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Lesson 07 – I John 2 verses 16-17

Lesson 07 – I John 2 verses 16-17

Lesson for June 19, 2024

The Book of I John

I John 2:16-17

Verse 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.”

The world is the Greek word “kosmos,” and refers to Satan’s world system. This system is a way of thinking, called Human Viewpoint Thinking, and is opposed to Divine Viewpoint Thinking. John is going to “break down” the results of Human Viewpoint Thinking into three categories.

Lust is the Greek word “epithumia,” and means strong desire of any kind. In this verse, lust is a wrong desire produced by Satan’s world system. The flesh is the Greek word “sarx,” and refers to mankind’s sin nature, since it resides in the body. Therefore, the desires of the sin nature are part of Satan’s world system.

Eyes is the Greek word “ophthalmos,” and is used metaphorically as an instrument of evil desire. The desire of the eyes refers to any desire that is contrary to God’s will, that can be viewed by the eyes.

The Greek word for pride is “alazoneia,” and means boastful or arrogant. The Greek word for life is “bios,’ and means manner of life. Taken together this phrase means an arrogant lifestyle devoid of anything to do with God or His Word.

If a believer is exhibiting any or all of these three categories of Satan’s world system, the desire is certainly not from God. On the contrary, this lifestyle, attitude, and evil desires come from man’s sin nature. At salvation, believers immediately enter into a spiritual battle. This battle is between a believer’s sin nature and their new spiritual nature (human spirit). The souls of believers are being bombarded by these three worldly categories in an attempt to establish and maintain control. 

On the other hand, the Holy Spirit is attempting to fully influence the human spirit so that the spiritual nature of a believer will establish and maintain control. In both cases, it is strictly up to the individual as to who gains and maintains control of their soul. Two illustrations of this are:

Satan tempted Eve in all three of these categories in Genesis 3:6. The lust of the eye was that the forbidden fruit of the tree looked good to eat. The lust of the flesh was that the forbidden fruit must taste very good. The pride of life was that it would make her wise. As we know, Eve fell for Satan’s deception and disobeyed God.

In Matthew 4, Satan used the same tactics on Christ, but of course without success. The lust of the flesh was “command those stones to be turned to bread.” The lust of the eyes was “showing Him all the kingdoms of the world… all these things I will give thee.” The pride of life was “if you are the Son of God cast yourself down [from the mountain]…and the angels will bear you up.”

Since the fall of Adam in the Garden, Satan has been the ruler of this world system. Therefore, he uses the world system to influence all believers. His greatest weapon is to counterfeit the truth. He always gives us something as close to the truth as possible, so that we are easily deceived. Some of Satan’s counterfeits are:

  1. Religion – Galatians 1:6-8; I Corinthians 10:21
  2. Satanic evangelists, ministers, and apostles – II Corinthians 11:13-15
  3. Satanic doctrine – Ephesians 4:14; Colossians 2:8; I Timothy 4:1-3
  4. Satanic pseudo-righteousness – II Corinthians 11:15; Matthew 23:27-28

We know from God’s Word that Satan and his demons cannot indwell believers (I John 4:4), but they can influence them, which is accomplished mainly through the world system in which we live.

Here are some ways used by Satan and his demons to influence believers:

  1. Accuses the believers in heaven – Revelation 12:10
  2. Uses demons to indwell unbelievers who in turn deceive believers – I Timothy 4:1-3
  3. Deceives believers directly – II Corinthians 11:3; Acts 5:3
  4. Uses the pleasures of this world – Colossians 2:8
  5. Uses demons to abuse, oppress, or attack – II Corinthians 12:7; Acts 10:38; Ephesians 6:12
  6. Hinders us by using outside forces – I Thessalonians 2:18

What should be our response to Satanic attacks?

  1. Recognize false doctrine when you hear it – I Timothy 4:16; II Peter 3:1-2
  2. Resist Satan by relying upon the grace of God – James 4:6-7
  3. Don’t let Satan influence your thoughts – Ephesians 4:27
  4. Keep “looking to Jesus” (think divine viewpoint) and do not depend on this world for your happiness – Hebrews 12:1-4

Verse 17

“The world is passing away and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God continues to live forever.”

There will come a day when the world will be destroyed and all that is in it, including Satan and Human Viewpoint Thinking. Satan and his demons have a date with the Lake of Fire, whether they acknowledge it or not. It is actually the Apostle John who wrote about the final chapter in human history in the book of Revelation. In the end, God wins, and Satan loses. (II Peter 3:10-12; Revelation 20:10)

When this day of world destruction comes, all things that are part of this world system will disappear. This includes satanic, corrupt desires. All who have trusted Christ as Savior will be in resurrection bodies and will spend eternity in a state of perfection.

After the destruction of the world, all unbelievers from all dispensations will appear before God for the final judgment. An unbeliever’s sins will not be the issue at this judgment, since Christ paid the penalty for all sin. The issue will be acceptance or rejection of Jesus Christ as Savior and the fact that human good deeds are not adequate to get a person into Heaven. An unbeliever’s name, which had been placed in the Book of Life at his birth, will be blotted out and the sentence will be the Lake of Fire for all eternity in a full state of consciousness. (John 3:18, 36, 5:22-29; I John 2:2; Revelation 20:1-15)

The Judgment Seat of Christ is for believers only and takes place some time shortly after the Rapture of the Church. At the Rapture, all living and dead believers from the Church Age will meet Jesus Christ in the air and will be led in a processional to Heaven, having received a glorified body like Christ’s, fully conscious and fully recognizable. God’s Word indicates that there will then be a time of celebration, when we worship and praise our Savior. (I Corinthians 4:5; 15:51-54; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Philippians 3:21)

Scripture tells us that Christ has already departed to prepare a dwelling place for us, the Bride of Christ (as we will be called in Heaven). But before the Lord can reveal all that will be ours for the eternal state, we must be evaluated at the Judgment Seat of Christ. (John 14:1-3; II Corinthians 5:8-10; Romans 14:11-12)