Love Not the World

To a lot of Christians, this title would be a difficult thing to comprehend. Why? Because people, both Christian and non-Christian, love the world and the things of the world.

It is hard to let go of anything we love, even if it means hardship, or even our life. But, if we are going to love God and live the lifestyle God accepts, we must separate ourselves from those weakening and detrimental aspects of the world.

The Bible speaks plainly: 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 pride 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. I John 2 15-17.

One of the hang-ups that Christians have is John 3:16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. If we were to stop right there, without studying all the scriptures about this great subject, we would say that God loves the world. However, when we read all of God's Word, cover to cover, we see that this just can't be true, i.e., that God loves everyone in the world. When referring to the world in John 3:16, it means humanity as a whole. The verse is saying that God loved humanity enough to offer us all a chance at salvation, through His Son, Jesus Christ. Whether or not we each accept that salvation is dependent on us. Let's look at verse 17: For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. Does the world get saved? Let's see what the Holy Scriptures say about the world.

Jesus made a difference between those in the world and those who believe on Him, in John 17:6-14:

I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

He said, "I pray not for the world", (that is, for their good); He prayed for His disciples.

It appears that God was making a difference between good and evil; therefore, doesn't He make a difference in His worldview?

Let's look at some other examples in God's Holy Word.

If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. John 15:18-19.

We must separate ourselves from the world. If we are serving Jesus Christ, the world will hate us even as it hated Jesus.

Does God Love Everybody?

Does God love everyone in the world as some people believe when they read John 3:16? Let's see. If God's love is unconditional and God loves every one in the world, then we would have to conclude that a large portion of the Holy Bible given to us is in error. I don't believe that the King James Version of the Holy Bible is in error. I believe it is the only true version of God's Word to English-speaking people. With that said, we will see if our Bible shows that God loves everyone.

I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness. Malachi 1:2-3.

As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. Romans 9:13.

These scriptures show that Almighty God hated Esau. Why? Because Esau was profane. (See Hebrews 12:16.)

For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Psalm 5:4-5.

Iniquity is gross immorality or injustice; wickedness. Are there not many workers of iniquity in the world? Does God love them?

The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. Psalm 11:5.

God hates the person that is wicked and who loves violence.

These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. Prov. 6:16-19.

This is not referring to just the acts of sin, but also to the person who does these things.

Who does God love?

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. John 14:21

God loves those who keep His commandments.

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. II Corinthians 9:7.

God loves those who give cheerfully. This includes giving tithes and offerings, as well as giving of their time, talent, etc., to bless others.

Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. Psalm 45:7.

Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. Hebrews 1:9.

God loves righteousness (doing the right thing) and those who love righteousness.

In Conclusion

Any honest-hearted Christian can see, through God's Holy Scriptures, that God Almighty does not love everybody, especially not those who are listed as people He hates. Does that mean that because God hates some people, that they cannot repent and be turned to His love again? No way! We were all hateful and perhaps even hated by God, at some time or other in our lives. If we repent (quit sinning) and become born again through Jesus Christ (unto good works) we certainly can be grafted in to His (God's) love again.

May God help you to have all knowledge and wisdom to do His will for your good. God bless.