035 DRRIC Biblical Articles – Love That Remains
035 DRRIC Biblical Articles – Love That Remains Quote of Ricardo Jansen: “Love that remains is not a feeling that endures, but a God who holds fast. It is not our devotion that preserves us, but His faithfulness in the Son. That is love that remains.” June 20, 2025
1 John 2:15–17
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. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
To the one who hears or reads,
In the preceding verses of this passage, John speaks with warmth and assurance about who we are in Christ: forgiven, victorious, and walking in the light. He encourages both young believers and the spiritually mature to persevere in their journey of faith. At the same time, he does not shy away from this sobering truth: even those who know God remain daily vulnerable to the allure of what glitters in the world. That is why the exhortation comes with such force: “Do not love the world or the things in the world.”
The world was created by God and was originally good—full of beauty, order, and life. In that sense, there is much that is valuable in creation. Yet since the Fall, another reality has become visible: the world has been marked by desire, self-centeredness, and pride. We live separated from God on the earth and seek fulfillment apart from Him.
John continues in verse 15b, “If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” This is not about the created world and its splendor—the sun or the marvels of nature—but about the way people live. Because of sin and the will bound to it, we are no longer neutral, but inclined toward evil. Our desires are not merely misguided, they are broken.
Verse 16 reads, “For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.” Here John sums up what he means by “the world.” It touches us deeply. Do we recognize these desires in our own hearts? Or do we leave them unchecked, because they are so subtly woven into our daily decisions? Are we truly contending, or have we silently made peace with what God declares is not from the Father?
These desires go beyond physical lusts. They include sensory pleasures that turn life inward rather than upward. Paul describes the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19–21 with piercing clarity: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like. He warns that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. In doing so, he makes it clear that these are not mere weaknesses, but symptoms of a spiritual battle that stands in stark contrast to life by the Spirit.
“The lust of the eyes” points to covetousness and the craving for material possessions or outward display. The eye is often the entry point of temptation. What is seen can stir the heart to action. In Genesis 3:6 we read that Eve saw the fruit was pleasant to the eyes, and this seeing led to action. The eyes are frequently described in Scripture as gateways to the heart. Jesus warns in Matthew 6:22–23, “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
“And the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world.” This phrase speaks to the human tendency to trust in status, achievements, or possessions—as if life could be lived independently of God. Scripture repeatedly warns against this, as seen in Israel’s pride in Deuteronomy 8:17, Nebuchadnezzar’s downfall in Daniel 4, and the rich fool in Luke 12. This kind of pride does not come from the Father. It is the illusion of self-sufficiency that estranges the heart from true worship.
“And the world is passing away, and the lust of it, but he who does the will of God abides forever.” These words highlight the fleeting nature of all that is worldly, in contrast with the enduring life of the one who does God’s will. This is a life rooted in obedience and communion with God, a love that does not fade but stands firm forever. In this love lies the future of the believer: in a love that remains.
This eternity is grounded in the promise of God, through His Son Christ. For He was sent by God out of love for the world: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Through faith we receive eternal life, and this is pure grace. It is unearned. Not based on what we do, but entirely on what He has done. He is the One who perfectly fulfilled the will of God. Not out of pride or self-interest, but in full surrender. He sought no glory for Himself, but lived in obedience—even to the point of the cross.
Do we dare, in the light of His obedience, to lay down our own lives as well? Are we truly following Him in letting go of worldly honor, or do we still seek it, even subtly? For in Christ it becomes clear what it means to remain. Jesus is not only our example, He is the way we are to walk. Through Him we learn to turn from what fades and press on toward what truly remains. John's exhortation is not a casual warning. It is a spiritual confrontation: Where does our love truly lie?
If Christ is the love that remains, what then still holds us back from entrusting ourselves to Him entirely? Have we truly embraced Him as our only hope, or do we still withhold something for ourselves? If you are not yet in Christ, turn to Him. Repent and believe the Gospel. If you are in Him, let go of the love of the world. Embrace the love of the Father. Live in the love that remains. For “he who does the will of God abides forever.” And this is found only in the Son. It is not about polishing our lives to earn salvation, for faith is the fruit of eternal life. Therefore repent, all of you, and believe the Gospel.
Soli Deo Gloria. To God alone be the glory. Amen.