CHRISTIAN GROWTH LESSON 15 b

3. Know Your Enemy: The World!

The devil is not alone in opposing the Believer in Christ.

He is aided by two allies dedicated to oppose our desire to glorify our Lord Jesus Christ.

They are the World, a System of Beliefs opposed to God, and the Sin Nature, which is the remnant of our 'Old Man' still residing in our Flesh, which we will study following this study

In the previous Lesson, we considered our situation behind enemy lines. Here, satan has established his own kingdom, the World System opposed to the One True God, over which he rules as a god ... blinding and enslaving all who live within it, save for the children of Light who walk in God's Kingdom.

The World

Romans 12:2

Romans 12:2 (KJV 1900)

2 And be not conformed to this world:

but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

How does the World pressure us to conform? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

List various Worldly values/ideals we are pressured to accept: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What makes the Apostle Paul's advice the most effective way to counteract the World's pressure for us to conform? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Deuteronomy 18:9 (KJV 1900)

9 When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee,

thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.

Why did Moses give the Israelites the above advice? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

In his quest to be like God, satan created the World System, a counterfeit of God's Kingdom designed to provide the things that people seek to live a fulfilling life: Security, Self- Worth and Significance. But it's all an illusion. It instead offers False Security, False Self-Worth and False Significance, for in the end, this World is subject to decay and death.

The Apostle Paul, well aware that the Christians in Rome were at the centre of the 1st century World and vulnerable to the World's deception, exhorts the Believers there in his letter to them.

Romans 12:2 (Observations)

Romans 12:2 KJV 1900

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Circle what they must not be.

Underline how they should be

transformed instead.

The Greek word translated 'conformed', presents the picture of something being pressed in a mold so that it emerges in the very shape and likeness that the mold is designed to make.

The World is the shape into which satan's Mold is pressuring everyone.

In our time, the shape may be what is 'politically correct', or morally convenient.

Christians will almost always find themselves at odds to the currently acceptable and popular values, and unless they have renewed their minds, they will find themselves unable to resist the pressure to conform.

Most people tend to be conformists, not wanting to 'rock the boat' or 'cause trouble.'

But God wants His children to be 'transformists', agents of change toward a Godly way of living and thinking!

Just prior to entering the Promised Land, Moses gives the following advice.

Deuteronomy 18:9 (Observations)

Deuteronomy 18:9 KJV 1900

9 When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.

Underline what Moses advised them.

The cultural practices of 'those nations' included child sacrifice, divination, witchcraft, fortune telling, sorcery, casting of spells, spiritism and necromancy. Basically, satanism, devil worship or luciferianism.

In this World, you are either in satan's kingdom or God's.

There is no in between! The Apostle Paul makes that clear when he reminds the Believers in Ephesus ... Ephesians 2:1-2

Ephesians 2:1–2 (KJV 1900)

1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world,

according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh

in the children of disobedience:

How were we 'dead' in our 'trespasses and sins'? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What does the Apostle Paul mean when he says we 'walked according to the course of this world'? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What does the Apostle Paul mean when he says we 'walked ... according to the prince of the power of the air'? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ephesians 2:4-6

Ephesians 2:4–6 (KJV 1900)

4 But God, who is rich in mercy,

for his great love wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ,

(by grace ye are saved;)

6 And hath raised us up together,

and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

What is God's ultimate solution to satan's World? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

If I asked you if you have ever been a follower of satan, most would say, 'No way!'

But according to the Apostle Paul, we may very well have been.

Ephesians 2:1-2 (Observations)

Ephesians 2:1–2 KJV 1900

1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Circle what we were in our 'trespasses and sins'.

Circle according to what we 'formerly walked'. (two things)

Underline where satan's 'spirit' is now working.

The Apostle Paul teaches that before we were 'born again' by God's Spirit, we were 'dead' as far as God was concerned, and unable to comprehend nor communicate with Him as surely as a corpse can comprehend or communicate with the living.

We were cut off from God, and walking in the world of satan, according to his will and his spirit, and against God's.

We were completely without hope apart from God's mercy.

The World was our home and the course we followed, indulging in its lusts, if not fleshly, then certainly in our minds and hearts.

And thus we were objects of God's wrath, destined for eternal punishment, with no way out.

