Relational Components of Blessed Assurance (Part 2)

Relational Components of Blessed Assurance (Part 2)

1 John 2:15–17 NLT

15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. 17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

19 But an angel of the Lord came at night, opened the gates of the jail, and brought them out. Then h

INTRODUCTION:

I. The Required Attitude of the Heart ()

1 John 2:15 NLT

15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.

1 John 2:15 CGT Txt

15 Μὴ ἀγαπᾶτε τὸν κόσμον, μηδὲ τὰ ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ. ἐάν τις ἀγαπᾷ τὸν κόσμον, οὐκ ἔστιν ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ πατρὸς ἐν αὐτῷ.

1 John 2:15 CGT Txt

15 Μὴ ἀγαπᾶτε τὸν κόσμον, μηδὲ τὰ ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ. ἐάν τις ἀγαπᾷ τὸν κόσμον, οὐκ ἔστιν ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ πατρὸς ἐν αὐτῷ.

Word Pictures in the New Testament 1 John 2:15

Prohibition with μη [mē] and the present active imperative of ἀγαπαω [agapaō], either stop doing it or do not have the habit of doing it.

(Prohibition with μη and the present active imperative of ἀγαπαω, either stop doing it or do not have the habit of doing it.)

A. Reject tying your heart to the world. ()

Romans 12:2 NLT

2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

()

James 4:4 NLT

4 You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.

()

Luke 17:32 NLT

32 Remember what happened to Lot’s wife!

1. To worldly people.

2. To the System

*Remember Lot’s Wife

()

Genesis 19:26 NLT

26 But Lot’s wife looked back as she was following behind him, and she turned into a pillar of salt.

B. Reject tying your heart to the things this world offers. ()

Matthew 6:24 NLT

24 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.

1. Material goods

*Rich Young Ruler ()

Matthew 19:21–22 NLT

21 Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

2. Illicit pleasures

*Moses (Hebrew 11:24-27)

Hebrews 11:24–27 NLT

24 It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward. 27 It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.

25 He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin.

26 He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward.

27 It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.

3. Power and Popularity

*Note Paul’s Response ()

Philippians 3:7–8 NLT

7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ

C. Remember that you can’t love the world and Christ. ()

1 John 2:15b NLT

15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.

1. The choice must be made.

()

Matthew 12:30 NLT

30 “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.

()

2 Corinthians 6:17 NLT

17 Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.

II. The Reason for Rejecting this World ()

1 John 2:16 NLT

16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.

1 John 2:16 CGT Txt

16 ὅτι πᾶν τὸ ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ, ἡ ἐπιθυμία τῆς σαρκός, καὶ ἡ ἐπιθυμία τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν, καὶ ἡ ἀλαζονεία τοῦ βίου, οὐκ ἔστιν ἐκ τοῦ πατρός, ἀλλὰ ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου ἐστίν.

A. There is nothing in this world that is of God. (, )

1 John 2:16a NLT

16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.

1. Though God created all, Satan and man have perverted it!

*Polluted the earth, and space

* Perverted Love to Lust

* Perverted a relationship with Him to a religion about Him

* Perverted Leadership into Control & Power

B. There is naughtiness in this world that is not of God. ()

1 John 2:16b NLT

16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.

1. “a craving for physical pleasure” [Lust of the flesh] (ἡ ἐπιθυμία τῆς σαρκός)

a craving for physical pleasure” Lust of the flesh (ἡ ἐπιθυμία τῆς σαρκός)

ἡ ἐπιθυμία τῆς σαρκός)

2. “a craving for everything we see” [Lust of the eyes] (ἡ ἐπιθυμία τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν)

a craving for everything we see [Lust of the eyes] (ἡ ἐπιθυμία τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν)

ἡ ἐπιθυμία τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν)

3. “pride in our achievements and possessions” [Pride of Life] (ἡ ἀλαζονεία τοῦ βίου)

“pride in our achievements and possessions” [Pride of Life] (ἡ ἀλαζονεία τοῦ βίου)

ἡ ἀλαζονεία τοῦ βίου)

4. “These are not from the Father, but are from this world.”

These are not from the Father, but are from this world.”

Note:

Ecclesiastes 5:10–11 NLT

10 Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness! 11 The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what good is wealth—except perhaps to watch it slip through your fingers!

*Adam and Eve tempted with all three. (see ) (read and comment)

fruit looked delicious (LUST OF THE FLESH)

Saw that the tree was beautiful (LUST OF THE EYES)

wanted the wisdom it would give her (PRIDE OF LIFE)

III. The Reward of Obedience ()

1 John 2:17 NLT

17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

1 John 2:17 CGT Txt

17 καὶ ὁ κόσμος παράγεται, καὶ ἡ ἐπιθυμία αὐτοῦ· ὁ δὲ ποιῶν τὸ θέλημα τοῦ θεοῦ μένει εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα.

A. An intimate relationship with the Lord.

1. When you reject the world and cling to Christ, the result is intimacy with Christ.

a. Your focus and reason for being becomes Him. ()

Colossians 3:4 NLT

4 And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

*Like rejecting all others to cling to spouse.

B. An eternal reward that cannot be taken away.

()

1 John 2:17b NLT

17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

()

1 Peter 1:3–5 NLT

3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, 4 and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 5 And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.

1. The world and all of its cravings are only temporary.

a. All will be destroyed in the end. ()

2 Peter 3:12 NLT

12 looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames.

2. All that we live for and work for become eternal ()

1 Corinthians 3:10–15 NLT

10 Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. 12 Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. 13 But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. 14 If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. 15 But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.

*When you face the issues of life, remember a

D.I.M.E. (Does It Matter Eternally?).

CONCLUSION:

Hymn “Blessed Assurance”

Verse 1

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine; Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long. This is my story, this is my song,  Praising my Savior all the day long.

Verse 2

Perfect submission, perfect delight, Visions of rapture now burst on my sight; Angels descending, bring from above Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Verse 3

Perfect submission, all is at rest, I in my Savior am happy and blest; Watching and waiting, looking above, Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

Refrain:

This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long. This is my story, this is my song,  Praising my Savior all the day long.

*Ray Boltz Song “I Pledge Allegiance to the Lamb”

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