The Woes of Worldliness
2/28/08; 8/20/09; 2/5/10
Introduction
God’s view of worldliness is probably harsher than you thought. Do you claim to love Jesus? If so beware of this “woe,” because if you are worldly then God says you’re His enemy! Look closely now at your life in light of these Scriptures and be sure you are hating this world so that you are not disqualified from being counted as a friend of God at the Judgment.
1.
Background Basis and Definitions1
What is Worldliness? (Summary) 2
The Nations Which Don’t Know God. 2
It Makes You “An Enemy of
God”3
Worldliness is
Demonic & Satanic3
1. Background Basis and Definitions
Initial
Scriptures
2Pe_3:7 WEB But the heavens that now are, and the earth,
by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day
of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
2Pe_3:10-12 WEB But the day of the Lord will come as a thief
in the night; in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the
elements will be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that
are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore since all these things are thus to
be destroyed, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy living and
godliness, 12
looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, by
reason of which the heavens being on fire will be dissolved, and the elements
will melt with fervent heat?
What is
Worldliness? (Summary)
Worldliness is imitating the
less-than-perfect ways, beliefs, values, philosophies, mindsets, patterns, and
behaviors of this condemned human race.
[See: Mat_5:48; 1Pe_1:15-16; 2Co_13:11; Col_1:28; Gen_17:1; Lev_11:44, Lev_19:2, Lev_20:26; Deu_18:13;]
Worldliness is rebelling against
God’s plan to redeem mankind from this corrupted and sinful age.
Worldliness is getting trained and
discipled by the devil through people who are inbondaged to sin.
Worldliness is being impressed
with the human ways that God hates.
Worldliness is enjoying and being
entertained by that which dishonors God.
Worldliness is doing what is
socially acceptable rather than what is righteously demanded
Worldliness is the lifestyle of
giving yourself to the worthless and sinful ways of your natural and fleshly
desires, and emotions.
[This is associated with your own
personal “soul” (Greek: ψυχικός):
1Co_2:14;
1Co_15:44, 1Co_15:46;
Jam_3:15;
Jud_1:19]
Worldliness is the selfish pursuit
of indulging in this life
[compare 1Co_7:31]
Worldliness is often a life of
sinful pursuits sanctioned and encouraged by our culture.
2. God Condemns
Worldliness
The Nations
Which Don’t Know God
1Th_4:3-9 KJB
Because this is the will of God, your holiness, that you should abstain
from fornication: 4 That every one of you should know how to
possess his own vessel in holiness and honor;
5 Not in the passion of
lust just as the nations which don’t know God: 6 That no one go beyond [i.e. the limits] and
defraud [or overreach] his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the
avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 7 For God
hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
8 He therefore that despises,
does not despise man, but God, who hath also given unto us His Holy
Spirit. 9 But as touching brotherly love…
Don’t Learn their Ways
Jer_10:2-3 KJB Thus says the LORD,
“Don’t learn* the ways of the nations… 3 Because the customs of the people are vain…
* “μανθανετε” (manthánete): “be discipled by”
- We can see that God called
Israel out of the world, and now He does this with us: 2Co_6:17 (quoted below).
- We see that we must not take
cues from the world on how to live
Don't Imitate
3Jn_1:11 WEB Beloved, don't imitate that
which is evil, but that which is good. He who does good is of God. He who does
evil hasn't seen God.
No Partnership Allowed
Eph_5:11 EMTV And have no partnership
[συγκοινωνειτε
G4790] with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose
[ελεγχετε G1651] them.
G4790 συγκοινωνέω
"...to share in company with, that is, co-participate in..." (Strong’s)
> The last part of this word
comes from: G2841 “κοινωνέω”:
which means to reciprocate or share in common with.
G1651 ἐλέγχω
In the NT, to convict, to prove
one in the wrong and thus to shame him.
