Living Victoriously
Read 1 John 2:7-16
“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. 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” (1 John 2:15-16).
Growing in Maturity
"Little children" is the term the Apostle John used to address the Christian community. The foundation of the Christian life is the assurance that our sins are forgiven through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
In terms of spiritual maturity, John describes "fathers" as those with a deep and growing relationship with their Savior. They recognize Jesus Christ as the Son of God, who has been present since the beginning of creation.
"Young men" are characterized by their determination to live in accordance with God's holy calling. They grow from strength to strength, grounded in the truth of God's Word, and are overcomers, having learned the secret of victorious Christian living by abiding in God's Word.
"Children" are those who know God as their Heavenly Father. They represent the entry point of the Christian faith—those who recognize their need for forgiveness and understand that God, in His love, sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for their sins. Whoever believes in Jesus receives eternal life and becomes a child of God (John 1:12).
Turning Away from Worldly Desire
The world promotes different values, but Christian values focus on loving God and others. Our calling is to pursue God's righteousness and act justly, as the light of the world. The three elements of worldliness—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—were precisely what led Adam and Eve into sin:
The “lust of the flesh” refers to sensual desires that arise from self-centered appetites. For Eve, it was the desire to be like God, knowing good and evil, which led her to engage further with the serpent (Genesis 3:6).
The “lust of the eyes” refers to desires sparked by what we see. Eve saw that the tree was good for food (Genesis 3:7).
The “pride of life” is the desire for self-glorification. The knowledge gained from eating the fruit was a delight to Eve’s eyes, making her believe it would make her wise and possibly equal to God.
Application
When Jesus prayed for His disciples in John 17:15-16, He asked the Father to protect them from the evil one as they lived in the world. While Christians are in the world, they are not of the world. We live as a child recognizing we have the sovereign protection of God. As young men, overcoming the scheme of the evil one, knowing the truth has already set us free, and with the wisdom of a father, standing firm in faith and the promises of God's Word, for there is far greater glory in pursuing Godly matters than anything the world can offer.
Pray
Teach me Lord to love you more. Let my desire be just for you. Amen.
1 John 2:7 - 16
7 Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. 8 At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
12 I am writing to you, little children,
because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake.
13 I am writing to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
because you have overcome the evil one.
I write to you, children,
because you know the Father.
14 I write to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
because you are strong,
and the word of God abides in you,
and you have overcome the evil one.15 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. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.