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good evening everyone and welcome to free grace Baptist Church just a few announcements before we begin worship I just a reminder that we are doing the Lynnwood him sing after the evening service here so you can sandwiches and soup and Doritos and coffee and water after the evening service and then we'll head over there around 655 to start at around 7:00 or just shortly after 7:00 to sing with the folks over there as well excuse me there are no siree Bible study so sory Bible studies on the 26th or the 2nd so December 26 January 2nd there's no so sory Bible study Mike's gonna send out a reminder email this week but just so that you know and so that anybody watching knows and then lastly the this morning was the last children's Bible study it'll reconvene in 2018 but just so that you know next Lord's Day and the following lord's day morning there will be no children's bible stay well let's begin our worship then if you'll turn with me and your bibles are called to worship tonight will be a reading of Ephesians 1:3 2:14 Ephesians 1 beginning in verse 3 the Word of God blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ just as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in love having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will to the praise of the glory of His grace by which he made us accepted in the beloved in him we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence having made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure which he purposed in self that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times he might gather together in one all things in Christ both which are in heaven and which are on earth in him in him also we have obtained an inheritance being predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of his glory in him you also trusted after you heard the word of truth the gospel of your salvation in whom also having believed you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession to the praise of his glory amen well let's stand and sing a hymn we're going to sing in our large Trinity hymnals hymn number 28 let's stand and sing 28 together [Music] please be seated let us go to the our God in prayer let us pray Heavenly Father we thank you that we can gather a second time on this year Lord's Day to worship You our great God Father Son and Holy Spirit we rejoice again in this freedom in this Liberty and we pray that you would help us once again to hallow your name we would give you honor that we would give you praise we would rightly worship you we do pray that you would cause us to reflect with great earnest and joy reflect upon the gospel of Jesus Christ reflect upon the truth that he came into this world sinners to save and we pray that we would reflect with great joy upon the fact that he lived perfectly in obedience to your law in the place of all who believed in his name that we would rejoice in that blessed truth that upon Calvary's cross he so died so as to secure the salvation of a multitude which no man can number and we pray as well Lord that we would continue to that resurrection reflecting with joy upon the fact that he rose again the third day in power in victory that he has ascended to your right hand and we rejoice in that current session that he ever lives to intercede for his people that he rules and reigns over his enemies and he subdues the hearts of his elect and we do pray we would give him honor that he would be exalted upon the praises of this Assembly and God that we would be a lot here tonight that reflects upon the forgiveness of sins everlasting life righteousness in Christ that avails with you for all who believe and that we would sing the praises of Amazing Grace we do pray God that you would be with those unable to join us and those who are sick those who are traveling and we pray that you'd watch over them that you would encourage their hearts we do pray Lord God that you would just be with the self siree Bible study we thank you for this ongoing work we just look forward with great anticipation to the church planting date and the first services there in January we do pray that you would continue to strengthen this body of people we pray Lord God that you'd be with Mike and Jessica we pray that you would strength Mika's he pastors as he preaches and has he engages in the ministry there too that body of believers and we do pray that you would strengthen and nourish and just grow that church there we do look forward to to the fellowship that we will have with them we do pray God that you'd be with your churches throughout the world we know that we are not isolated and confined here but that throughout the world we have the fellow brothers and sisters in Christ gathering together in the multitude of churches and we do just pray that you'd strengthen your churches that you would cause those ministers of yours proclaiming your word to do so with precision with clarity with fidelity to your word we do pray Lord God that a full and saving Christ and a full and saving gospel would be proclaimed from Christian churches throughout the world in Christian churches and we do pray unto that end Lord God for your Holy Spirit to strengthen your people to strengthen your ministers to bring by the word preached the strength to those who hear it preached and we do pray Lord God that each and every time your saints gather they would be nourished and strengthened by Father Son and Holy Spirit and we do pray as we go about our lives in this lower world that we would see a day upon day and week upon week that promise that promise being made and fulfilled that the Lord Jesus Christ will build his church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it and we do pray Lord God that we would see this that throughout the world your gospel would be proclaimed and that a day after day or Sunday after Sunday multitudes of sinners would come to a knowledge of Jesus Christ by your grace and for your glory sake we do pray God that you would be with those who are unable to join us or rather Lord we we move on to the persecuted Church as we think of those throughout the world in many countries who are persecuted who come up against the tyranny of government who come up against the opposition of their own countrymen who come up even against the opposition of those who should be there their friends their family we do pray