1 John 2:16-17 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.
What is the lust of the world? This is a good question because within the church the traditional view we hold when we read 1 John 2:16-17 is that “The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life are our human sins.
This is true, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life are our human sins, however, answering the question this way doesn’t clarify the meaning of the scripture because it also declares that the world is passing away with its lust and pride.
Therefore, it does us no good to answer the question in this general way because for us to understand what the bible is referencing when it speaks of the lust of the world and its pride; we need to understand what the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of the world are.
And to understand this question and the scripture in context with the theme of the bible, the lust of the world is their plan to unseat Jesus Christ and to rule over the world creating an empire of their own. This has been the plan of the world for some time, and from the day Adam chose to stand with Satan in the garden.
When we consider the nature of sinful men, we need to know and understand sin is the nature of the devil. Jesus said to his enemies standing to oppose him and his kingdom.
John 8:43-44 “Why do ye not understand my speech? Even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar and the father of it.”
And in light of this truth spoken by Jesus, we know the plan of the devil is to overthrow God, this was his attempt and rebellion that got him kicked out of God’s presence, and for him to have lost his office in the kingdom of God.
Therefore, when we speak of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. We are to understand we are speaking of the world’s rebellion and plan to unseat Jesus Christ. The world is lusting after the kingdom of God and to do whatever pleases them in opposition to Jesus Christ.
So, the next time we come across this scripture when it speaks of the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life, we are to understand it in the context of the theme of the bible which speaks of a perishing world, and that if man doesn’t repent of his sins, turn away from his plans to unseat the Kings of kings, and Lord of lords, Jesus Christ, he will perish in his sins with no one to save him.
Jesus said John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Because he is the king and the one to whom God has given the authority to rule over his kingdom. Therefore, when we come to Christ, he will pass his judgment upon us and set us free from the penalty of the kingdom of Christ to come against his enemies.
