Inspiration of Love 11
". . . The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him."
1 John 3:1b
There is a second point I would like to consider from our 1 John 3 text.
[2] The World is a Great Hindrance to our Salvation
There is a tragic misunderstanding of the term "world." What exactly is its meaning?
[Below is a copy of Thayer's Gree-English Lexicon (abridged) entry for "world" in the verses used. Focus on #6 & 7.] [1]
First, the English word for "world" is from the Old English werold or wurold, which has origins in the Old High German word weralt. The composition of which is two distinct words in the Germanic: wer = man; ald= old or age. Literally, the word means "old man" or "age of man."[2]
Though the Bible uses the term world in different contexts, that definition provides a rough but accurate explanation for our verse above. I believe the context bears out that the "world" here refers to the age of man, or spirit of the age, or the spirit of man, or even perhaps simply the worldliness of man as compared to godliness; essentially, it refers to the state of fallen humanity as those who neither belong to nor seek God. As one commentator succinctly stated: "The world's whole course is one great act of non-recognition of God."[3] So, the fallen "world" or fallen man, his spirit, his age, has no spiritual knowledge of the Christ or those who are born of him. In this case, the Apostle John bluntly stated the obvious difference between the children of God and the children of the world. With such a stark division, we need to know that the the world is a great hindrance to our salvation.
1 John 2:15-18 helps to clarify any confusion concerning the child of God's basic position toward the world. "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" (v15). The problem the world presents for the child of God is that it can act as a distraction. Even the neutral devices and creations of man, which are inherently neither morally good nor evil, can be a stumbling block when loved more than God.
The world does not love God. When we love the world and the things of the world more than God, we assume the position of the fallen world. This desire for the things of world discourages and even prevents us from knowing Christ deeply. Thereby, we forsake our identity in Christ by giving place and preference to the world.
The Apostle is writing to the children of God. They know God in Christ. They love Christ. They have the Spirit of God, the paraclete, who abides and goes with them. They adore his word. They have been saved and transformed. Yet there is an allurement to crave and possess the things of the world.
1 John 2:16 reveals the core nature of the world and, innately, the people of the world. This core nature and expression of the world was found in the voice of the serpent in Genesis 3 at the temptation of Eve and Adam, and the same devil in Matthew 4 as he tempted Jesus. That false voice sound like this: If I can just have this thing, this position, this prestige, this person, this power, then all will be better. This voice is a great hindrance to discovering contentment in God alone.
1 John 2:17 reveals that there is no ultimate contentment or satisfaction with the world. It passes into obscuring, into nothingness at the end. However, the word and promises of God endure for his children who love and seek his will.
That's the inspiration of love in 1 John 3:1. Not only are we God's children in Christ. We do not know the world, and they do not know us. Unfortunately, it follows that since we do not love the world, then they do not love us (Jn 15:18). Though the world does express a hatred toward us, the peace of God tempers the pain of tribulation (Jn 16:33). And the peace of God is certainly known by his children.
This is what we are to BEHOLD: That we are the children of God, separated from the age or spirit of the world, and loved dearly by him. In Christ our salvation is not hindered but secure, because we know him and he knows us.
[1] NT:2889 kosmos, kosmou, ho;
1. an apt and harmonious arrangement or constitution, order
2. ornament, decoration, adornment: 1 Peter 3:3
3. the world, i. e. the universe Acts 17:24; Rom 4:13
4. the circle of the earth, the earth Mark 16:15
5. the inhabitants of the world: 1 Cor 4:9
6. the ungodly multitude; the whole mass of men alienated from God, and therefore hostile to the cause of Christ John 7:7
7. worldly affairs; the aggregate of things earthly; the whole circle of earthly goods, endowments, riches, advantages, pleasures, etc., which, although hollow and frail and fleeting, stir desire, seduce from God and are obstacles to the cause of Christ: Gal 6:14
8. any aggregate or general collection of particulars of any sort James 3:6
(from Thayer's Greek Lexicon, Electronic Database. Copyright © 2000, 2003 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