Lord God that you would lift them up our brothers and sisters in Christ who who come up against this persecution help them be near to them give them courage and help in time of need we do pray that they would lay hold of the hope of their calling without wavering knowing that you Lord God are faithful we do just pray that you comfort them in the midst of hardship and we do pray that you would deal with those who persecute them that you would save many of those who are presently the persecutors of your people that you bring them forth from death to life in Christ and God we pray that you would visit with judgment those who will not bend a knee to the king of kings and Lord of lords that you would that caused them to no longer bring violence upon the people of Christ we pray yet again for those who govern over us that you would cause those who do so presently to do so in righteousness justice and equity you would cause those who seek to propagate wickedness in the ranks of government and with the policies in various countries Lord we pray that you would cause them to be taken out of the way and that you would raise up righteous individuals to rule in justice and in truth we do pray Lord God then that you would be with us now in worship we thank you once again that we can gather and freedom and in liberty that we do pray that you cause us to count it a privilege to gather together in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord for the worship of father son and spirit we do pray that you'd be with Mike as he preaches the word once again God give him strength and we pray that you'd be with us as we have gathered may we be nourished by your word might sinners be saved and Lord God made all this exercise of worship be unto the praise of Father Son and spirit we do pray in the name of Jesus Christ the Savior amen let's stand and sing again this time in the same hymnal 278 let's stand and sing 278 together [Music] you can turn in your Bibles to Hosea 12 for our scripture reading our Old Testament scripture reading hosea 12 and this is backing up just one verse to Hosea 11 12 and we'll start reading there Hosea 11 and verse 12 once again the Word of God Ephraim has encircled me with lies and the house of Israel with deceit but Judah still walks with God even with the Holy One who is faithful Efraim feeds on the wind and pursues the east wind he daily increases lies and desolation also they make a covenant with the Assyrians and oil is carried to Egypt the Lord also brings a charge against Judah and will punish Jacob according to his ways according to his deeds he will recompense him he took his brother by the heel in the womb and in his strength he struggled with God yes he struggled with the angel and prevailed he wept and sought favor from him he found him in Bethel and there he spoke to us that is the Lord God of hosts the Lord is his memorable name so you by the help of your God return observe mercy and justice and wait on your God continually a cunning Canaanite deceitful scales are in his hand he loves to oppress and Ephram said surely I have become rich I have found wealth for myself in all my labors they shall find in me no iniquity that is sin but I am the Lord your God ever since the land of Egypt I will again make you dwell in tents as in the days of the appointed feast I have also spoken by the prophets and have multiplied visions I have given symbols through the witness of the prophets though Gilead has idols surely they are vanity though they sacrifice bowls in Gilgal indeed their altars shall be heaps in the furrows of the field Jacob fled to the country of Syria Israel served for a spouse and for a wife he tended sheep by a prophet the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt and by a prophet he was preserved that frame provoked him to anger most bitterly therefore his Lord will leave the guilt of his blood shed upon him and return his reproach upon him Amen well let us pray Heavenly Father we thank you again for your word we thank you for this reading we look Lord God with a reverential awe upon one who is holy the one who is perfect in justice one who is perfect in his righteousness we know Lord God that you adjust ly visit with wholesome severity judgment upon those who disobey judgment on those who do oppose you we thank you Lord God for salvation then through Jesus Christ our Savior and we know that that was the only hope for these that they looked away from the idols that they look away from the madness of opposing Yahweh even while confessing him we do pray Lord God that the our we thank you Lord God that their hope was in Christ Jesus the Lord that they look away from those things and look to the one who would come in the fullness of the times born of a woman and under the law to redeem guilty sinners we pray now Lord God thinking upon that truth that you are the one who is infinite eternal and unchangeable in his holiness and justice and in all of his blessed perfections that we have in Jesus Christ the Savior we have in him our only Savior and in him our only hope we do pray Lord God that you would help us to be resting upon you that we would be resting upon your glorious grace your eternal loving-kindness and Jesus Christ whom you sent into this world sinners to say do be with us now and help us to return to you the praises do your name we pray in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord amen our final hymn then before the preaching if you'll stand again with me is 5:47 let's stand as a church and sing 5:47 [Music] yeah well good evening you can turn with me to your Bibles to first John chapter 2 as we continue our exposition in first John first John chapter 2 we're gonna look at verses 15 through 17 this evening but I will read verse 3 to set the context of chapter 2 first John chapter 2 began reading at verse 3 now by this we know that we know him if we keep his Commandments he who says I know him and does not keep his Commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him but whoever keeps his word truly the love of God is perfected in him and by this we know that we are in him he who says he abides in him ought himself also to walk just as he walked brethren I write no new commandment to you but an old commandment which you've had from the beginning the old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning again a new commandment I write to you which thing is true in