Keeping Ourselves Unspotted from the World (Lesson 17)
Introduction:
1. We learn from James 1:27 that "pure and undefiled religion before God" includes "keeping ourselves unspotted from the world." 2. Thankfully, the Scriptures address many specific issues that relate to keeping ourselves unspotted from the world. 3. In this lesson we are concentrating on passages that teach us about "worldliness." Discussion: I. LET US FIRST CONSIDER SOME INTRODUCTORY MATTERS
A. According to Galatians 1:3-5, Jesus "gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world." B. We learn from Galatians 3:26-27 when and how the Lord saves us and delivers us from this present evil world. C. After the Lord saves us and delivers us, He wants us to overcome "worldliness." II. NEXT, LET US EXAMINE WHY WE MUST OVERCOME "WORLDLINESS"
A. We must overcome "worldliness" because the Bible teaches us to do so. 1. (Romans 12:1-2) We are not to be "conformed to this world." 2. (Titus 2:11-12) We are to deny "ungodliness and worldly lusts." B. "Worldliness" must be overcome because a person's relationship with the world determines certain things, including: 1. spiritual allegiance a. Jesus said: 1) "I am not of this world" (John 8:23) 2) "My kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36). b. To the contrary, Satan is described as: 1) "the prince of this world" (John 12:31) 2) "the god of this world" (2 Corinthians 4:4). c. A person's relationship with the world determines whether his allegiance is to Christ or the devil. 2. the ability to bear fruit as a Christian a. (John 15:8) We are the Lord's disciples and we glorify God when we bear much fruit. b. (Matthew 13:22) "The care of this world" will cause us to be unfruitful. c. The fruit that a person bears will be affected by his relationship with the world. 3. the kind of religion that is practiced. a. Pure and undefiled religion is described in James 1:27. b. To practice pure and undefiled religion, a person must keep himself "unspotted from the world." c. A person's relationship with the world determines whether he actually practices the kind of religion that pleases God. C. Now that we understand why we must overcome "worldliness," let us turn our attention to several Scriptures that teach us . . . III. HOW TO OVERCOME "WORLDLINESS"
A. We must follow the Lord's example. 1. Jesus said, "I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). 2. We are in the world, but we must not be of the world. 3. With the Lord's help we can overcome the world (1 John 5:4-5). B. We must not love the world or the things that are in the world (1 John 2:15-17). C. We must not become friends of the world (James 4:4). D. We must have our affections in the proper place (Colossians 3:1-2). E. We must put on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-13).
