1 John 2:13-2913I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. 14I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. 15Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 18Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 19They 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. 20But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 21I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 22Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 23Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. 24Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. 25And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. 26These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. 27But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. 28And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 29If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him. (1 John 2:13‑29)
To the young man, whose danger is being seduced by the world, God in His Word unfolds the true character of the world; its source and its end.
“All that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world; and the world passeth away and the lust thereof; but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.” (1 John 2:1616For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (1 John 2:16)).
And to the young man, as to the babe. God presents a double safeguard; the love of the Father, and the Word which reveals His will; these are what God has provided to keep him from falling a prey to, from being seduced by, the bait of the foe.
How far can each of us say that the love of the Father does exclude the world? Do we know anything of this practically? The reason that saints are too often found dabbling in the world, is because they have not the love of the Father in them; if they had, and enjoyed that love, how could a system set up in direct opposition to Him whose love they enjoy, attract them?
Satan has formed a world that is in direct opposition to the Father, but when the Father’s love is known and enjoyed, therein is found a safeguard that excludes the world.
And now as to the father in Christ, what is his safeguard? Religious deceits are brought to try him, his safeguard is Christ. The father has known “Him that is from the beginning.” —Christ the living Word. Thus in the case of the father, as of the young man, and as of the babe, the Word of God is the safeguard, and obedience thereto, the path of safety from all the power of the foe, who is powerless against obedience.
Paul, in speaking to Timothy, his son in the faith, of the last days, tells him the features that will characterize them, and among others is found religious deceit.
Also a resistance of the truth by imitation of it. Do you know anything of this “form of godliness, but denying the power thereof”? You say, I mourn over it. Why then do you not turn away from it? You do not have to attack it; you have only to turn away from it.
The Word itself is your authority to do so: “from such turn away,” and on this, each child of God is not only authorized, but responsible to act. At such a time, and in such a state of things, Paul commends to Timothy three things: My doctrine; the holy Scriptures, and the person of Christ.
Thus God has provided for His people in everything. Though the enemy may press us hard, and be an expert in the use of his weapons, God has provided a perfect safeguard for us in His Word. Is it not true that what we need in the present day is not so much the knowledge of additional truth, not that we do not need truth, but rather to be in the power of the truth that is known? so to be in the power of it, that it should command us.
We need to be obedient ones, we need to be dependent ones, following in the steps of Him who has gone before us—that blessed one who in His pathway on earth, met and defeated all the power of the enemy by simple obedience, simple dependence.
May each one indeed follow Him, remembering that, if believers at all, they are set apart (sanctified) to His obedience—that is, to obey on the same principle on which He obeyed, who could say,