him and in you because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining he who says he is in the light and hates his brother is in darkness until now but he who loves his brother abides in the light and there is no cause for stumbling in him but he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes I write to you little children because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake I write to you father's because you have known him who's from the beginning I write to you young men because you have overcome the wicked one I have written to you little children because you have known the father I have written to you father's because you have known him who is from the beginning I have written to you young men because you are strong and the Word of God abides in you and you have overcome the wicked one do not love the world or the things in the world if anyone loves the world the love of the father is not him for all that is in the world the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world and the world is passing away and the lust of it but he who does the will of God abides forever amen well let us go to our God in prayer Oh Lord God Almighty we thank you for your great mercy towards your people we thank you for the realities that are true of us now for those that are in Christ Jesus we thank you O God for the bless of reality the spiritual state of the forgiveness of sins even now how we know the father how we can approach you O Father through the son because our sins are forgiven father God how a blessing how great it is to know that we have known him who is from the beginning we have known the Lord Christ we have known the gospel and father God that we have overcome the wicked one that we are strong though we are weak we are strong in our Lord Christ because though we are weak he is strong and father God as we live in this age the tension between this age and the age to come o God when we see the temptations of the world the temptations of sin o God help us to not love these things help us to flee from these things for these things are not from you O God they are from the world father god help us to realize that the world is passing but the things that are heavenly the things that are true of you remain forever namely eternal life found in our Lord father God made this give us great hope to know that the sins that we struggle with are forgiven in our Lord but also the reality that these sins are passing away there is that time Oh God when you will bring an end to this world you will cause it to you will judge it according to your holy law God and you will bring its end and judge it through our Lord Christ and father God we thank you that there one day will be no more sin no more sorrow god we look forward to this day we look forward to this time when we will not be able to sin in heaven we thank you for this reality we thank you for this truth we thank you for this hope that is in your people and this this future for your people that is true in the Lord Christ o God may this give us comfort may this give us hope as we live in that tension o God help us by your spirit to do what is great what is required that you were why of your people help us to loved you Oh God knowing that you love us first and you've sent your son to save your people father God we pray that we would love eternal things but O God we thank you for the ways in which you work in us now help us by your spirit to do that which is pleasing to you help us by your spirit to know the truth and for those that do not know the truth this evening help them to come to knowledge of Christ help them to see the truth that the see the things of this world are passing are fleeting and they will end that they might look to eternal things found in Christ things that last forever father God we thank you for this as hope and eternal life is found in Christ we pray that Saints would be edified sinners would be saved we pray that you be glorified in all things in the name of Christ amen well as I've said at the outset of every sermon with respect to first John the theme of first John is found in first John 5:13 where he writes that his his disciples wouldn't know that they have eternal life and then John goes on to highlight ways and assure to assure them that they have eternal life one they live in the light two they live as children in a lot of ways first John is structure like a sermon so we're still in that first point of his sermon to live in the light and one of the ways we live in the light is to live in love to love the things of God and not the things of the world just a recap of where we've been we've seen the answered the question what is love in verses 3 through 11 we see the commandments he who dis says he knows him but does not keep his Commandments is a liar but also the reality whoever keeps his word truly the law of God is perfected in him then he talks about how this is not an old a new commandment one that is found in the Old Testament as well they must love God and love their neighbor as their self but in some sense it's new because it's patterned after our Lord Christ the one who truly lived a law in perfection the one who truly did what was required who truly loved the father loved God and loved his neighbor and then John goes on to highlight those who love their brother and those hate their brother in verses 9 through 11 and then last week we saw the Blessed truth of the fact that those who are in Christ those who know Christ can be assured of the present reality that their sins are forgiven that they know the father that they have that they've known him who's from the beginning and that they have over come the devil the reality is we still live in the tension between this age and the age to come there is still sin there are still those things that allure us namely the things of the world so tonight we see in first John 2:15 John's exhortation on what not to love he's told us what we should love but now he highlights here what we are not supposed to love you see the reality is the true the false teachers loved the things of this world they love the things found in the world they love those things in the world partly because they had their the truth their their doctrine their thought their theory was that spirit is good matter is bad therefore it doesn't matter how I live at least that's in some form of the false teaching that was there so they