03.07.2012
Question: "I'm confused...God loves EVERYONE, no matter whatthat we should follow his example. But what then to do with the pagans?or just angry people, etc? in theory we have them toomust love. But God says do not love the world, nor the things in the world: wholoves the world, the Father's love is not in it. John 2:15 What then? After allWe must love every brother and sister as ourselves, no matter who they are or what they do.”
Peace to you, Alena!
You are confused because you are not yet in the habit of carefully studying Scripture, looking not only at individual words and phrases, but also at the context in which they are found, and bringing in other passages of Scripture that would explain what you are reading.
This is what you see now:
“Do not love the world, nor the things in the world”
Here's the immediate context:
“Do not love the world, nor the things in the world; whoever loves the world does not have the love of the Father. For everything that is in the world: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not from the Father, but from this world.”
Do you see? The Apostle John contrasts two, so to speak, types of love:
1) love for the world;
2) love Desperate
What are the characteristics of “love of the world”?
... “lust of the flesh”, when I, submitting to the desires of my fallen flesh, satisfy its demands not in order to simply maintain the vital activity of my body at the most productive level, but in order to feed my flesh with pleasures as much as possible. Hence the transmission or leading to accidents of starvation, hence sexual promiscuity, various kinds of “mania” and other lusts, which, strengthening in me, choke my life and me.
..."lust of the eyes" when I just can’t be satisfied with what I already have in my life (1 Tim. 6:6), learning to use these resources for the benefit of my neighbor, but darting around with insatiable eyes, obeying my “wants” for this, that, that... in other words, when I envy those who have what I don’t have. Those. I love this material world so much that I really want to push it all, or at least partially, into my life, and if it doesn’t work out, then it makes me very, very sad. And from here will flow such words and actions of mine that will certainly turn out to be destructive both for me as an individual and for the people around me.
..."pride of life" when, for the sake of praise or my own self-affirmation, I can take any wrong action that destroys my and other people’s lives.
In other words, love for the world is such a state of the human heart when I want, take, use... and everything for myself. It’s terrible, but this love for the world can take on incredibly perverted forms, when, for example, I seem to be giving everything away to people, serving people, but in reality I’m doing this only because it somehow flatters my vanity, somehow helps me to realize myself. , i.e. it still works on the field of my egoism, satisfying the desires of my fallen self, hiding from God’s justice.
What is the love of the Father? Let's look at the central verse of the Bible? It is there that the answer to our question is contained.
“God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
The Father so loved the people who were perishing in their sins that he gave the most precious thing that He had - His Own Son. For what? To save humanity. And here it arises very important question: save humanity - from what?
Unfortunately, in the hearts of many people who call themselves believers, the answer to this question is very vague. But in essence, it’s simple. The Father gave his Son to save people from their sins. In order to give people the opportunity to live and not sin.
Many believers, unfortunately, think that Christ will save them from their sins. This is a false gospel. Christ saves us from sins. And it saves you from them here and now, in real time. He appeared the first time to cleanse sins, and the second time He will appear to simply take for Himself those who allowed Him to cleanse them, i.e. allowed Christ to give them strength and opportunity live according to the laws of God's Kingdom already here on the dying land (Heb.9:28). Therefore, those who think that by calling Christ Lord they have already been saved, which means they can continue to live as they lived, sinning right and left, or just a little sin, should think again, and think very seriously (Rev. 21:27) .
So, the Father’s love is to give what is most precious for the salvation of others, so that these others will cease to be vile, stupid, disgusting, opposing the love of God... so that they will stop sinning.
Do you remember the new commandment that God could give us only after He Himself demonstrated for us what real love?
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, let you also love one another” (John 13:34). The Father loved humanity so much that he gave his Son to save people from their sins. The Son loved humanity so much that he gave his own life for the same. What are we, who call ourselves believers in Christ Jesus, willing to give to save people from their sins?
Sincerely,
More details: Alena asks
Answered by Alexandra Lanz, 07/03/2012
Question: "I'm confused...God loves EVERYONE, no matter whatthat we should follow his example. But what then to do with the pagans?or just angry people, etc? in theory we have them toomust love. But God says do not love the world, nor the things in the world: wholoves the world, the Father's love is not in it. .What then? After allWe must love every brother and sister as ourselves, no matter who they are or what they do.”
Peace to you, Alena!
You are confused because you are not yet in the habit of carefully studying Scripture, looking not only at individual words and phrases, but also at the context in which they are found, and bringing in other passages of Scripture that would explain what you are reading.
