Welcome to the Hope Bible School verse-by-verse Bible study of 1 John. This is Jeff M Newman. Get a new lesson every other week on Mondays at 12:00 PM Eastern.
In Lesson 42 we are going to study the first part of 1 John 2:16. We will cover the other two parts in upcoming lessons.
Let’s read our verse:
1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh...
Now, let’s take a look at the definition of the words.
“For” (3754. hoti - Conjunction) means that or because.
“all” (3956. pas) means the whole in terms of the individual parts.
“that is” (3588. ho, hé, to - Article - Nominative Neuter Singular) “in” (1722. en - Preposition) - means among.
“the” (3588. ho, hé, to - Article - Dative Masculine Singular) “world” (2889. kosmos - Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular) means something ordered or an ordered system like the universe or creation. Here, "the world" doesn't refer to the physical planet, but rather a way of thinking and living that is contrary to God's intentions and is shaped by Satanic values. (HELPS Word-studies).
In James 4:4, we read that when someone follows the ways of the world, they become an enemy of God. They are hostile toward God and a friend of the world.
James 4:4 You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God.
According to 1 John 2:16 there are three parts of the world:
The lust of the flesh
The lust of the eyes
The pride of life
In this part of the verse we are going to study “the lust of the flesh.”
Let’s define the words.
“The lust” (3588. ho, hé, to - Article - Nominative Feminine Singular) (1939. epithumia - Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular) means the desire, eagerness for, passionate longing for, or inordinate desire. This refers to an excessive, unrestrained, or improper longing for something that ultimately leads a person away from God's will or commandments.
“of the flesh” (3588. ho, hé, to - Article - Genitive Feminine Singular) (4561. sarx - Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular) refers to the desires and cravings of the human body for food, water, physical pleasures and sexual gratification.
Human desires and cravings are not inherently sinful; however, they become the lust of the flesh, which is sinful, when those desires and cravings take priority over doing God’s will.
For example, it is not sinful to be hungry and eat, but it becomes the lust of the flesh when this turns into an inordinate desire for food. This excessive desire can lead to gluttony, which is a sin. Gluttony is the overindulgence in food and drink, consuming more than is necessary to satisfy basic physical needs.
Here is another example: It is not sinful to have a sexual desire for your husband or wife, but this desire becomes the lust of the flesh when this desire it is directed toward someone other than your spouse. Such sexual desire leads to sexual immorality and adultery.
God doesn’t want us to indulge in the lust of the flesh because He knows that it leads to the acts of the flesh.
In Galatians 5:19-20, we read about the acts of the flesh.
Galatians 5:19-20 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; 20 idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
All of the items on this list are sinful in the eyes of God. These acts of the flesh stem from the lust of the flesh.
God doesn’t want us to be consumed by the lust of the flesh because He knows that the acts of the flesh can lead to our destruction.
Now let’s go over several verses that show us how to battle the lust of the flesh.
In Romans 13:13-14, we are called to "put on the Lord Jesus Christ." Jesus will give you the strength to battle the lust of the flesh. Just as you clothe yourself each day with physical clothes, put on Jesus and let Him cover and protect you from the lusts of the flesh.
Romans 13:12-14 (NASB 1995) The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
In 1 Peter 2:11, we are called to abstain from fleshly lusts because these passions are at war against our soul. When the desire to fulfill the lusts of the flesh rises up, remember to abstain! To abstain means to separate from.
1 Peter 2:11 (NKJV) Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,
In Galatians 5:16, we read that we are to walk by the Spirit. How do you walk by the Spirit? You do this by asking God to fill you with His Spirit each day and then allowing the Spirit to lead you.
Galatians 5:16 (NKJV) I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
In conclusion, all that is in the world is what opposes God’s will. One of these elements is the lust of the flesh. The lust of the flesh begins when human cravings take priority over doing God’s will and leads to the acts of the flesh. Both the lust of the flesh and the acts of the flesh are part of the Satanic world system designed to destroy you. To combat this, God calls us to clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, abstain from the lust of the flesh, and walk by the Spirit.
Let’s read our verse one more time.
1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh...
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Thank you and God bless you,
Jeff M Newman
(Photo by Alain Bonnardeaux on Unsplash.)
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