it's ok to indulge it's ok to engage in the things of the world and John is saying that is not so for the children of God so perhaps an important question we need to ask ourselves as we go do you love the world or the things in the world or perhaps to narrow it to highlight the focus of what John's saying do you love sin that's gonna be a very telling question a telling answer for some of us here tonight do we love the world do we love the things in the world because John commands his hearers to not love the world and that gives some general reasons why we should not love it so we will look at this theme of not loving the world under three headings this evening first of all we will look at the command to not love the world in verse 15 secondly the character of the world in verse 16 and then lastly the end of the world in verse 17 so the command the character and the end notice in verse 15 the command notice what he says do not love the world or the things in the world notice the emphasis do not love these types of things we've already seen what to love in verse 7 of chapter 2 but John will come back to this theme of love in first John in first John 3:10 he goes on to highlight the imperative imperative of love and then in verse 16 we see the outworking of love by this we know love because he laid down his life for us and we also ought to lay down our lives for the Brethren but whoever has this world's goods and sees his brother in need and shuts up his heart from him how does the love of God abide in him my little children let us not love in Word or in tongue but in deed and in truth by this we know that we are of the truth and shall assure our hearts before him and then in chapter 4 he goes on to highlight Christ's love God's love for his people not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent forth his son but here we see what not to love and notice it's this idea of the world now what does it what do we mean by the world and the things of this world some people take this and refer to this as a way to flee from the world to go out into the boonies set up a colony set up a village somewhere and be separate from the world with the hopes that they would stay away from it some even in in in it still today they separate by living as monks they go away from the world stay away from it because what is referred to with respect to the world here is this idea of sin focusing on the unregenerate with those who are hostile toward God as one writer says he says world here refers to everything that is hostile to God holy at odds with anything divine the the world stands in opposition to God and hence is incapable of knowing God and excluded from Christ's intercession it refutes that the comforter that is the Holy Spirit neither himself Christ himself nor his own belong in any way to the world because world here in this sense as is being referred to in first John 2:15 refers to sin you see world can refer to several different things in Scripture we have to ask ourselves what does the writer mean by world and in this instance is referring to sin it's an ethical distinction not a cosmological what I mean by that is it's not so much the birds the air the trees all those types of things what world can mean that it's referring to sin those things that are utterly opposed to God the carnal mind is enmity against God so when he says do not love the things of the world or the the world are the things in the world he's saying do not love sin and the context is going to bear this out for us when he describes what that is in verse 16 and this is not unlike what we've seen what we see in other books of the Bible James chapter 1 verse 27 when James talks about what is true religion or pure religion he says pure and undefiled religion before God and the father is this to visit orphans and widows in their trouble and to keep oneself unspotted from the world we're not supposed to go out into the countryside and separate but we're not supposed to live in a sinful manner that's the point that's the thrust keep oneself unstained by the world sadly the reality sadly people eat professing Christians profess to be believers but indulge in the things of the world indulge in the things of sin because the world as it's tied to with respect to this idea of sin engages in wickedness and sees it as a glorious and good thing to engage in they don't see it as wrong if it makes you happy it really can't be that bad can it not so what John says an especially verse 17 with respect to this world you see professing Christians say that's okay to live in any way they want because God is gonna love them for who they are that is God is going to say is God is going to be tolerant with those things that's become the definition of love hasn't it people tolerate me for the various lifestyles I live in you hear this in some homosexual arguments with those who profess to be Christians and want to live in that lifestyle they say well it's the way God made me and God loves me what does the Bible say about loving it's law keeping love to God and love to your neighbor 1st Corinthians 13 what is love patience kindness but does not rejoice in iniquity but rejoices in the truth so this language of the world is referring to ethics perhaps it could be similar to what Paul says with the old man putting off the old man and putting on the new man so when he says do not love the world it's referring to this idea of sin now there is a blessed difference between true believers and professing believers when it comes to this idea of sin you see the true believer we're still gonna struggle with sin we're still sometimes gonna see the allure of the world and see its bells and whistles and go maybe but we struggle with it we we we we but we resist it because of God's mercy a true believer struggles with it who they are drawn by it sometimes we hate it a lot of ways we hate it but we love it that's the difference but a false believer will be one who says at whatever it's okay I can live anyway I sort of want to live antinomy ends those who deny the proper place of the law not for salvation but as a pattern of living are going to be present with us from now into the end of the age it's just that reality what shall we say then shall we keep on seeing that grace may abound may it never be and then he goes on to say some reasons why we are not supposed to love the world in verse 15 if anyone loves the world the