Dr. Steven Lawson preaches this sermon from 1 John chapter 2, verses 15-17. He begins by stating that he wants to approach the text from a different angle, focusing on the idea of "When Love is Wrong." The passage speaks about not loving the world or the things in the world, as the love of the world is not aligned with the love of God. He emphasizes the importance of loving what God loves and hating what God hates. Christians are called to love God, Jesus, the Bible, the truth, and people, while also hating sin and rejecting unrighteousness.He further explains that holiness begins in the heart and mind. He quotes Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, highlighting that true religion starts with our affections and where our love is directed, and that the focus of Christianity is to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. It is the innermost being, the heart, that God looks upon.He also explains that the command in verse 15 is a prohibition against loving the world. He clarifies that "world" here refers to the evil world system governed by Satan, with its godless ideologies and philosophies. This includes areas such as media, politics, education, and business, all influenced by ungodly standards. The preacher outlines the importance of not being ensnared by this world system and instead staying aligned with God's truth.He concludes with a call to review and be reminded of this familiar passage, emphasizing the necessity of an obsession for sanctification and obedience to God's command not to love the world. The preacher encourages listeners to prioritize their hearts and be faithful in pursuing godliness and holiness.

This sermon was preached at Grace Community Church in California by Dr. Steven Lawson.

Date Preached: January 9th, 2022.
Passage: 1 JOHN 2:15–17
For more information about this sermon, please visit Grace Community Church or click ⁠here⁠.


Copyright Notice: All the copyright for this sermon belong to Grace Community Church.

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