This is what you see now:
“Do not love the world, nor the things in the world”
Here's the immediate context:
“Do not love the world, nor the things in the world; whoever loves the world does not have the love of the Father. For everything that is in the world: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not from the Father, but from this world.”
Do you see? The Apostle John contrasts two, so to speak, types of love:
1) love for the world;
2) love Desperate
What are the characteristics of “love of the world”?
... “lust of the flesh”, when I, submitting to the desires of my fallen flesh, satisfy its demands not in order to simply maintain the vital activity of my body at the most productive level, but in order to feed my flesh with pleasures as much as possible. Hence the transmission or leading to accidents of starvation, hence sexual promiscuity, various kinds of “mania” and other lusts, which, strengthening in me, choke my life and me.
..."lust of the eyes", when I just can’t be satisfied with what I already have in my life (), learning to use these resources for the benefit of my neighbor, but I snoop around everywhere with insatiable eyes, obeying my “want” this, that, that... in other words, when I I envy those who have what I don’t have. Those. I love this material world so much that I really want to push it all, or at least partially, into my life, and if it doesn’t work out, then it makes me very, very sad. And from here will flow such words and actions of mine that will certainly turn out to be destructive both for me as an individual and for the people around me.
..."pride of life" when, for the sake of praise or my own self-affirmation, I can take any wrong action that destroys my and other people’s lives.
In other words, love for the world is such a state of the human heart when I want, take, use... and everything for myself. It’s terrible, but this love for the world can take on incredibly perverted forms, when, for example, I seem to be giving everything away to people, serving people, but in reality I’m doing this only because it somehow flatters my vanity, somehow helps me to realize myself. , i.e. it still works on the field of my egoism, satisfying the desires of my fallen self, hiding from God’s justice.
What is the love of the Father? Let's look at the central verse of the Bible? It is there that the answer to our question is contained.
“God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life” ().
The Father so loved the people who were perishing in their sins that he gave the most precious thing that He had - His Own Son. For what? To save humanity. And here a very important question arises: save humanity - from what?
Unfortunately, in the hearts of many people who call themselves believers, the answer to this question is very vague. But in essence, it’s simple. The Father gave his Son to save people from their sins. In order to give people the opportunity to live and not sin.
Many believers, unfortunately, think that Christ will save them from their sins. This is a false gospel. Christ saves us from sins. And it saves you from them here and now, in real time. He appeared the first time to cleanse sins, and the second time He will appear to simply take for Himself those who allowed Him to cleanse them, i.e. allowed Christ to give them strength and opportunity live according to the laws of God's Kingdom already here on the dying earth (). Therefore, those who think that by calling Christ Lord they have already been saved, which means they can continue to live as they lived, sinning left and right, or just a little sin, should think again, and think very seriously ().
So, the Father’s love is to give what is most precious for the salvation of others, so that these others will cease to be vile, stupid, disgusting, opposing the love of God... so that they will stop sinning.
Do you remember the new commandment that God could only give us after He Himself had demonstrated to us what true love is?
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, so should you love one another” (). The Father loved humanity so much that he gave his Son to save people from their sins. The Son loved humanity so much that he gave his own life for the same. What are we, who call ourselves believers in Christ Jesus, willing to give to save people from their sins?
Sincerely,
Read more on the topic “Interpretation of Scripture”:
| 21 Feb | I don’t understand what the words Deuteronomy 23:2 mean. The son of a harlot cannot enter into the congregation of the Lord? So he has no right to salvation because he cannot be baptized? (Laura) |
whose memory we celebrate today is also called the apostle of love. It is love that is the central theme of his three short, but vivid and memorable messages. Take a break from the hustle and bustle for a moment and read at least a few verses from them.
1. My children! I write this to you so that you will not sin; and if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; He is the propitiation for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for the sins of the whole world. And we know that we have come to know Him by keeping His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” but does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and there is no truth in him; and whoever keeps His word, in him is truly the love of God perfected: by this we know that we are in Him. Anyone who says he abides in Him must do as He did (1 John 2:1-6).
2. See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God. The world does not know us because it has not known Him. Beloved! we are now children of God; but it has not yet been revealed what we will be. We only know that when He is revealed, we will be like Him, because we will see Him as He is (1 John 3:1-2).
3. We know love in this, that He laid down His life for us: and we must lay down our lives for our brothers. And whoever has wealth in the world, but, seeing his brother in need, closes his heart from him - how does the love of God abide in him? My children! Let us begin to love not in word or tongue, but in deed and truth (1 John 3:16-18).
