outline9-2
Book on church life: Frog in the Kettle!
Transition: Story demonstrates how we gradually move=places & attitudes of danger. How we come to love the world.
· Don’t dive right in=Slowly wade in=shallow end find ourselves in deeper.
· Finally in over our heads & struggling to escape.
· Fitting description of what can happen to a Christian.
· Look at vs 15…..A Christian must not live with a divided heart.
Question: Who or what are we going to award our love and allegiance to?
The Bible tells us in John 3:16 that God loved the world, so why can’t we?
We must not love the world because of: What it is, What it does to us, What we are, & Where the world is going
1. Just what is the world?
New Testament word world has at least three different meanings.
· physical world, the earth..
· human world, mankind: “(John 3:16).
· “World” here invisible spiritual system opposed to God and Christ.
World/sports…organized systems, people, activities, & purposes. Not planet..
“The world,” in vs. 15 Satan’s system=opposing work of Christ earth. 1 John 5:19.
Jesus=the prince of this world”. Bible struggle=against powers this dark world. Devil=organization spirits. Satan uses people evil purposes.
Christian=member=human world=& lives physical world but spiritual world=Satan’s.
not natural habitat. Citizenship=heaven., All his effective resources come Father.
Believer scuba diver… not man’s natural habitat.
Were not 2 love world because of What the World Does to Us (1 John 2:15–16)
Verse 15… causes him lose joyment of Father’s love is worldly…..avoided. World system uses three devices to trap lust flesh, eyes, pride of life.
Flesh=basic nature=unsaved blinds spiritual truth. Flesh at birth. spirit is 2nd birth.
what a battle these two natures can wage! (Gal. 5:17–23)
Hunger, thirst, weariness, sex. when the flesh nature controls=become sinful lusts. Hunger-gluttony; sleep-laziness; sex… becomes immorality. World appeals normal appetites=tempts us to satisfy them in forbidden ways.
2nd device world uses trap the Christian is called “the lust of the eyes.”
Pleasures=gratify the sight and the mind—entertainments & activities excite eyes.
Achan 7 chapter of Joshua=soldier brought defeat=Joshua’s army=lust of eyes spoils from condemned city of Jericho=coveted them, & took them.
The eyes=gateway into the mind
Pressure=think way world thinks. God warns=“the counsel of the ungodly.” Don’t ignore education; but no crowd God into the background.
The third device is the “boastful pride of life”
People outdo. Affluent/successful. motivates people=buy houses, cars afford? impress other people—because of their “pride of life.
make an impression. sacrifice honesty for notoriety/feeling of importance.
world appeals lust of the flesh, eyes, pride of life. Worldliness creeps up & becomes conformed to the world (Rom. 12:2)
idolize great athletes, TV stars, or political leaders
We must not love the world because of What a Christian Is.
Read vs 12-14=three kinds Christians in local church family as a Christian grows spiritually does he overcome the world.
Fathers=mature believers=intimate. young men=conquerors= overcome maturing use the Word of God effectively.
The “little children=immature ones. It is the growing, maturing Christian to whom the world does not appeal.
Christian stays away from world=a satanic system that hates and opposes Christ.
There’s a 4th reason we are not to love the world. Because of Where the World Is Going (1 John 2:17)
sure thing=this world system & pleasant attractions not be here forever.
“loosely attached” to this world strangers and pilgrims. Bible times lived tents because God did not want them to settle down and feel at home in this world.
Are you living for eternity or time?
Illustration:"If I had a brother who had been murdered, what would you think of me if I ...daily consorted with the assassin who drove the dagger into my brother’s heart; surely I too must be an accomplice in the crime. Sin murdered Christ; will you be a friend to it? Sin pierced the heart of the Incarnate God; can you love it?"