That’s what the church at Ephesus thought—to whom John’s letter is written. Remember, in Revelation, written not long after 1 John, Christ condemns this church for having lost their “first love.” They had resisted doctrinal error. They were strongly against the sin in the culture. They were a bulwark of truth.

And yet, John is writing to these longtime believers and telling them, “Love not the world.” Why? Because the Christian life is more than just ticking off a checklist. It’s so much more than that.

In fact, John seems to be saying in this passage, that you can be all those things you’re supposed to be and yet still have a love and passion for the world. And you can’t love the world and still love God.

There is never a time in the Christian life where we can coast. We always have to be checking our hearts, our motivations, our desires. It is easy for a Christian to be a Christian so long and yet lose the fire and passion for God. D