The Real Deal Concerning Grace

CHAPTER 4 — PURITY OF THE MESSENGER (TESTING PROFITABLE)

Key Verse — 4:8

A. Rebuke of Worldliness — 4:1-12

The word “world” is used three ways in the Bible:

• World of Mankind (people) —

• World of Materialism (things) —

• World of Morals (system) —

Fighting in the Church:

The Cause: Lust (selfish desires) — 4:1-3 The Characteristics

• Unsatisfied Pleasure — 4:2

• Uncontrolled Passion — 4:2

• Untapped Potential — 4:2

• Unanswered Prayer — 4:2, 3

The Condemnation: friendship with the world — 4:4

• Destroys Fellowship — 4:4-7

• Denies our Faith — 4:4-5

The Cure: the Grace of God — 4:6-11

— ; ;

• A Precept — (Something we are not to do) — 4:8

• A Promise — (Something God will do) — 4:8

• A Principle — (Something God will do if we do what He says) — 4:8

1. The Victory we claim — What we escape!

a. The Flesh — 4:1-3

b. The World — 4:4-5

c. The Devil — 4:7

2. The Venture we choose — What we enjoy!

a. God’s Grace — 4:6

b. God’s Guarantee — 4:8-10

(1) Of His Presence — 4:8

(2) Of His Promotion — 4:10

c. God’s Guidance — (the will of God) 4:13-17

Christ — The Christian — The World

— We have a beautiful picture of this relationship in the prayer of our Lord recorded in

• We are saved out of the world.

• We are still in the world.

• We are to be separate from the world. ,

— We are sent into the world.

— The world is my preaching ground, not my playground!

Four-fold test to determine if something is right or wrong

1. Test of Expediency —

— Expediency = Helpful, Profitable, Beneficial

— Question: Will this be profitable in my life?

2. Test of Enslavement -

— Question: Does it make me its slave?

3. Test of Edification —

— Edification = To build up, to support, to enhance

— Question: Does it build me up as well as others?

4. Test of Example —

— Question: Does this set a good example for others?