Keeping Ourselves unspotted from the world (Lesson 74)
Introduction:
1. One of the requirements for practicing "pure and undefiled religion before God" is "keeping ourselves unspotted from the world" (James 1:27). 2. God has given us information to help us remain free from the world's spots. 3. In this lesson we are examining information that relates to "overcoming the world" (1 John 5:4), including: a. "why we must overcome the world" b. "how to overcome the world." Discussion: I. LET US FIRST CONSIDER WHY WE MUST OVERCOME THE WORLD
A. God's people must overcome the world because the Bible teaches us to do so. 1. (Romans 12:2) We are not to be "conformed to this world." 2. (Titus 2:11-14) God's grace teaches us to deny "worldly lusts." B. God's people must overcome the world because our relationship with the world determines certain things, including: 1. our spiritual allegiance a. Jesus said, "I am not of this world" (John 8:23). b. Satan is described as "the prince of this world" (John 12:31). c. Our relationship with the world determines whether our allegiance is to Christ or the devil. 2. our ability to bear fruit a. (John 15:8) We glorify God when we bear much fruit. b. (Matthew 13:22) "The care of this world" will cause us to be unfruitful. c. Our relationship with the world will affect our ability to bear fruit. 3. the kind of religion we practice (James 1:27). C. Now that we understand why we must overcome the world, let us examine . . . II. SCRIPTURES THAT TEACH US HOW TO OVERCOME THE WORLD
A. We must put on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-13). B. We must have our affections in the proper place (Colossians 3:1-2). C. We must not become friends of the world (James 4:4). D. We must not love the world or the things that are in the world (1 John 2:15-17). E. We must follow the Lord's example. 1. Jesus said, "I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). 2. With the Lord's help we can overcome the world (1 John 5:4-5). Conclusion:
1. The Bible teaches in Galatians 1:4 that Jesus "gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world." 2. We learn from Romans 6:3-7 when the Lord saves us and delivers us from this present evil world. 3. The Lord's people are not to be like others in the world (1 Peter 2:9). 4. Overcoming the world is one of the keys to keeping ourselves unspotted from the world so we can practice pure and undefiled religion before God.
