The World Verses the Light

Prayer:

You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water (Psalm 63:1).  Help us not to put the things of this world ahead of you our God!  Keep us humble before you so that pride would not rule our lives.  We love and worship you alone God.  Amen.

Main Scripture:

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever (1 John 2:15-17).

Associated Scriptures:

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.   For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.  What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul (Matthew 16:24-26)?

Lord, by your hand save me from such men, from men of this world whose reward is in this life.  You still the hunger of those you cherish; their sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children.  And I in righteousness I will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness (Psalms 17:14-15).

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world (John 16:33).

Correlative Quotes:

The world stands for the entire system of human interests by which we are surrounded. It does not refer to what God made by His creative fiat and molding hands, but to the shows, fashions, and pursuits of men. It is used here in the sense in which the devil took Jesus into an exceeding high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them, and said, ''It hath been delivered unto me, and to whomsoever I will, I give it."[1] – F. B. Meyer

Three examples, not necessarily covering all sins, are given in the nominative in apposition.  "The lust of the flesh" (lust felt by the flesh) may be illustrated by Mark 4:19; Galatians 5:17. So, the lust with the eyes as organs as shown by Jesus in Matthew 5:28. …A boaster occurs in Romans 1:30; 2Timothy 3:2. “Βιο” (pride of life) is the external aspect (Luke 8:14 ), not the inward principle.[2] – A. T. Robertson

Nothing of these inordinate attachments either comes from or leads to God. They are of this world; here they begin, flourish, and end. They deprave the mind, divert it from Divine pursuits, and render it utterly incapable of spiritual enjoyments.  The world passes away. All these things are continually fading and perishing; and the very state in which they are possessed is changing perpetually, and the earth and its works will be shortly burnt up.  – Adam Clarke

Study:

In a parallel thought to 1 John 2:15-17, Paul writes in Romans 12:1-2, “Therefore, I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:1-2, NASB).

Verse 1 begins with a general plea “I urge you, brethren.”  Paul is talking to the saved.  The message of the first 11 Chapters of Romans is that we have been rescued from eternal punishment by the compassion of God. 

Why were we saved?  That we would honor and glorify God (1 Corinthians 10:31). Even Jesus understood that concept when He said in John 14:13-14, “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.  You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”

We were spared eternal persecution so that we could present our bodies as a living sacrifice.  Paul refers to this as “spiritual worship.”  He who gave his all on the cross should expect nothing less from us. Christ’s death for our sin was a physical sacrifice.  Our dying to sin daily is a living, spiritual sacrifice.

As Christians, we cannot separate the truth of verse 1 from the instruction of verse 2.  But how do we live as a “living, spiritual Sacrifice?”  Paul gives us the answer in verse 2. 

Three steps to living worship:

1. Do not be conformed to this world (vs. 2a): Our nation is suffering from corruption. Our churches (for the most part) are ineffective; either stagnant or dying. As individuals, we have placed our hope in things and institutions rather than God.  We have fallen in love with the things of this world; things that bring disappointment and grief.  Many Christians acknowledge God but don’t live for him.

1 John 2:15 (NASB) commands us: “Do not love the world or the things in the world.”  James tells us in 1: 27 (NKJV), “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”  Do not love the world or its things.  It doesn’t say you can’t have them.  It says you can’t love them. 

But how do we keep from loving the things of the world?  The answer is found in the next phrase in verse 2b:

2. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind (vs. 2b): Once we have accepted Christ as our personal savior we must begin to grow in the knowledge of God and His plan for our lives. Philippians 2:12 (NKJV) tells us to, “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” To grow we have to communicate with God in the two ways He has provided for us.  The first way to communicate with God is through reading and memorizing His word.  Psalm 119:11 (NKJV) says, “your word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against you.” 
3. Perform that which will prove the will of God: “that you may prove what the will of God is” (vs. 2c). We become more Christ-like in our thinking as we read and memorize God’s word. At the same time, we are motivated (convicted by His spirit) to act out God's will; not our own will for our lives.  As we integrate God’s will into our walk, we discover that it is good for us, and that it pleases God, and he blesses us in all areas of our lives.  Understanding God and living according to His purpose is all we need.

Summary Statement:

Only by acting in and being renewed by the Holy Spirit can a believer ascertain, do, and enjoy the will of God.  These thoughts are echoed in Galatians 5:16-17 (NASB) where it states, “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.”

Lesson within the Lesson:

What are some examples of how people love the world?

What does God say about the world system?

Give an example of how we can live in the world but not be of it.

How do we avoid pride?

[1] Fredrick Brotherton Meyer, Our Daily Homily, Ibid, P. 232.

[2] A. T. Robertson, New Testament Word Pictures Volume 6, Ibid., P. 1949.