As the World Turns – Part 2

Message Date: February 20, 2022
Bible

The Way of the World: Lust of the Flesh

Review:

  • 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. John‬ ‭3:16-17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
    • If God loves the world and sent His son to save it, then what is worldliness and why are we warned about it?
  • 15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. ‭‭I John‬ ‭2:15-17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
    • LAW OF NONCONTRADICTION: two contradictory statements cannot both be true at the same time, in the same sense.
  • In John 3:16 the people are in view–Jesus died for people. God loves people who are born into a fallen world.  Sin is bondage.
    • The World: (Greek) “kosmos;” the present condition of human affairs, in alienation from and opposition to God.
  • Worldliness is a love of this fallen world’s system, which is under the control of Satan,  the “god of the fallen world.”
  • Sinning people aren’t the enemy. They’re in bondage.
    • You can’t save people from quicksand by jumping into it with them–but you also can’t be salt and be separate.
All That Is In the World
  • 14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.” 17 Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” 18 “I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 NKJV

  • 23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify  you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ‭‭I Thessalonians‬ ‭5:23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
  • All that is in the World:
    • Sensuality (lust of the flesh): a fondness for or indulgence in sensual pleasures outside of God’s ordained fulfillment of those desires
      • God’s way of the best way.
      • God gave us desires and healthy ways to fulfill them. Satan perverts the desire
  • At any given time the enemy is lying to you about your identity, God’s intentions for you, and the consequences of sin.
  • 19-21 It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on. This isn’t the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God’s kingdom. ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:19-21‬ ‭MSG‬‬
    • Inheritance: future/active/ indicative.
    • Kingdom: rule /reign
    • God’s Word is true; His way is the best way
    • Submit: retire, withdraw, hence to yield.