John's Practical Test of Fleeing Worldliness - 8

The word world (kosmos in Greek) in this context refers to the whole mass of men alienated from God and therefore hostile to the cause of Christ - Satan's realm. Upon reading this passage we must ask ourselves if our love of the world dominates us. If so, the love of the Father is not in us. John is clear here in his teaching - carnal Christians are not Christians! At the same time denying and fleeing the world in our own strength doesn't save us either. The only cure for worldliness is true faith in Christ. A true believer is a person whose umbilical cord to this world has been cut. Christ is his desire, and his longings are for things heavenly.