Worldliness

TEXT:  1 John 2:15

INTRODUCTION:

A.      WORLDLINESS, THE CHURCH’S BIGGEST PROBLEM.

B.      WORLD,  "Concerns of this life, as distinguished from the life to come; hence,     secular affairs"( Webster ).

WORLDLINESS,  "Of or belonging to this world, not heavenly or spiritual."

C.      TWO KINDS OF MINDS( Rom. 12:2 ).  FASHIONED AND TRANSFORMED.

D.      TWO KINDS OF WORLDLINESS:

          1.       Carnal wickedness( actions and deeds)( Gal. 5:19-21 ).

          2.       Carnal mindedness - element in character which causes worldly behavior

                   ( 1 Cor. 2:14-16; 3:1-3 ).

I.      FIRST WE LOOK AT THE WORLDLY CHARACTER.

A.      JESUS SEEKS TO REDIRECT OUR VISION( 2 Cor. 4:16-18 ).

B.      OUR VALUES CHANGE( Mat. 6:19-21 ).

C.      WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS?

          1.       What we do is a product of what we are( Luke 6:43-46 ).

OUR LIVES ARE EFFECTED!

          2.       A conflict for mastery( Mat. 6:24;  1 John 2:15-17 ).

          3.       The world passes away( 1 John 2:17;  Mat. 6:19-21 ).

          4.       The effect is eternal( Heb. 12:16-17 ).

                   a.       Sell our souls for a bowl of soup?( Mat. 16:25-26 ).

                   b.       Sometimes much less!

II.     MANIFESTATIONS OF WORLDLINESS IN OUR ATTITUDES.

A.      THE WORLDLY CHARACTER SEEKS ACCEPTANCE.

          1.       Many times demands conformity( 1 Pet. 4:3-4 ).

          2.       God demands something else( Rom. 12:2 ).

B.      THE WORLDLY CHARACTER SEEKS JUSTIFICATION.

          1.       From human wisdom( Col. 2:8;  Isa. 55:8-9;  Prov. 14:12 ).

          2.       From false or weak teachers( 2 Tim. 4:3-4 ).

          3.       From our fellows( 1 Cor. 15:33; 2 Cor. 6:17-18; Eph. 5:11 ).

C.      THE WORLDLY CHARACTER SEEKS PHYSICAL SECURITY.

          1.       Fleeting( Luke 12:16-21;  1 Tim. 6:7 ).

          2.       Self-defeating( John 12:25 ).

III.    WORLDLINESS WILL BE MANIFEST IN OUR BEHAVIOR.

A.      THE GREAT STRUGGLE( Gal. 5:16-18 ).

B.      THE VICTOR IS MANIFEST BY ITS FRUIT( vs. 19-23 ).

          1.       List includes "and such like."

          2.       Doesn't have to be specifically condemned.

          3.       Includes all that indicates that the flesh rules.

IV.   EXAMPLES OF WORLDLY BEHAVIOR.

LET US GET SPECIFIC!

A.      WORLDLY HABITS.

          1.       Smoking, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Overeating, etc.

          2.       They violate the body( 1 Cor. 6:19-20 ).

          3.       Bring us under their power( 1 Cor. 6:12 ).

          4.       Contrary to the Christian character( Mat. 5:16 ).

B.      WORLDLY SPEECH.

          1.       Cursing, God’s name, Euphemisms, vulgarity, gossip, lies.

          2.       How was Peter made known?( Mat. 26:73-74 ).

          3.       Change of character results in a change of speech( Col. 3:8-9;  4:6 ).

          4.       Grave consequences( Eph. 5:3-5;  Mat. 12:36-37 ).

C.      WORLDLY STYLE OF DRESS.

          1.       How are we to dress?( 1 Tim. 2:9-10;  1 Pet. 3:3-4 ).

          2.       We are not to tempt( Mat. 5:27-28;  18:6-7 ).

D.      WORLDLY RECREATION.

          1.       Must not lead to ungodly desires( Jas. 1:13-14;  Rom. 13:13-14 ).

          2.       Must not have an ungodly appearance( 1 Thes. 5:22;  Rom. 12:2 ).

          3.       Movies, TV, Dancing, Gambling, Swimming, etc.

E.      WORLDLY CAREERS.

          1.       Can't cut ourselves off completely( 1 Cor. 5:9-11 ).

          2.       Can't partake in other's sin, either( Eph. 5:11 ).

          3.       Must be honest( Rev. 21:8 ).

          4.       Alcohol, Tobacco, Horse racing, Show business, Sports.

F.      WORLDLY ASSOCIATIONS.

          1.       We prefer one another( Rom. 12:9-10 ).

          2.       Who will influence us?( 1 Cor. 15:33 ).

G.      WORLDLY RELATIONSHIPS( Luke 14:26;  Mat. 19:12 ).

V.    THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT CAN BE SUMMED UP IN TWO WORDS.

A.      SACRIFICED( Gal. 5:22-23; 2:20; Rom. 12:1-2 ).

B.      TRANSFORMED( Rom. 12:2;  2 Cor. 5:17 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      DO YOU SERVE THE SPIRIT OR THE FLESH?

B.      ( Josh. 24:15 )  CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY WHOM YE WILL SERVE.

C.      Matthew 12:30.