love of the father is not in him again false teachers claim to have the love of the Father false teachers claimed to be part and in one with the father but that's not so if you love the world if you indulge in sin this is exactly what he's saying here if anyone loves the world the love of the father is not in him now what is meant by love of the father theologians or commentators take it in two ways it can either refer to God's love for us or it can refer to our love to God do you see the difference God is the one who loves us or it's referring to our love to God I don't think we need to separate I think it's referring to both because John referred uses both instances in first John with respect to loving God as God's love for us and our love for God we see God's love for us in first John chapter 4 that blessed truth beloved let us love one another for love is of God and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God verse 8 who does not love does not know God for god is love me in this the love of God was manifested toward us that God sent His only begotten Son in the world that we might live through him and this is love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins so it is highlighting God's love for his people and even fights further that intimacy with the language of father the love of the father towards his children which are those who know the Lord who believed on the Christ and if we are loved by the father if we are considered children of God she would not seek to live in a way that pleases our father pleases our great God the one who has given us great gifts do things that are pleasing to him because of his great mercy towards us and thus so it is God's love for us and which is the motivation for our love towards God and that's what said in first John 2 3 through 11 highlighting Commandments by this I know him verse four he who says I know him and does not keep his Commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him whatever keeps his word truly the love of God that is in this sense since God the love for God is perfected in him so we do what God loves because God first loved us and even notice here the intimate connection between truth and practice right as we've said many as our pastors have said many times in the pulpit orthodoxy right doctrine precedes orthopraxy and the same thing is true with these false teachers what's some of the major issues with these false men certainly it's not highlighting the reality of sin certainly it's not seeing any place for the law of God but more importantly a christological problem because they deny that Christ came in the flesh we see this in 2:22 who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ he is Antichrist who denies the father and the son whoever denies the son does not have the father either he acknowledges the son has the father also but we see this also in first John four at verse two by this you know the Spirit of God every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God you see it's a crime it's a Christological problem it's a Christological issue we have to have a right understanding of who God is who Christ is then you might seek to live in a way that pleases him that we have might have a right practice so God loves us in turn we should love our God but you see the application for this section is very simple again like in first John simple to say hard to do brethren do not love the world that's the thrust that's the point do not love sin again this isn't to remove ourselves from the world again there's so many reactions to sin different types of reaction that sometime just aren't good you know sometimes it's the reality that we that we see sin we flee from it you know there was one man Jerome who wrote the Latin translation of the New Testament I think I I think I've heard it said about him that he wanted to get away from dancing girls so he went out into the wilderness to get away from the dancing girls guess what he thought of the whole time in the wilderness dancing girls you see you see in the text it says do not love the world it doesn't say do not it do not or flee from the world right do not love it that's the point that's what he's saying because we live in this world we must not love the things of the world not love sin there are many good things too even with respect to good things that we see in this world when I use it in the cosmological sense in that sense of the birds of the air the fish of the sea the mountains those wonderful things those blessed things that God gives to us temporal blessings that can be used for good we can enjoy food brothers and sisters because it tastes good and God is gracious to give that to us but we should not eat it in excess you know as Gordon Clark says things become sinful either by reason of excessive desire for them or by total disregard for God you see that's the point that's the thrust is that we can live in the world but we are not of the world you must live in this world with the reality knowing that we know the true and the Living God that we are living in that tension between the two ages brother and I told you it's everywhere it's everywhere in Scripture and even here as well so as Christians we must as Ryle says watch and pray and fight on that we might not be drawn in by those temptations don't be drawn in by sin but that we would not be stained by the world or by sin so the command John gives his hearers is to not love the world so then notice secondly the character he goes on to further explain why we should not love the world notice verse 16 for all that is in the world the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life is not from the father but is from the world notice this threefold thing to describe what is in the world notice first the lust of the flesh now this language of lust here it can be used positively in Scripture for desiring good things but the dominant use in Scripture is desire to desire forbidden things to crave forbidden things and it's not just sexual things brothers and sisters it's all-encompassing to desire those things that are sinful that is clear in the way he's using it in verse 16 the lust of the flesh again flesh isn't just referring to things that are sexual it's referring to things that are sinful it's a general term to describe those things well Paul highlights this in Romans chapter 8 verse 5 when he talks about even he goes on in chapter 