Then a lifeline was thrown our way called the Love of God through Christ Jesus, and we grabbed on to Hope.

Ephesians 2:4-6 (Observations)

Ephesians 2:4–6 KJV 1900

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

v4

Circle how God is described. Underline why He is described so. v5

Underline what we were even when God loved us.

Circle what God did to us with Christ.

Circle how we are 'saved'.

v6

Circle what God did to us with Christ.

Underline where God seated us.

This is one of my favorite passages in Scripture! It details how God saves us from satan's grasp by tranferring anyone who believes in Jesus and is sick of living an empty life of sin ... into His glorious Kingdom!

And this, not because of any thing we have done, but completely by God's Grace through our faith in what Christ has done for us! Amen!

So what should our attitude be toward the World? The Apostle John gives us the answer ... and more! 1 John 2:15-17

1 John 2:15–17 (KJV 1900)

15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world,

the love of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world,

the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life,

is not of the Father, but is of the world.

17 And the world passeth away,

and the lust thereof:

but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Why does the Apostle John command us not to love the World? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

List examples of the following:

'the lust of the flesh': ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

'the lust of the eyes': _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

'the boastful pride of life': ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What is significant about the fact that 'the World is passing away'? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What is significant about the truth that the 'one who does the will of God lives forever' in light of the World passing away? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1 John 2:15-17 (Observations)

v15

Underline what we are not to do. Circle what is not in us if we love the World.

v16

Circle the three things in the World.

Circle from where they are not.

v17

Underline what is happening to the World.

Circle what else is passing away.

Underline who will live forever.

All three words translated 'love' in verse 15 come from the Greek word 'agape' which describes how people value, or cherish, things or persons. It is in the imperative mood which labels it as a command. Whereas we often see Love as a feeling, Scripture most often describes it as a choice we make in light of the Truth of God's Word.

We are commanded not to love the World, primarily because it is fleeting. Why treasure something so temporal when God provides that which is eternal! Sure, the World offers us pleasure and all manner of things that cater to our egos, but in the end, everything in the World will disappear as surely and as quickly as an ice cube on the hot desert sand.

Those who seek to find their significance, security and self-esteem solely in the things of this World will inevitable be disappointed, for those things will eventually pass away taking with them our hopes, our self- worth and our reasons for living.

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"He is No Fool

Who Gives What He Cannot Keep,

To Gain

What He Cannot Lose."

Jim Elliot

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Application

Review this Lesson and Answer the Following:

Describe The World and why we should never Love it. 📷 📷

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What Specific Things Will You Do to Apply What you Have Learned?

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4. Know Your Enemy: The Sinful Nature!

So far we have looked at two spiritual enemies: satan, our often overlooked adversary who seeks to 'devour' us, and the World he uses to sideline us. These two work from without. We will now look at a third spiritual enemy that works from within.

If it were not for this third enemy, our first two enemies would not have the impact they do. In a very real way, because this third enemy works from within, it is the most difficult to overcome, for it is devious! But from where did it originate?

The Origin of Our Sinful Nature

Romans 5:12

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin,

and so death spread to all men, because all sinned--

Who is this 'one man' spoken of in this verse and why? _______________

____________________________________________________________________________________ How does this verse explain the predicament of Mankind?

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In his Psalm of Confession, King David explains why he sinned.

Ps 51:5

"Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me."

How does David explain the reason he sinned? ________________________

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____________________________________________________________________________________ Does this excuse us from sinning? Why or why not? __________________

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The Fall of Adam

The Bible tells us that when God originally created the first Man and Woman, He did so in His own image (Genesis 1:27). They were made in sinless perfection, with a Nature made to please and enjoy God forever ... until satan, in the form of a serpent, tempted them to sin with the false promise of achieving Godhood.

One of the consequences of the Fall was the corruption of man's Nature, from Godly to Sinful. Whereas our original Nature naturally pleased God, our corrupted or Sinful Nature made it natural to rebel against God.

Romans 5:12 (Observations) Circle how 'sin' entered the world. Circle what else entered with sin. Circle where death spread.

Circle how many sinned.

