The Love Of The World

Whatever may be said to the contrary, there is increased evidence on all sides of disobedience to the commandments of God on the part of God's children. Evil doctrine is on the increase, and there is general laxity as to conduct in those who claim to have been born again. Worldliness abounds and the margin between the worldlyminded believer and the world is becoming less and less. The words of John are either unheard or unheeded

"Love 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. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the vainglory 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 for ever" (1 John 2.15.17).

Here are words, written by John the beloved, of the most sobering kind. It is impossible, says he, that the love of the world and the love of the Father can abide in the same heart. It is not to be wondered at if the spiritually-minded are given the cold shoulder by the worldly-minded amongst God's gathered people. This has ever been the case, both amongst God's New Testament and God's Old Testament peoples. You cannot mix oil and water. James says,

"The friendship of the world is enmity with God. Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world maketh himself an enemy of God" (James 4.4).

The world which hated Christ and crucified Him, in which tragedy the Jewish people were the prime movers, still hates and rejects Him; and shall we who have accepted His salvation and will share the eternal glory, become adulterers by denying our true Husband and find our friend and lover in the world that hates Him? May this not be!

We are taught that if we love God that begat, we should also love them that are begotten of Him (1 John 5.1). But how am I to manifest my love to the children of God? John follows on and gives the answer :"Hereby we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and do His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous" (1 John 5.2, 3).

It is with God's children as it is in a human family. A wilful, disobedient member of a family is one in whom there is the absence of love for its parents and for its brothers and sisters. So is it amongst God's children. The obedient child of God shows by obedience love for God and for the children of God. "This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments." This is not a description of divine love in its essence, but of the manifestation of God's love in His children. It is vain for any one who would claim to be one of God's children to speak of love to God or to His children, whilst he is engaged in sowing evil doctrine, teaching error as to baptism, as to church truth, or even as to the Persons of the Godhead, or encourages by his conduct disobedience on the part of others. To speak of love in such circumstances is mere lip-talk and is plainly contrary to the direct and corrective teaching of the Holy Spirit through John and others. Fine words of supposedly high spiritual tone and attainment, politeness and nice approach, while at the same time those who evidence such things practise corrupt doctrine, and by their doctrine and practice encourage simple souls to follow their disobedience, are of the greatest danger to God's children in this deceptive world in which we live.

unknown | Oct 1952
Editorial