8 to show us those carnal things he says in verse 5 for those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh but those who live according to the spirit the things of the Spirit for to be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace so it's highlighting those sinful desires again helping us to further explain what he means by world in the text sinful desires and what's interesting too in verses 14 through 16 we actually see a proof text of the unholy trinity don't we verse 14 the wicked one and that blessed truth that we have overcome the wicked one verse 50 do not love the things of this world and then in verse 16 the lust of the flesh all three of them are present right here those things that are going against God against the true and living God those things that are utterly opposed to the God who is light according to first John chapter five but the devil the world and the flesh and even John connects the devil and the world first John 5:19 we know that we are of God and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one so we see here the connection between all three but here lust of the flesh the notice how what a hellos how else he characterizes the world lust of the eyes again not just sexual things what about coveting can we not sin with our eyes by coveting you see again it's a it's it's not a flesh is highlighting the general concept of sinful things eyes are referring to a way to describe the way in which those sinful things enter our mind as one writer says it's the agent of perversion you see the eyes are the window for those desires to enter in the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and especially we live in a social media age where everything is just visual we can see everything going on everywhere from everyone that lives now anyway I wish it wasn't so proud I just don't want to see some things you know but we see that it refers to the lust of the eyes not just sexual things but coveting perhaps we see other things that other people have that we want perhaps we lie perhaps we see other people I want to engage in life perhaps we steal we see other people stealing and say God it's okay to do that perhaps we see other things and thus this is where those things enter in the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes again we see what it is the world is characterized by the desire for sinful things and we see the desire through which those things come the eyes and then notice thirdly he says the lust of the flesh lust of the eyes and the pride of life the words for pride and life here aren't the typical words for pride and life in the New Testaments pride and life here probably refers to those passing things namely pride in one's possessions life here probably refers to worldly namely the resources needed to maintain life namely as the means of subsistence we should not take pride or arrogance in those things as if those things have some sort of value or eternal value you see this probably helps this further highlights or shows us that it's okay to be in them in the world but not of it that is we should pursue a legitimate means of subsistence but not take pride or arrogance in it for it is fleeting and it is passing we should work hard I'm not saying we shouldn't here so don't go home and say I don't have to work on no you should still work hard we shouldn't take pride or arrogance in those things I think James helps us here in James chapter 4 verse 16 remember James is talking all about this idea of worldliness but he says in verse 16 this is also in chapter I can't remember exactly but I think it's 13 through 17 this is also the other place where life is used in the New Testament this idea of worldly possessions notice verse 13 come now you who say today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city spend a year there buy and sell and make a profit whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow for what is your life it is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away instead you ought to say if the Lord wills we shall live and do this or that but now you boast in your arrogance all such boasting is evil therefore to him who knows to do good and does not do it to him it is sin but notice it's even the context of worldly possessions we buy and sell we have these things look at us we're traveling in Paris here we're in Singapore the next day that's kind of what's going on there at a fancy party and they're blabbering on about these types of things these worldly things that have no lasting value that's what he's saying this is highlights in highlights the world highlights these things that characterize the world but notice what he says concerning these things the contrast in verse 16 it is not from the father but is from the world he's highlighting two sources things through which these things come notice one comes from the world that is these lust of the eyes lust of the flesh pride of life they are not from the father brethren where do love for the world and love for God come from when we think of love for the world it Springs from a sinful heart that's the source that's the the truth that is we're born in sin and desire sinful things we desire those things we were born in and we see the allure if we're not believers we see the allure of those things even sometimes as believers we are tempted by those things but notice it says from the Father that is those things that are from God those things that are eternal spring from a god-given new heart that's what he's highlighting is highlighting the sources for these contrasting realities things that are from the world and things that are from God from the world Springs from a sin stained heart things that are from God comes from a new god-given heart in a lot of ways there's a you know the false teachers here we're teaching this what's called material dualism spirit and matter but what John is highlighting and the New Testament is highlighting is that ethical dualism that is it's not spirit as good matter as bad things but it's more of the reality that things that are wicked and sinful are bad and things that are from God are good that's the contrast that's the difference and that's the tension that you and I live in until Christ comes back that spiritual reality we saw last week in 12 through 14 we have these truths we have these realities we are forgiven we have the Blessed the Blessed what we what