And after the original Nature was corrupted, that damaged Nature was passed on to every succeeding generation. It's depravity was soon evident just one generation later when Adam's first born son, Cain, murdered his second born (Genesis 4:8). Like a congenital disease, sin's corruption spread through all Mankind.

King David's Confession

After sinning grievously against Bathsheba and her husband, Uriah the Hittite, David composed Psalm 51 as penance. In it, he pinpoints the cause of his weakness and crime.

Psalm 51:5 (Observations)

Circle how David says he was born.

Circle how he says he was conceived.

In this verse, King David reveals the problem with us all. We are all 'conceived' in sin and born sinners. In other words, we are not only sinners because we sin, but we sin because we are born as sinners! It is who we are! Sinning is part of our very Nature, a Nature which cannot be changed by a set of laws, or principles or man made systems. It takes a miracle to change us, a miracle that only God Himself can effect in our hearts!

The Nature of Our Sinful Nature

Our Sinful Nature naturally sins! But it not only naturally sins, it actually wants to sin! It is a wild beast we keep in check within us. But know this. If people knew they could get away with all kinds of sins and crimes, society would soon sink into anarchy and depravity. It is only societal pressure and law enforcement that keeps us from societal breakdown and allows us to live in peace with each other. The Prophet Jeremiah described our horrible condition.

Jeremiah 17:9

“The heart is more deceitful than all else

And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?"

How does our heart deceive us? ___________________________________________

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The words "desperately sick" means "incurably wicked". Knowing this, how can humanity ever bring about world peace on its own?

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The Apostle Paul lists some of the 'deeds' of the Sinful Nature, here called the 'flesh'.

Galatians 5:19-21 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things

will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Why do you think Paul lists these 'deeds' for the Galatians?

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____________________________________________________________________________________ What would you add to the list today? ___________________________________

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..................Column Break..................The Lord knew that most people would consider themselves good and would never outwardly break the law. So He challenged them with the "spirit of the Law". Though we may not have outwardly murdered someone, we may have in our hearts (Matthew 5:22). The same is true with sexual immorality (Matthew 5:28). We may not sin outwardly, but have we sinned in our hearts?

Jeremiah 17:9 (Observations)

Circle in what the heart is more than all else.

Circle what Jeremiah says it is.

Underline Jeremiah's rhetorical question.

Jeremiah 17:9 is one of the most vivid descriptions of the Sinful Nature corrupting the heart. It is not only sick, it is really sick. In fact, Jeremiah says it is so sick, no one can really understand it.

In the early 1930's, a radio drama entitled "The Shadow Knows" would begin with eerie music over which a sonorous voice would announce ... "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows..." followed by evil laughter. How often have we read news accounts of a serial killer with neighbors testifying, "He was such a nice guy." Who knows

... for 'sooth'!

Galatians 5:19-21 (Observations)

v19

Circle what the 'deeds of the flesh'

are.

v19-21

Note each deed, using a dictionary if necessary.

Underline what will result for those who 'practice such things'.

The Apostle Paul says that the 'deeds of the flesh' are 'evident', or obvious. The idea is that they are clearly seen. We are all aware of them because we see them every day. These behavior are not learned but manifest naturally from our Sinful Nature. It is often the proper behavior that can be unnatural and necessary to be learned. Every parent knows this!

This is proof of the fallen state of all humans. Sinful behavior and evil thoughts come so naturally to us, even when we wish not to do them!

The Quandary of Our Dual Natures

The Apostle Paul spoke about the dual nature of the Believer: possessing the Sinful Nature of the First Adam, which is the person we used to be, and the Divine Nature of the Second Adam, Christ Jesus, who we are now. The Believer died with Christ and is raised with Him to a New Life. He/she is a New Creation, freed from the Law of Sin through Christ's Death and made alive to God through Christ's Resurrection. This New Person, the Real Person, is now imbued with the Holy Spirit and wants to please God ... always! If you are a true Believer, born again by God's Spirit, the New You which is the Real You wants to do God's Will, and in fact, will do no other! So why do we continue to sin? Learn from what the Apostle teaches.

Romans 7:18-23

"For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. "For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.

"But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. "I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. " For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind

and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.

