Rejecting Worldly Values: Embracing God's Eternal Truth
Summary
### Summary
In today's sermon, we delved into 1 John 2:15-17, where John warns believers against loving the world and its systems. John writes to assure his readers of their faith and to dismantle the false teachings that have infiltrated the early Christian community. These false teachings, which include denying Christ's incarnation and minimizing the importance of holy living, have caused confusion and concern among believers. John, as the last living apostle who walked with Jesus, addresses these issues with authority and a shepherding heart.
John's primary message is that true fellowship with God requires turning away from the world and its anti-God, anti-Christ, and anti-truth systems. The "world" here refers not to creation or humanity but to the sinful, Satan-run system characterized by greed, selfish ambition, and deceit. John emphasizes that loving the world is incompatible with loving God because the world's values are fundamentally opposed to God's values. He elaborates on this by describing the "lust of the flesh," "lust of the eyes," and "pride of life" as the core elements of the world's system, which are tools Satan uses to lead people into sin.
John provides two reasons why Christians should not love the world. First, there is no commonality between the world and God. The world exploits and manipulates, while God loves and protects. Second, the world and its desires are temporary and passing away, whereas those who do the will of God will live forever. This eternal perspective should guide believers to focus on what truly matters and to cultivate a love for God rather than the fleeting pleasures of the world.
Practically, this means being vigilant about what we consume, whether it's media, advertisements, or social influences, and actively cultivating our love for God through gratitude, remembering the gospel, and immersing ourselves in His Word. By doing so, the allure of the world will diminish, and our focus will shift to the eternal glory of God.
### Key Takeaways
1. Incompatibility of Worldly and Godly Values: The world's system, driven by greed, selfish ambition, and deceit, is fundamentally opposed to God's values of love, protection, and glory. Christians cannot love both because they are antithetical to each other. This calls for a conscious rejection of worldly values in favor of godly principles. [11:46]
2. Satan's Strategy: Satan uses the "lust of the flesh," "lust of the eyes," and "pride of life" to lead people into sin. These tactics are evident from the Garden of Eden to King David's fall and even in the temptations of Jesus. Recognizing these schemes helps believers stand firm against them by relying on God's Word. [15:32]
3. Temporary Nature of the World: The world and its desires are passing away, making them unworthy of our ultimate affection and pursuit. In contrast, those who do the will of God will live forever. This eternal perspective should guide our priorities and actions. [23:01]
4. Guarding Against Worldly Influence: To resist the world's allure, we must be vigilant about what we consume, whether it's media, advertisements, or social influences. Cutting out commercials and other forms of worldly messaging can help diminish their impact on our desires and values. [27:05]
5. Cultivating Love for God: Actively cultivating a love for God through gratitude, remembering the gospel, and immersing ourselves in His Word helps shift our focus from the temporary pleasures of the world to the eternal glory of God. As we turn our eyes upon Jesus, the things of this world will grow dim in comparison. [29:00]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[02:48] - Context of 1 John
[04:28] - Assurance of Fellowship with God
[06:19] - Understanding "World" in John's Context
[07:51] - The World's Anti-God System
[09:49] - Examples of the World's System
[11:46] - No Commonality Between World and God
[13:36] - Satan's Playbook: Lust and Pride
[15:32] - Biblical Examples of Temptation
[17:29] - David's Fall and Our Own Temptations
[19:11] - Jesus' Victory Over Temptation
[21:09] - Why the World is Anti-God
[23:01] - The Temporary Nature of the World
[25:03] - Paul's Perspective on the World
[27:05] - Practical Steps to Resist Worldly Influence
[29:00] - Cultivating Love for God
[30:15] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- 1 John 2:15-17
#### Observation Questions
1. What does John mean by "the world" in 1 John 2:15-17? How does he differentiate it from creation and humanity? [06:19]
2. According to the sermon, what are the three core elements of the world's system that John warns against? [13:36]
3. What are the two reasons John provides for why Christians should not love the world? [11:46] [23:01]
4. How does John describe the relationship between loving the world and loving God? [11:46]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does John emphasize that there is no commonality between the world and God? How does this impact a believer's daily life? [11:46]