was read at the outset of worship the blessings in the heavenly places we have those things now but we still live in the tension between these two ages and that's the best way to characterize that this age and the age to come is ethics ethical dualism ethical distinctions sin and the blessed reality is we'll see is those things are passing away so if we sadly know this ethical reality this ethical distinction this sin those things that are against God notice John says in 3:13 of first John do not marvel my brethren if the world hates you we should not be surprised when people say hateful things towards believers we should not be surprised when people do evil things towards believers because they hate those things they hate God they hate the things that are from the father but the reality is even for believers we have those temptations we have those things that come our way we have those sins that come upon us but thankfully we have Christ the high priest who prays for us 1st John 2:1 and to my little children these things I write to you so that you may not sin and if anyone says sins we have an advocate with the father Jesus Christ the righteous and he himself is the propitiation for our sins not for ours only but also for the whole world but even John 17 with the high priestly prayer he doesn't pray for the world but he prays for his disciples the ones whom the father has given to him and brethren we need to be of good cheer because Jesus says that in John 16 be of good cheer brethren for I have overcome the world so we have temptations we have those things that we face even as believers but Christ has overcome those things so we've seen the command not to love the world we've seen why we shouldn't the character of the world let's look lastly then at the end of the world verse 17 notice what he says and the world is passing away and the lusts of it same language that is used in verse 8 of 2 was referring to darkness the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining but here again isn't this wonderful news for the people of God the world the temptations the lusts the sins those things that we hate but we love are going to be gone we are forgiven before the god almighty before a God of heaven earth now but those things one day will be gone and it's the extinguished and expunge from this world because of Christ Almighty that's what we look forward to brother and there'll be a time when we will not be able to sin because we'll have that glorified body now that body has conformed to Christ our Lord the thing we look forward to the thing that we participate in part now in those four tastes you see the world and it's busts are passing away and can never satisfy they can never hold give you those things that lasts for eternity you will always be hungry always be craving and looking for something the only way is satisfied is in the God of heaven and earth James says this in James chapter 4 verse 14 we just read that we just read and how he highlights as to how he shows us that these things are bought a vapor verse 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow for what is your life it is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away you see most of us are going to pass into obscurity when it comes to the history of the world and no one is gonna give no one's gonna care about us if I'm being really I'm sorry we live in an age where everyone needs to be told that they're special theoria that's this the truth is that we are going to pass pass away and no one's probably going to care that's just the truth it's passing away but there are eternal things to look forward to their eternal things that you can have if you do not know the Lord if you believe on him you can be saved and have this as well again this is good news for believers but it's a warning for unbelievers to look to God look to him live all the new iPhones all the new TVs all the new houses and cars those things will not satisfy for eternity not saying it's Nestle wrong to buy a new car or those types of things but in such a way where we disregard God as if those things fill our void that's what he's highlighting and the Blessed truth is Christ is bringing an end to these things just as he said in verse 8 with respect to the darkness it is passing away Christ is bringing an end to these things he will he will sit at God's right hand until he makes his enemies a footstool as one writer says present troubles do not compare to the victorious conviction that Christ has overcome the world do you see that the conviction the truth the reality the hope for God's people Christ says in John 16:33 that he has overcome the world he also says in first John 4:4 you are of God little children and have overcome them because he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world they are of the world therefore they speak as of the world and the world hears them we are of God he who knows God hears us he who is not of God does not hear us by this we know the Spirit of Truth and the spirit of error it's Christ Almighty who has overcome those things so we can say then we have overcome the world just as we have overcome the wicked one notice again the logic brother it's not resist the devil in order to overcome him it's resist the devil because you can't you have overcome him the same is true here do not love the world because you have overcome the world that's what he's highlighting for his people and notice what he says the contrast these things pass away but he who does the will of God abides forever you see will of God here most certainly refers to God's commandments those things that God requires of his people those Ten things and as we saw it highlights it's it's fits with the context in to five when it talks about these Commandments whoever keeps his word truly the love of God is perfected in him that is that test of knowing God if there's some evidence that we seek to do that that which God loves and requires we can be assured that we are God's children you see it's that that helpful syllogism that helpful a way of logic the scripture says that those who are children of God will bear fruit in resembling Christ I can say with some though imperfect that I bear some fruit therefore I am a child of God the same thing is true with the commandments I can do it the with respect to the commandments those who are of God will seek to do the will of God I can say that in some sense