4. Beloved! let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love has not known God, because God is love (1 John 4:7-8).
5. God’s love for us was revealed in the fact that God sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might receive life through Him. This is love, that we did not love God, but He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved! if God so loved us, then we should love one another (1 John 4:9-11).
6. And we knew and believed in the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. Love reaches such perfection in us that we have boldness on the day of judgment, because we act in this world as He does. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because in fear there is torment. He who fears is not perfect in love (1 John 4:16-18).
7. He who says, ‘I love God,’ but hates his brother, is a liar: for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And we have this commandment from Him, that whoever loves God should also love his brother (1 John 4:20-21).
8. And now I ask you, lady, not as a new commandment prescribing to you, but the one that we have had from the beginning, that we love one another. Love consists in our acting according to His commandments. This is the commandment which you heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it (2 John 1:5-6).
9. Beloved! You act faithfully in what you do for the brothers and for the strangers. They testified before the church about your love. You will do well if you let them go, as you should for the sake of God, for they went for His name’s sake, taking nothing from the pagans. So we must accept such in order to become followers of the truth (3 John 1:5-8).
10. Do not love the world, nor the things in the world: whoever loves the world does not have the Father’s love in him. For everything that is in the world: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not from the Father, but from this world. And the world passes away, and its lusts, but he who does the will of God abides forever (1 John 2:15-17).
This is exactly what is written in the New Testament, in the letter of the Apostle John, that “whoever loves the world cannot abide in him.” God's love"How is it so? God created this world! And He loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son for the sins of the whole world. And we are commanded not to love the world? And even if we love the world, then God’s love is NOT in us "Is this some kind of contradiction?! What's wrong? And how should all this be understood?
This is where REVELATION from GOD is needed in order to understand the spiritual, heavenly with a carnal, earthly mind. Everyone simply MUST ask God for revelations in order to understand God. I will share how this has been revealed to me today.
Yes, it’s true, God really created this world with great love. With selfless love for people, He incarnated into man, so that by Him we could be redeemed from spiritual death. And by faith they were able to accept into themselves the Life of God - eternal Life. And thus - to return that lost communication between man and God, which was in Eden.
When is this possible, and is it possible? Is this not fiction?
No. This is not fiction. God is Spirit, Christ taught, and God seeks for Himself worshipers in spirit and truth (in Christ, the Word of God, since this is the Truth).
That is, we are now called to leave the material world by faith. And not just come out, but come out through death. Like Christ when he died in our place. But only by faith. That is, we, with Him who died, consider ourselves also dead to the material world lying in sin.
And then, we must also enter by faith - into the spiritual world, where God is. How Jesus was resurrected in spiritual body- so, by faith, we consider ourselves resurrected together with Him. As one with Him (His Body, Church). And we have to live in spirit, and not in our material essence. Although in the body, the main thing is no longer the body, but the reborn spirit, which has different values and priorities.
In this way we enter into a relationship with God New Testament- for life according to the spirit, in Jesus Christ. As the Apostle Paul wrote about this, we are baptized into the death of Christ and into His resurrection. (we are baptized - this translated into our language means let's dive in). And we promise God to live according to His, God’s, requirements that He gave us in the Teaching of the New Testament. We no longer belong to ourselves. We belong only to God who redeemed us, as children newly adopted by Him in Jesus Christ.
If the flesh is looking for what it wants, is familiar and loves, then the spirit is looking for what God wants, and what He approves as what will be for our good (not for earthly goods, but first of all, for salvation, for eternal life). God guides our spirit, instructing and admonishing it, guiding it, so that we learn everything spiritual that is necessary in our new, spiritual state.
With Jesus Christ a new era has come to earth, new life- the newly born again human spirit. And now we need to live by the instructions that God gave in the Teachings of the New Testament. This is the doctrine of the new creation and the guidance of the Spirit of God - in us, God's children. And whoever does not have this new spirit, reborn from God, in himself and does not live by it, is not yet saved.
As soon as I began to read the Gospel Teaching in the book of the New Testament, I asked God a lot how I could be born again. But it turned out that this does not depend on me either. I need to accept the Gospel teaching (New Testament) by faith and this will happen by itself. God gives birth to us, not ourselves.