Unspotted from the World
Jam_1:27 Pure religion2356 and
undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows
in their affliction, and to keep5083
himself unspotted from the world.
Don't Love the World
1Jn_2:15-17 WEB Don't love the world, neither the things that
are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father's love isn't in
him. 16
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the
eyes, and the pride of life, isn't the Father's, but is the world's. 17 The
world is passing away with its lusts, but he who does God's will remains
forever.
[“μένει εἰς
τὸν αἰῶνα”: “abides into forever”]
It Makes You “An Enemy
of God”
Jas_4:4 WEB You adulterers and adulteresses,
don't you know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever
therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
God Repays His Enemies!
Deu_7:9-10 WEB Know therefore that Yahweh your God,
he is God, the faithful God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness* with them
who love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations, 10 and repays those who hate him to their face,
to destroy them: he will not be slack to him who hates him, he will repay him
to his face.
* LXX
(Greek): G1656 “ἔλεος” (éleos) – Mercy;
MT
(Current Hebrew): H2617 “חֶסד”
also meaning “kindness, merciful (kindness)… pity,” (Strong’s)
Worldliness is Demonic & Satanic
Eph_2:1-3 KJB …you were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 In which you used to walk according to the
age of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit
that now works in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom we also all used to have our
lifestyle in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of
the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
So Why is worldliness wrong?
Mat 6:24 - Can’t serve two
masters…
Affectionate Love For Jesus
1Co_16:22 KJV If anyone does not affectionately love
5368 [φιλεῖ
(Philei)] the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed331 …
No Holiness, No Heaven
Heb_12:14 KJV Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no
man shall see the Lord…
In Most Cases…
- Some of you are hypocrites, and
you have nothing offered to you but God’s wrath.
- Others of you will acknowledge your
guilt and turn to the promise from God offered to you in true repentance.
3. Repent From Worldliness
Getting
Specific
- TV (media
purity, see below…)
- Fleshly lustfullness
Some
thoughts
Loving the world means loving the
flesh
This would not be so bad except that
the flesh and world are counterfeits of “true riches” polluted by sin, so that
satan is the master of them. You step into rebellion from God when you serve
the demonic realm of this world.
Consider the subtle Greek
repetition of the “age” of this world, and the “age” to come in Eph 2
Media
Purity
Where are we at in terms of the purity of our media?
Many times we assume that the Bible does not prohibit certain things that we take for granted, as though they are certain inherit rights for all those who are able to enjoy them. But though we think it is normal and ok, God fervently stands against the great majority of our indulgence in popular media.
We can know that there is no inherent sin in shining light in our eyes from a screen, or sound waves in our ears through speakers. In theory, media could be pure, but the media that we use and gluttonize in is already defiled because we addictively use it to function in life contrary to the Scriptures in countless places:
Don’t Indulge in This Life
1Co_7:29-31
CAB But this I say, brothers, the time has been
shortened; so that from now on even those having wives should be as though they
had none, 30 and
those weeping as though not weeping, and those rejoicing as though not
rejoicing, and those buying as though not possessing, 31 and those using this world as not using it
up. For the form of this world is passing away.
1Ti_5:6
WEB But she who gives herself to pleasure is dead
while she lives.
Jas_5:5
WEB You have lived delicately on the earth, and
taken your pleasure. You have nourished your hearts as in a day of slaughter.
Mat_16:24
WEB Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone desires to come after me, let
him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Luk_6:24-25
WEB "But
woe to you who are rich! For you have received your consolation. 25 Woe
to you, you who are full now! For you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now!
For you will mourn and weep.
Though “entertainment” by itself is not wrong per say, our use of it to constantly gratify ourselves, always needing to be entertained and pampered, is definitely a gross and wicked sin. And this sin is the common use in modern christianity. We are not those who mourn and are blessed by Jesus, but those who laugh now, to which Jesus casts His “woe” (Luk 6:25).
