Sermon Tone Analysis

INTRO—

[[WUV = Leaning — Matt Maher]]

“Let my ‘Yes’ be yes to you, Lord…Let my ‘No’ be no to the world.”

A Charge…reminder, admonition, warning, command, imperative…to be followed.

The Charge (2.15a)

“Do not love the world or the things in the world.”

Love (not) the world… John 3.16 “For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

James 4.4 “You adulterous people!

Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God?

So whoever wants to be the friend of the world becomes the enemy of God.”

World = system antagonistic to God; way of living (thinking, acting, or saying) antithetical to biblical truth

Imperative (not a consideration…a command).

The Concern (2.15b)

“If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

Matthew 6.24 “No one can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.

You cannot serve both God and money.”

Continuous divided loyalty is disloyalty.

The Content (2.16)

“For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s possessions—is not from the Father, but is from the world.”

Genesis 3.6 “The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom.

So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.”

Lust of the flesh… (physical appetites; idol of physical self)

Lust of the eyes… (emotional appetites; coveting… “My precious!”;

idol of emotional self)

Pride in one’s possessions… (emotional dispositions; pride…; idol of position/status)

IDOLATRY in all three major avenues of sin.

CONCL— [The Conclusion (2.17)]

“And the world with its lusts is passing away, but the one who does the will of God remains forever.”

John is concerned with the OUTCOMES of these opposing ways of life.

2 Timothy 4.6-8 “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time for my departure is close.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

There is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved his appearing.”

Jim Elliot (missionary [Auca/Waodani]; Tip of the Spear, Through Gates of Splendor): He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep (‘all that is in the world’) to gain what he cannot lose (‘does the will of God remains forever’).”