1. You could loose all of your material possession today, through no fault of your own.

2. If not today, then when you die or when the world is destroyed by the fire of

Christ's second coming (2Peter 3:10ff).

3. "For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out"

(1Tim.6:7).4. Many of us take great pride in the things we have, houses, cars, clothes etc.

5. Matthew 6:19-21.

6. God offers security and assurance not in the things we have, but in another way.

7. See 1John 2:15-17

1. WHAT WORLD?

A. WORLD

1. The heavens and the earth which form the universe and the place where man and animals live.
2. Among both the Jewish people and the Greeks the terms world and earth were used interchangeably to mean the created universe, the fruitful and habitable earth.
3. The biblical declaration, "The earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness thereof; the world and those who dwell therein" (Ps 24:1), denotes the whole of created nature.
4. According to the New Testament, the world was created by God's word, identified with Christ in John 1:1-14.
5. John says of Christ in John 1:10, "He was in the world, and the world was made through Him."

1. World is also associated with mankind.
2. Christ said of His disciples, "You are the light of the world" (Matt 5:14 ).
3. Often world is used to indicate "the men of this world" who are said to lie in wickedness (Eph 2:2; 1 John 5:19).
4. The men are called "the world," not only because they compose the greater part of the world's population, but mainly because they pursue and cherish the things of this world.
5. The Psalmist describes these men "as having their portion in this life" (Ps 17:14).

1. World may also denote the fleeting character of life's riches and pleasures and the folly of making them of central importance in life.
2. "Will a person gain anything if he wins the whole world, but loses his life?" (Matt 16:26).
3. Jesus states, "You belong to the world here below but I come from above" (John 8:23).
4. Jesus was living in this world as a sphere of habitation, but He was separated from its atmosphere that was temporal and worldly.
5. The term world also denotes the condition of human affairs, with man alienated from and opposed to God.
6. Jesus wants His followers to live in the world to serve and to influence it but not get caught up in the godless pleasures and perversitites of life.
7. "I do not ask you to keep them out of the world, but I do ask you to keep them safe from the Evil One" (John 17:15).
8. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations" (Matt 28:19-20).
9. "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15).

A. "Love not and keep on loving not the world."

B. AGAPE- "To love, to place great value upon, to manifest concern for, to have a deep

purposeful devotion for.

C. James 4:4

D. Means to put the world first, give it the priority; To sacrifice the spiritual for the

material.

E. Satan controls the world of which John speaks (John 12:31);

1. It's the world which hates God's people (John 15:18; 1John 3:13).

2. It's the world that lies in wickedness (1John 5:19).

3. John also includes "the things that are in the world."

F. So loving the world means to love the material things in the world and anything that

participates in evil, such as worldly pleasures and allurements.

A. "The love of the Father is not in us."

1. Speaks of the love that we express toward the Father .

2. The love "for" the Father is not in us.

3. We express our love for God by "walking in the light" (1Jno. 1:7).

4. By confessing our sins (1Jno. 2:5);

5. By keeping His word (1Jno.1:9).

B. If we love the world we commit spiritual adultery against God (James 4:4)

1. Hosea 3 Israel was portrayed as the wife of Jehovah.

2. In the NT Christians are portrayed as the bride of Christ (2Cor.11:2).

3. Just as a spouse who has committed adultery is unfaithful to his/her mate;

the Christian who loves the world is unfaithful to God. (Mtt.6:24).

A. "The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and pride of life" (1Jno.2:16).

1. The lust of the flesh is the desire that stems from fleshly appetites: (See Galatians

5:16-21; Eph.2:3; Phil.3:13).

2. The lust of the eyes are those sinful things that appeal to us when we see them.

( Luke 12:15) Also called covetousness.

3. The pride of life is an unhealthy self-reliance. The attitude that one needs nothing

his own power to survive and succeed. No need for God, or anyone else

(Lk.12:16-20;)

B. These three techniques have been used by Satan to draw mankind into sin ever since

the garden of Eden (Gen.3:6); Including the temptations of Christ (Mtt.4:1-11).

V. WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE WORLD? 1John 2:17; 1Corinthians 7:31;

2Peter 3:10-12

A. 1John 2:17- "He who does the will of God will last forever"

B. Matthew 16:24-26

1. What we are to be and the world in which we must live are often at

conflict with one another.

2. It is difficult to maintain a balance between being in the world and not

falling into the sinful behavior of the world "Therefore, you should be careful to do

what the Lord your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right

hand or to the left" (Deuteronomy 5:32).

3. Failure to develop a proper balance in this area, will cause our influence to

be ineffective.

4. Religious fanatic who uses himself as the standard by which all others are measured

or the lost hopeless one who was saved by the Grace of God and the blood of Christ.

A. John 17:14-18 14 "I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them

because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. "I do not pray

that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the

evil one. "They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. "Sanctify

them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 "As You sent Me into the world, I also

have sent them into the world.B. Sanctified, holy, set apart, but still in the world.

C. Our goal is not to please men but God. Galatians1:10 For do I now persuade men, or

God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a

bondservant of Christ.D. 2Corinthians 6:14-18-Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers etc.

E. Colossians 4:5-6- Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside.

F. 1Corinthians 9:19-23- Becoming all things to all men: For though I am free

from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to

the Jews I became as a Jew that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as

under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are

without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law

toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 to the weak I became

as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might

by all means save some.G. 1Corinthians 10:32-33- Try to please all men in all things in an effort to reach them.

Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, just

as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of

many, that they may be saved.

1. 1Corinthians 5:9-13- We can't isolate ourselves, but we must insulate ourselves. I

out of the world. But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone

named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler,

or a drunkard, or an extortioner-- not even to eat with such a person. For what

have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who

are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore "put away from

B. Acts 17:16-31- Paul mingled with them in an effort to teach them.

C. Romans 1:32- Don't behave in a way to cause them to think that you approve!

D. We are to be separated in our minds more than separated places. Difference in

motives, purpose, Live life from a different prospective.

A. Matthew 9:9-13- Jesus ate with sinners but there was no doubt where He stood

on sin. (Luke15:1-2) Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him

to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, "This man

receives sinners and eats with them." Parable of lost sheep, coin and boy.

B. Matthew 12:1-8- He didn't go overboard religiously, He was balanced, when He

was hungry on the Sabbath, He ate, used common sense.

C. John 4:1-38- Woman at well, no doubt where He stood. (Should He have stayed

away?)

D. John 4:34- My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.

(John 5:30; 6:38 also).

E. Mark 12:29-31- Love God first and then neighbor as self.

6. Christian people should think, talk and act differently than the lost and dying world around us!

1. We must "come out from among them" while at the same time not removing ourselves from those to whom we are sent.
2. We must not become like the world, but be transformed and try to transform the world (Romans 12:1-2).
3. We must live as Jesus, and Paul lived.
4. Christianity must be livable in the real world or it's not effective in winning the lost!

1. If one will deny himself and the passing pleasures of this world, then eternal life will

his.

2. The reward is salvation, eternal.