What does the Bible *really* say about... living in the world (and not of it) pt 2

Did you have any takeaways or thoughts this week following last week's lesson?



1 John 2


My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

  • Make a chart and designate that which is of the world and that which is of God from this passage


  • What are the verbs in this passage?



  • What is distinguished here as “of the World”?



  • What is an example of what this distinction would look like in your life/our current time and culture?





7 Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. 8 At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because[a] the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him[b] there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

  • Make a chart and designate that which is of the world and that which is of God from this passage


  • What are the verbs in this passage?



  • What is distinguished here as “of the World”?



  • What is an example of what this distinction would look like in your life/our current time and culture?



12 I am writing to you, little children,
    because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake.

13 I am writing to you, fathers,
    because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
    because you have overcome the evil one.
I write to you, children,
    because you know the Father.

14 I write to you, fathers,
    because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
    because you are strong,
    and the word of God abides in you,
    and you have overcome the evil one.


  • Just including this portion of the passage to ask what is the repeated verb?


  • God repeats that we will know, that we already do know what we are looking for. He has provided us with guidance and the knowledge for discernment.


Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life[c]—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

  • Make a chart and designate that which is of the world and that which is of God from this passage


  • What are the verbs/action phrases in this passage?



  • What is distinguished here as “of the World”?



  • What is an example of what this distinction would look like in your life/our current time and culture?


  • It appears that to love the world is to be of the world. What do you think it means to “love the world or the things in the world”? Why do you think they are specified as separate concepts?


26 I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.

  • How do you think this passage is relevant to the discussion of learning to draw the line between living in the world but not of the world?


  • What would the type of teaching described here look like, that it would attempt to supplement the complete anointed knowledge we received from Him that abides in us? (Jim has an example)



28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.

  • What does it mean to Abide in Him?


  • What are the possible implications of verse 29? 


  • How do we define righteousness? Is it the same thing as being “a good person?” 


  • What, if any, difference is there between righteousness and goodness as the world might define it?

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