Truth is jealous and will not tolerate the game of “convenient-inconvenient”
The Apostle of love, John the Theologian, in his first letter says with utmost clarity: “Do not love the world, nor the things in the world: whoever loves the world does not have the love of the Father” (1 John 2:15). “Do you not know that there is enmity against God? - Apostle James echoes him. “So whoever wants to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God” (James 4:4). Such calls cannot be called tolerant. Perhaps for some they will seem too harsh, others will immediately remember the allegorical interpretation and try to somehow smooth out the rough edges. However, this makes no sense Holy Scripture Will not change. This is not the truth of a changing world. Truth is jealous and will not tolerate the game of “convenient-inconvenient.”
To understand the meaning of such a harsh position of Holy Scripture, let us turn to the life of the Monk Martinian.
St. Martinian stood barefoot on the burning coals: “It is difficult to endure temporary fire, how will you endure eternal fire?”
The first question that arises: “Who could interfere with the meek monk, who spent his life in silence and exploits in the desert near Caesarea in Palestine?” Be that as it may, the monk’s quiet life was not destined for. One day a harlot, having argued with depraved people that Martiniana, came to him in night hour under the guise of a wanderer, asking for an overnight stay. The saint let her in because the weather was stormy. But the crafty guest changed into expensive clothes and began to seduce the ascetic. The saint ran out of his cell, lit a fire and stood barefoot on the burning coals. He said to himself: “It’s hard for you, Martinian, to endure this temporary fire, how will you endure Eternal flame prepared for you by the devil?
The world cannot accept the fact that anyone wants to live according to the principles of the gospel
It is in the context of this example from the life of Saint Martinian that the warnings of the apostles against. They sound like a warning, a fatherly instruction imbued with divinely inspired experience. Christians are not the culprits of the enmity between the servants of Satan and those who thirst for the truth that fills the world. Moreover, the Lord clearly called for perfect love - even towards enemies! However, at the same time, the Savior stated: “Do not think that I came to bring peace to earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword, for I came to divide a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a man’s enemies are his own household” (Matthew 10: 34–36). The Lord did not command, but stated the truth, the truth of which has been proven to the world since the very beginning of the spread of Christianity: the world cannot come to terms with the fact that someone wants to live according to the laws of the Gospel. Whether we like it or not, “if you were of the world, the world would love its own; But because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: a servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you too; If they have kept My word, they will also keep yours” (John 15:19-20). These words of the Savior reveal the essence of the reality surrounding Christians. She strives for other goals; for her, other laws are real than the laws of eternal life. Understanding this is the meaning of the “good concern” that the Venerable Elder Paisius spoke about. Christians always have something to strive for, there is always room to work on themselves, to overcome the challenges of the world. If such a need is not felt, this is a reason to think seriously about your life. In this sense, peace, carefree comfort, satiety with life are love for the world, the danger of which the apostles warned...
But the story of the Monk Martinian has a continuation.
The harlot, amazed by the courage and patience of the saint, repented
The woman, amazed by the saint’s courage and patience, repented and asked to be guided on the path of salvation. On his instructions, she went to the Bethlehem Monastery of St. Paul, where she lived in strict labors for 12 years until her blessed death. And in this fact we find the answer to the question of how to respond to the hostility of the world and its challenges. The Apostle James says unequivocally: “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). That is, good Christian courage and zeal should be in the arsenal of every believer. Of course, everyone has their own measure of deeds, but the meaning of the gospel path is the same for everyone who wants to follow them - the courage to resist the enmity of the world and even the enmity of one’s own self. And although not everyone can do this as clearly and decisively as the Monk Martinian, everyone has their own battlefield where they can show Christian courage and patience. Someone stands on hot brands, and someone simply forgives the offender, someone stands on a stone for a thousand days, and someone crosses himself while passing a temple and gives part of his salary to the poor. All this is a manifestation of that courage that can change us and the world around us, so even a small destiny should probably not be neglected. Only by such daily, albeit the most ordinary, insignificant, but constant fidelity to the commandments of the Savior, by the courage to remember them every minute of our lives, can we fulfill the will of the apostle who addressed the inhabitants of Corinth: “You are our letter, written in our hearts, recognizable and readable by all people; you show by yourselves that you are a letter of Christ, written through our ministry, not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of flesh of the heart” (2 Cor. 3: 2-3).
This is the calling of Christians - to be the letters of Christ that can be read by all who sincerely seek salvation. It’s probably worth remembering this, especially in those moments when not much is required of us - to show courage and be faithful to the Gospel in the place where the Lord has placed us.
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