1 John 2:15–27

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Assistant Professor of Christian Ministries, University of MobileThe Promise: Eternal Life

1 John 2:15–27

Lovers of the World (15–17)

John commands believers not to love the world. He does not mean the physical world, for God created the material realm and will one day redeem it (Gen. 1–2; Rev. 20–21). John refers to the current world system that esteems what is in stark contrast to the ethics of God’s kingdom: the desires of the sinful nature (flesh), the covetousness of the eyes and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). 

The one who claims to love the Father yet loves the present world has no place in the Father’s kingdom. A person’s affection for the Father will be evidenced by his or her life (1 John 1:5–10; James 2:18). This is a sobering reality for those who see their faith as separate from the way they live, as if the two had no correlation. 

For John, a person who loves the world does not belong to the Father — and rightly so, for the present order is opposed to His rule.

The present sinful world is passing away (1 John 2:17; Rev. 20–22). God’s kingdom, however, is roaring toward its consummation. How amazing it will be when believers at last dwell with Him for eternity. But how awful it will be for those who have not loved Him — for they will perish along with the present order (Rev. 20:7–15).

Enemies of the Gospel (18–23)

John now informs his readers that “it is the last hour” (18). Ever since Jesus ascended to heaven, believers have been living in the final days, awaiting His return and the establishment of the Kingdom on earth (Acts 1:6–11). 

As they wait they must be aware that many antichrists have arrived, denying Jesus is the Christ. 

The term “Christ” is a title given to the promised Davidic King who will rule perpetually over His people (2 Sam. 7; Ps. 2). The genealogies in Matthew 1 and Luke 3 take great pains to show that Jesus is this promised figure. Antichrists deny this truth and thus reject the good news.

The modern Church needs to heed John’s words. There are some, such as the Jesus Seminar, liberal scholars, cults and false teachers, who deny the messianic identity of Jesus. Such people are antichrists. Believers must not listen to them. Instead they should hold fast to the claim: “I believe in Jesus [the] Christ,” as confessed in the Apostle’s Creed.

Faithful to the Gospel (24–27)

Contrary to antichrists, people who remain faithful to the truth that Jesus is the Christ have the sure hope of eternal life. Christians should not view faithfulness as a personal achievement. Of their own accord, they too would depart from the truth. 

The Holy Spirit is the one who guarantees that believers will hold fast to the gospel, receiving what is promised to them (2 Cor. 1:22; Eph. 1:14).

Christians do well to urge one another to hold tightly to the truth of Jesus. So says the author of Hebrews, “But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is called ‘today’ … for we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast to our assurance firm to the end” (Heb. 3:13–14). 

So then let believers encourage one another to remain in the truth so as to receive the unfading inheritance of the promised Kingdom (1 Pet. 1:3–5).