Intro

The intent of this—epic and evolutionary—diagram of sin’s cycle is to inspire the reader to fall out of love with the world and in love with the Word and will of God by becoming aware of all that is in the world, cue audio below…

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.

Inspired by the scripture above I believe it’s safe and accurate to state that there are three mechanisms to the reality of our world: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. The human condition is limited to those mechanisms, meaning the reality and experience of our situation is of a different “love” than the love of the Father, unless something is realized.

A brief description of Diagram-0: “myself” (Nathan) at the bottom left with 3 distinct colored oval rings (gold, red, and green) around ME—inscribed in the middle—representing my body, soul, and spirit; we have sin’s cycled diagram there in the middle which consists of the three mechanisms, the world and the “love” (Serpent, Devil, and Satan) of it in the background; then we have the white color ringed’ circle with “LOVE OF THE FATHER” inscribed in the middle and the scripture (1 John 2:15-17) displayed linked above it but in the same color green as the green ME to signify a connection!

Sin’s Cycle

What is it that you love in this world? Your family? Spouse? Kids? How about sports? What about money? Definitely Reese’s! And when you say you “love” those things, what do you mean? Do you think loving anything in this world is okay, if so, why? What do you think the apostle John meant when he wrote, “Do not love the world or the things in the world“?

My bible gives a little commentary that says this:

The term “world” does not always refer to the universe as created by God. It often is used to describe the community of sinful humanity that possesses a spirit of rebellion against God (1 John 5:19). Because of its opposition to God, the world values those things that are contrary to God’s will: “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16). Its temptations to the believer are thus twofold: lust for the sensual and pride in mastery of one’s own life.
The attraction of the world is amplified by Satan who is head of its system. He is called the “ruler of this world” (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11), and the whole world is said to be under his power (1 John 5:19, where “wickedness” can also be translated “wicked one”).
Some of the tragic effects that love of the world will produce in the believer’s life are:

a. A turning away from the Lord’s work and other believers (2 Tim. 4:10)
b. Alienation from God (James 4:4)
c. Corrupting sins (2 Pet. 1:4; 1 John 2:15-17);
d. Deception by false teachers (1 John 4:1; 2 John 7).
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