What is an area of your life where you struggle to do the good

you want to do. _______________________________________________________________ What does Paul mean in verse 20? ______________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________ Is Paul saying we are no longer responsible for sinning? Why or why not? _______________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________ How does Paul view the Sinful Nature? __________________________________

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..................Column Break..................The Sinful Nature in the Believer The moment any person believes in Christ as Savior and Lord, God performs a miracle in their lives. They are reborn spiritually as New Creations and made partakers of the Divine Nature. They become completely New Persons in Christ with New Natures that delight in pleasing and obeying God.

But what happens to the Sinful Nature? Unfortunately, a remnant continues to live on in our Flesh, and will continue to do so until our bodies are changed in the 'twinkling of an eye'! (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)

Romans 7:18-23 (Observations)

v18

Circle what dwells in 'me.' Underline where it dwells. Circle what is present in me. Underline what is not present. v19

Underline what we 'do not do.' Underline what we practice. v20

Underline Paul's conclusion when he does what he doesn't want to do.

Circle what is doing it instead.

v21

Underline the 'principle' Paul discovers.

Circle what is 'present' in him.

v22

Circle where Paul 'joyfully' agrees with God's law.

v23

Circle where Paul sees a different law.

Underline what it is doing.

Circle what it is making him.

Circle where the 'law of sin' resides.

The Sinful Nature not only continues to live in our bodies but exerts its will to incite sin in us! It is an evil entity that we cannot escape. In fact, unless and until we learn how to live as a New Person in Christ, the Sinful Nature is the default setting which will direct us toward well worn paths forged through a lifetime of sin.

The incredible thing is that God acknowledges that we are New Persons in Christ who truly desire to please Him, and knows that we really do not want to sin against Him any longer. We live under His Grace and Forgiveness, but we do not want to use this as an excuse to sin. Instead, we must learn to live by Faith in the newness of life by God's Holy Spirit who lives through our New and Divine Nature! (Romans 8:1-2)

Every Believer must eventually face the formidable enemy within. As we just learned, the Sinful Nature will often manifest itself even when we do not want it to. It betrays us, causing us to give in to satan and the deception of the World. But God has given us a way to victory, as the Apostle Paul instructs the Galatian Believers. Galatians 5:16-18 "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. "But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.

Paraphrase verse 16 in your own words? _______________________________

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____________________________________________________________________________________ According to verse 17, what is happening within the Believer?

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The phrase 'walk by the Spirit' is a command in the present tense. What role do our wills play in making this command a reality?

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___________________________________________________________________________________ Why are those who are led by the Spirit 'not under the Law'?

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..................Column Break..................“But the worst enemy you can meet will always be yourself;" Friedrich Nietzsche

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Galatians 5:16-18 (Observations)

v16

Underline Paul's advice on how not to

'carry out the desire of the flesh.' Circle by Whom we are to walk. v17

Circle what sets itself against the Spirit.

Circle what sets itself against the flesh.

Underline why they are set against each other..

v18

Underline the result of being 'led by the Spirit.'

The key to living the Christian Life is understanding who you are. A quote attributed to both C.S. Lewis and George MacDonald, states:

"You Don't Have a Soul, You ARE a Soul

That Has a Body."

Every person, Believer and Non Believer alike, is a living Soul possessing a Body for existence in the physical world. As we have learned, our bodies are corrupted with the Sinful Nature.

However, the moment a person Believes in Christ, God brings forth our Spirit, which is imbued with the Divine Nature, and endows us for life in Heaven, the dwelling place of God!

But God doesn't want us to wait till we get to Heaven to live Spiritually. God expects us to live in the Spirit now!

Whereas living in our Bodies is second nature to us, having already gained lots of experience trusting in our senses, living in the Spirit is a completely new experience altogether. It requires greater Faith because the spiritual World is unseen, but no less real. Our Primary Guide is God's Word and His Holy Spirit. We must transform our minds with His Word that we may prove what His Will is, and the longer we pursue this, the stronger we will be in our Faith and in our Ability to live Spiritually in the physical World.

So, as a Living Soul, we must decide daily whether we will live through our sinfully oriented Bodies or through our heavenly oriented Spirits!

Application

Review this Lesson and Answer the Following:

Describe the Sinful Nature and how to achieve victory over it. 📷 📷

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What Specific Things Will You Do to Apply What you Have Learned?

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