saved person ever be lost? - Don Fortner - Read Psalm 89:1–37 Can a saved person ever be lost? Our Lord Jesus emphatically answers that question for us. Listen to what he says in John 10:27–30: ‘My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.’ Our Lord himself has spoken it, and it is true not one of his own will ever perish! Any person who is truly saved, born again by almighty grace, a true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, is eternally secure in the hands of Christ. To be sure, there are many who make a profession of faith in Christ, reform their lives and to all outward appearance seem to be saved people that do fall from grace and perish. But the apostle John tells us that those who fall away, forsake the gospel and perish in their sins were never truly saved. He says in 1 John 2:19, ‘They went out from us, but they were not of us: for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us’ Any man who leaves Christ never truly knew Christ. I readily grant that if our salvation were in any measure dependent upon us, we would most certainly be lost and without hope. But salvation is entirely the work of God’s grace and power in Christ. And since it is the work of God, it cannot be destroyed. Solomon said, ‘I know that whatsoever God doeth, it shall be done for ever; nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it: and God doeth it, that men may fear before him’ (Eccles. 3:14). Paul said, ‘He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ’ (Phil. 1:6). A W Tozer - Modern Salesmanship —1 John 2:19 In our eagerness to make converts I am afraid we have lately been guilty of using the technique of modern salesmanship, which is of course to present only the desirable qualities in a product and ignore the rest. We go to men and offer them a cozy home on the sunny side of the brae. If they will but accept Christ He will give them peace of mind, solve their problems, prosper their business, protect their families and keep them happy all day long. They believe us and come, and the first cold wind sends them shivering to some counselor to find out what has gone wrong; and that is the last we hear of many of them.… By offering our hearers a sweetness-and-light gospel and promising every taker a place on the sunny side of the brae, we not only cruelly deceive them, but we guarantee also a high casualty rate among the converts won on such terms. On certain foreign fields the expression “rice Christians” has been coined to describe those who adopt Christianity for profit. The experienced missionary knows that the convert that must pay a heavy price for his faith in Christ is the one that will persevere to the end. He begins with the wind in his face, and should the storm grow in strength he will not turn back for he has been conditioned to endure it. TIC116–117 Deliver us from the error of producing rice Christians. Amen. ILLUSTRATION OF 1 JOHN 2:19- HE COULDN'T GET AWAY - The five-year-old boy became angry with his mother and decided to run away from home. He walked out of his house with a small suitcase and trudged around the block again and again. Finally, when it was beginning to grow dark, the policeman stopped him, "What's the idea?" The little boy answered, "I'm runnin' away." The officer smiled as he said, "Look, I've had my eye on you, and you've been doing nothing but walking around the block. You call that running away?" The little fellow burst into tears, "Well, what do you want me to do? I ain't allowed to cross the street." The youngster obviously respected his parents and knew that they loved him. He couldn't really run away. Now I would abide in His shadow, Ne'er restless nor fearful would be; But should I e'er stray from the pathway He'll never forget to keep me! —Graves, alt. When a man is truly in Christ, he is safe; all the devil can do is worry him! —Loveless 1 John 2:20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. (NASB: Lockman) Greek: και υμεις χρισμα εχετε απο του αγιου και οιδατε παντες Amplified: But you have been anointed by [you hold a sacred appointment from, you have been given an unction from] the Holy One, and you all know [the Truth] or you know all things. (Lockman)