2. How do the "lust of the flesh," "lust of the eyes," and "pride of life" manifest in modern-day temptations? Can you identify examples from your own experiences? [13:36]
3. What does it mean that the world and its desires are passing away? How should this eternal perspective influence a Christian's priorities? [23:01]
4. How can recognizing Satan's strategies help believers stand firm against temptation? What practical steps can be taken to resist these schemes? [15:32]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your media consumption. Are there specific types of content that you feel are drawing you away from God? How can you be more vigilant about what you consume? [27:05]
2. John calls for a conscious rejection of worldly values in favor of godly principles. What are some worldly values you struggle with, and how can you actively reject them in your daily life? [11:46]
3. The sermon suggests cultivating a love for God through gratitude, remembering the gospel, and immersing ourselves in His Word. What specific practices can you incorporate into your routine to help shift your focus from the world to God? [29:00]
4. Think about a recent situation where you felt tempted by the "lust of the flesh," "lust of the eyes," or "pride of life." How did you respond, and what could you do differently next time to resist that temptation? [13:36]
5. The sermon mentions cutting out commercials and other forms of worldly messaging to diminish their impact. What practical steps can you take this week to reduce your exposure to such influences? [27:05]
6. How can you actively remind yourself of the temporary nature of the world and its desires? What changes can you make to ensure your focus remains on eternal matters? [23:01]
7. Identify one area in your life where you feel the world's influence is strong. What specific actions can you take to guard against this influence and cultivate a deeper love for God? [27:05]
Devotional
Day 1: The Incompatibility of Worldly and Godly Values
True fellowship with God requires a conscious rejection of worldly values. The world, as described in 1 John 2:15-17, is driven by greed, selfish ambition, and deceit, which are fundamentally opposed to God's values of love, protection, and glory. Christians are called to turn away from these anti-God systems and instead embrace godly principles. This means making deliberate choices to reject the allure of the world and to align our lives with God's eternal truths. [11:46]
James 4:4 (ESV): "You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."
Reflection: What specific worldly values or practices do you find yourself drawn to, and how can you actively reject them in favor of godly principles today?
Day 2: Recognizing Satan's Strategy
Satan uses the "lust of the flesh," "lust of the eyes," and "pride of life" to lead people into sin. These tactics have been evident from the Garden of Eden to King David's fall and even in the temptations of Jesus. By recognizing these schemes, believers can stand firm against them by relying on God's Word. Understanding Satan's playbook helps us to be vigilant and prepared to resist his temptations. [15:32]
1 Peter 5:8-9 (ESV): "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world."
Reflection: Identify a recent situation where you felt tempted by the "lust of the flesh," "lust of the eyes," or "pride of life." How can you use God's Word to resist similar temptations in the future?
Day 3: The Temporary Nature of the World
The world and its desires are passing away, making them unworthy of our ultimate affection and pursuit. In contrast, those who do the will of God will live forever. This eternal perspective should guide our priorities and actions, helping us to focus on what truly matters. By keeping our eyes on the eternal, we can avoid being swayed by the fleeting pleasures of the world. [23:01]
2 Corinthians 4:18 (ESV): "As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."
Reflection: What temporary desires or pursuits are currently taking up your time and energy? How can you shift your focus to align more with God's eternal will?
Day 4: Guarding Against Worldly Influence
To resist the world's allure, we must be vigilant about what we consume, whether it's media, advertisements, or social influences. Cutting out commercials and other forms of worldly messaging can help diminish their impact on our desires and values. By being mindful of what we allow into our minds and hearts, we can better guard against the subtle influences that draw us away from God. [27:05]
Philippians 4:8 (ESV): "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."
Reflection: What specific media or social influences do you need to cut back on or eliminate to better guard your heart and mind? How can you replace these with godly influences?
