Epiphany Camden - Finding Worthiness in God in a Worthless World

Finding Worthiness in God in a Worthless World Sermon by Pastor Doug Logan on 1 John 2:15-17 : 

Finding Worthiness in God in a Worthless World Sermon by Pastor Doug Logan on 1 John 2:15-17 Community Group Study Epiphany Fellowship of Camden John Matthew Leone 14 December 2011

1 John 2:15-17: 

1 John 2:15-17 1John 2:15 (NASB) Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

1. The Warning Against “The World” (2:15): 

1. The Warning Against “The World” (2:15) The warning against loving the world in this passage should be understood as a warning against devotion to a world system that is opposed to God . “World” is a translation of the Greek word “ kosmos .” John uses it here in much the same way that Paul uses “ aion ,” usually translated “age” or “world.” Gal. 1:4 (ESV) - [Jesus] gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age [aion].

1. The Warning Against “The World” (2:15): 

1. The Warning Against “The World” (2:15) 2 Tim. 4:10 - For Demas, in love with this present world [aion], has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. 1 Cor. 3:18-19 - Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age [aion], let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world [kosmos] is folly with God. Paul uses kosmos and aion in a way that is nearly synonymous, and we see this semantic overlap with how John uses kosmos in his first letter.

1. The Warning Against “The World” (2:15): 

1. The Warning Against “The World” (2:15) In the NT, Paul speaks about “this present evil age” (Gal. 1:4) and also about “the age to come” (Eph. 1:21). These two ages are radically different and are fundamentally opposed to each other. How does this change your understanding of what is considered "worldliness" or how does this explanation differ from some traditional explanations of what "loving the world" means?

1. The Warning Against “The World” (2:15): 

1. The Warning Against “The World” (2:15) Discuss Col. 3:1-4 : Living in the light of the “age to come,” which Christ will inaugurate at His Second Coming. Discuss Col. 3:5-9 : What living for the desires and lusts of this present “age” or “world” looks like. Discuss Col. 3:10-17 : What living in the light of the “age to come” looks like.

1. The Wickedness of “The World” (2:16): 

1. The Wickedness of “The World” (2:16) Every sin falls under these three categories: (1) The lust of the flesh (2) The lust of the eyes (3) The arrogance produced by material possessions (NET translation)

1. The Wickedness of “The World” (2:16): 

1. The Wickedness of “The World” (2:16) Discuss the connection with these three categories in Gen. 3:1-6 . Which category do you struggle with the most?

3. The Worthlessness of “The World” (2:17): 

3. The Worthlessness of “The World” (2:17) Though this present evil age/world is passing away (clearly and strongly implying that it is not worth loving), why is it that we tend to be more devoted to it than to the loving God who went to the greatest possible lengths to save us from it? Have we forgotten that, in our union with Christ, we do not belong to this wicked age, but are, in fact, sons and daughters of the age to come?

3. The Worthlessness of “The World” (2:17): 

Those whose lives have been transformed by the good news of Christ’s First Coming will live as sons and daughters of the age to come, which will begin in its fullness at His Second Coming . 3. The Worthlessness of “The World” (2:17)

3. The Worthlessness of “The World” (2:17): 

3. The Worthlessness of “The World” (2:17) Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared [in His First Coming ], bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age [aion], 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ [in His Second Coming ], 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

3. The Worthlessness of “The World” (2:17): 

3. The Worthlessness of “The World” (2:17) Phil. 3:16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained [as a result of His First Coming ]. 17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who [at His Second Coming ] will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

3. The Worthlessness of “The World” (2:17): 

3. The Worthlessness of “The World” (2:17) To “love the world” is to live as if the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ has never penetrated your heart with the power of God’s redemptive and transformative truth. To “love the world” means to live according to the ways of this present evil age, and not according to the kingdom reality that Christ inaugurated two thousand years ago, and which He will consummate in its fullness upon His return.

PowerPoint Presentation: 

What about you? Do you live your life as if Christ never came in the flesh? Is your life completely indistinguishable from those who don’t profess Christ as their Lord and Savior? Do you pursue and lust after and attach yourself to the same things that unsaved people do? Do you live as if the gospel hasn’t made all the difference in your life?

PowerPoint Presentation: 

Col. 1:13 He [the Father] has delivered us from the domain of darkness [this age] and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son [the age to come]. 2 Cor. 4:16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self his being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.