though not perfectly I seek to do the will of God thus I am a child of God and can be assured that I am a child of God again brethren it's not for salvation to be right with God it's because we have been saved and a helpful assurance for God's people notice too though though he who does the will of God abides for ever brethren doing the will of God is heavenly conduct this age and the age to come you know again he and this is perhaps similar to what Paul says in Colossians chapter 3 remember he highlights have you been raised with Christ then seek the things that are above where Christ is at the right hand of God and then he goes on to say putting off the old man and putting on the new man these things what are those things that remain forever should we not dwell on those things this is the implication of the commandment do not love the world and it's passing things but love the father and those things that are eternal that's what he's saying to his people as one writer says here is the culmination of the writers appeal love of the world comes from the world and the world is transient but love the father comes from the father and as the father is eternal so is the life which he gives to the believer and belongs to another dimension all together one which is permanent and this is true for believers because Christ is eternal because Christ abides forever because Christ is the one from everlasting to everlasting thus as believers we can meditate further on that spiritual state forgiveness of sins knowing the father knowing him who's from the beginning and overcoming the wicked one and even further overcoming the world thus we know that we remain forever though we pass from this life to the next we will abide forever with God in eternal life in that heavenly state in that age to come that shall not end these eternal things are unending and are presently true for us and remember he writes these things to assure his hearers that they know God that they have these things that they have heavenly things the one who does God's will as a sign of knowing will abide forever because Christ abides forever do not indulge in sin brethren but seek to do those things that are loving to God as a pattern of living for what God has done for us do not love the world do not love the things that are in the world for those things are passing and are fleeting and that's as we lead into the conclusion again do not love sin because you are in the Lord because of this blessed truth blessed hope that you are a child of God with the Blessed heavenly truths the heavenly blessings in the heavenly places all those things John is highlighted in 12 through 14 and many other things scripture speaks of concerning our current state do these things seek to not love the world because your sins are forgiven now if you do not know the Lord turn from the world a.k turn from your sin to look to the and believe and you shall find everlasting life you shall find everlasting hope the reason is as John says these things are fleeting these things are passing and you will die and all these things will die and be extinguished but eternity remains for unbelievers as well if they do not believe on the Lord Christ but in a terrifying way eternal death that is you will face the punishment for loving the things of the world you will face the punishment for loving sin you will face the punishment for not looking to the Lord and believing and you shall a face that and bear the brunt of that for eternity believe on Christ who bore the brunt of that for his people bore the sins upon himself that his people may have everlasting life how assurance have hope believe and you shall be saved brethren do not love the world for the world passes away love the things that are of God that are eternal and do not faint that are incorruptible unchangeable that shall last forever amen well let us go to our God in prayer Oh Lord God Almighty we thank you O God that you've saved your people we thank you that Christ has overcome the world we thank you that Christ is the one who is all-powerful Christ is the one who could do what we could not do Christ's are not eluard by the things of this world that he did not sin he is like us in every way yet without sin father God we pray that we would not love the world help us to turn from it help us to flee from it help us to flee from sin we thank you for the ways in which you've shown these things to us that we thank you for the ways in which you assure your people that they are children of God O God we confess that we have sinned against you we confess that we transgressed your law we can confess it sometimes we do love the world O God but help us to hate those things help us to die more and more unto sin and grow more and more unto the image of Christ we thank you for the forgiveness of sins that is found in the Lord Christ that we can confess these things and you forgiveness forgive us in Christ our Lord Oh God may we seek to do that which is pleasing to you we thank you for those spiritual blessings in the heavenly places the eternal realities that lasts for eternity O God that we get to experience in part now we thank you for your word we thank you for your spirit we thank you for justification being right before God we thank you for sanctification we thank you for your law Oh God we thank you for the the fact that you put out help us put off the old man and put on the new we thank you for these truths O God help us to do that which is pleasing we thank you that you are with us we thank you that we can call upon the father we thank you for all these things O God we pray for those that do not know the Lord Christ help them to turn from these fleeting things and look to eternal things to believe on the court Lord Christ and be saved and have eternal life father God we pray that you be with us now help us by your spirit to do that which is pleasing to you we thank you for Christ our Lord Christ our King the one who overcame the world we pray that you'd be glorified now in the name of Christ amen well we will close by singing hymn hymn 87 well sing stanza for only so you can turn with me and your hymnals to him 87 well sting sing stanza for if you're able we'll stand and sing together him 87 stanza for [Music] brethren the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit amen well we will close for a brief time of meditation and then I will come up and pray for the food