Day 5: Cultivating Love for God
Actively cultivating a love for God through gratitude, remembering the gospel, and immersing ourselves in His Word helps shift our focus from the temporary pleasures of the world to the eternal glory of God. As we turn our eyes upon Jesus, the things of this world will grow dim in comparison. By nurturing our relationship with God, we can find true fulfillment and joy that the world cannot offer. [29:00]
Colossians 3:2-3 (ESV): "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."
Reflection: How can you intentionally cultivate your love for God today? Consider specific practices such as gratitude journaling, daily Bible reading, or prayer that can help you focus on His eternal glory.
Quotes
1. "John is writing this letter to encourage and to encourage and to encourage and to encourage assure his readers that they have the truth, they believe the truth, and they are walking in the truth. Because there's some in and near John's church, John's church is likely in the city of Ephesus, who have begun to insert false claims into this now about half century old Christianity. And these false claims that they're making are distorting, diluting, and diminishing it. Claims like Christ did not come in the flesh, and salvation comes from simply having right knowledge, or pursuing holiness in your life isn't really important, or you can have fellowship with the Father apart from Jesus Christ." [02:48] (57 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Fellowship with God is only reserved for those who turn to God in faith, who turn from sin in repentance, and pursue God in holy obedience. John says it this way, walk in the light as he is in the light. And so John reminds them that they can, in fact, have assurance of their fellowship with God by keeping his counsel. And so he says, walk in the light as he is in the light. And living as Jesus lived and loving one another." [04:28] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "John's use of world here refers to the world's system, the ideology, the philosophy of the world, this anti-God, anti-Christ, anti-truth system headed by Satan himself. Now, this description of the world is not unique to John. In fact, it's all over the New Testament. Paul speaks of our condition. Apart from Christ, as this is in Ephesians chapter two, following the ways of this world and following the prince and power of the air. That's Paul. James also says this. He says to keep ourselves from being polluted by the world. He also says friendship with the world is enmity with God." [09:49] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "No, the world and its system of belief and philosophy and value is anti-God, anti-Christ, and anti-truth. Now, to be clear, John is not saying that rejecting the world will save you or cause you to be a Christian. No, no, no. He's saying that one who is saved, one who is a Christian, one who has been transformed by the grace of God, will reject the world. And John provides two reasons why the Christian does not love the world." [11:46] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The point I'm trying to make, the point John is trying to make, is that the world, with its values, philosophy, entertainment, ideology, agendas, principalities and powers, is not only contradictory to God, but it is opposed to God and actively attempting to thwart the things of God, however futile of attempt that might be. And for that reason, Christians should not have a love for the world or the things of the world. Why? Because the world is anti-God." [21:09] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "So much of our lives is spent pursuing the things of this world. So much of our lives is spent chasing what this world values. So much of our lives is spent dreaming about what this world dangles before us. But as Christians, we should not be so in love with the world. Instead, let us have the same perspective that Paul did in Galatians chapter 6 verse 14 where he says, May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. Through Christ, we are dead to the world and the world is dead to us." [25:03] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "One way that I've found to help loosen the grip that the world has on me, one way that I've found to help dull the sparkle of whatever it dangles before me, is to cut out commercials. Since the advent of the DVR, our first was a TiVo. Remember TiVo? Way back when. Exactly. Just get right past them. We haven't watched commercials. We don't watch what this world wants us to watch. We don't get excited about what the world wants us to get excited about. And maybe that sounds silly or too simple, but commercials, and honestly, all advertising, you have to understand this, all advertising has millions and millions of dollars behind it to get you to love the world, to get you to value the world, to get you to want what the world wants and to have what the world offers." [27:05] (67 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "We must be careful and diligent to guard our hearts by guarding our eyes and our ears and our minds. But it's not just enough to guard from the world's system. We also must cultivate a love for the things of God. How do we do that? Well, with gratitude, we can rehearse the goodness of God. We can remember the gospel of God. We can recite the word of God. We can rejoice in the love of God. We can resound the praise of God and reflect on the son of God. And we can retell the story of God. And when we do, our love for God will grow and our love for the things of this world diminish." [27:05] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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