But even as if this common addiction to media were not enough of a crime for us, beyond this we are content to pour into ourselves the greatest filth with our media that God has explicitly said that He hates and forbids:
No Bad Stuff Before Eyes:
Psa_119:37 WEB Turn my eyes away from
looking at worthless things. Revive me in your ways.
Psa_101:2 I will behave myself wisely
in a perfect8549 way1870 ( includes
conversation ). O when will you come unto me? I will walk within my
house with a perfect8537 (Complete..
innocence… integrity) heart. (I
walk habitually in the integrity of my heart, In the midst of my
house. YLT) 3. I will set no
wicked thing before my eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it will not cleave to me. 4. A
perverse heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person . 5. Whoever privily slanders his neighbor, him
will I cut off: him that has an high look and a proud heart I will not put up
with… (KJV-Based)
Isa_33:14-17 WEB
The sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling has seized the
godless ones: Who among us can dwell with the devouring fire? who among us can
dwell with everlasting burning? 15 He who walks righteously,
and speaks blamelessly; he who despises the gain of oppressions, who shakes his
hands from taking a bribe, who stops his ears from hearing of blood, and shuts his
eyes from looking on evil:
16 He shall dwell on high; his place of defense
shall be the munitions of rocks; his bread shall be given him; his waters shall be
sure. 17 Your
eyes shall see the king in his beauty…
Hoseah Snake Smash: 2KI 18:3-4
Paul Looking at Idols: Act 17:16 (also 22-23)
1Co_10:19 – Idol = demon behind
2Pe_2:7-8 – “righteous Lot”
The Reward of Repentance!
What’s the Reward and What’s the Hope For
Repenting of Worldliness?
2Co_6:12-18
CAB 12 …you are restricted by your own
affections… 14 Do
not become unequally yoked with unbelievers;
for what participation is there for righteousness with lawlessness?
And what communion is there for light with darkness? 15 And what agreement is there for Christ with Belial? [that is, the devil] Or
what part is there for a believer with an infidel?
[that is, “ἄπιστος”
(apistos) - an unbeliever] 16 And what union is there for the temple of God
with idols?... 17 Therefore
"Come out from the midst of them and be separated," says the Lord.
"Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you." 18 "I will be a Father to you, and
you will be My sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty."
(Also: Isa_52:11/ Eze_20:34, Eze_20:41)
Copyright © Josiahs Scott, All rights reserved (see below)
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PersonalNotes
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2. Many of us are Worldly
This was made
after Embrace Revolution, and has a few updates to the quotations
3.6.08
This part may be finished at some point…
2. The Corrupted Church is
Worldly
A. God has called His Church to be Holy
B. Corrupted Christianity is Worldly
C. The Corrupted Church Needs to Repent
2.
The Corrupted Church is Worldly
A. God has called His Church
to be Holy
See “God
Condemns Worldliness”
B. Corrupted Christianity is
Worldly
Pharisee’s
are worldly: “We are Abraham’s children!”
Church
people are worldly: “We are christians”
We say,
“You don’t have a right to suggest that I could go to hell!”
“Tell us
smooth things…”
Compare
Church statistics
Religious leaders called “the
nations,” (and not Israel): Act 4:25
Act
4:1 KJVCNT And as they
spoke unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees,
came upon them,
[then later…]
Act
4:5-6 KJVCNT And it came
to pass on the next day, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, 6 And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John,
and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were
gathered together at Jerusalem. [Comparable to: “the clergy in the church”]
[then after being threatened by
them…]
Act
4:23-25 KJ2000 And being
let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests
and elders had said unto them. 24 And when they heard that, they lifted up
their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, you are God, who has made
heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that is in them: 25 Who by the mouth of your servant David has
said, Why did
the nations rage, and the people imagine vain things?
C. The Corrupted Church Needs
to Repent
Compare
what Jesus said to religious people:
“Unless you
are converted”
See all
the verses about going to hell after being saved