Sermon Central
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This Present World
Contributed by Gino Cascieri on Oct 23, 2003 (message contributor)
Summary: This sermon looks at “This Present World” that Demas forsook the Christian friendship and fellowship of the Apostle Paul for.
“This Present World”
Text: 2 Timothy 4:10
Intro:
This morning we want to look at “This Present World” that Demas forsook the Christian friendship and fellowship of the Apostle Paul for.
Maybe you know someone who has done the same thing as Demas
Left off going to church, serving God, fellowshipping with God’s people for “This Present World.”
When I speak of the world, I am speaking about the world system.
I. ITS LEADER
A. Politically
John 12:31, “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.”
John 14:30, “Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.”
John 16:11, “Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.”
Political Leader is Satan.
B. Religious
2 Cor. 4:4, “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”
Religious Leader – Satan
Can you think of both a political and religious leader today?
How about the Pope?
Who do you think is behind that system?
Many countries today the pope is pulling the strings both politically and religiously.
II. ITS LABEL
Notice with me how the Apostle Paul described “this present world” in Galatians 1:4, “Who (Christ) gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:”
Paul calls this world we live in “evil”.
And that is why Paul commands us in Romans 12:2, “…be not conformed to this world:”
And that is why the Apostle John commands us in 1 John 2:15, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
And that is why the Apostle Peter warns us about “…the corruption that is in this world” in 2 Peter 1:4
Corruption: Depravity; wickedness; perversion or deterioration of moral principles; loss of purity or integrity.
Peter also warns us about “…the pollution of the world” in 2 Peter 2:20
Pollution: Defilement; uncleanness; impurity; the state of being polluted.
Galatians 1:4, tells us Christ “gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world,”
In other words, that is why Christ gave himself for our sins to deliver us from a world that is evil and full of corruption and pollution.
III. ITS LIVING
A. WHAT IT HAS
According to 1 John 2:16
“the lust of the flesh”
“the lust of the eyes”
“the pride of life”
1 John 5:19, tells us “the whole world lieth in wickedness.”
The world’s bed is wickedness!!!
The world is “full of cares” according to Mt. 13:22, Mark 4:19.
B. WHO IT HATES
The Lord Jesus Christ and his people
See John 15:18-19
C. WHERE IT IS GOING
See 2 Peter 3:10-13,
V. 10, “the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”
Takes place after the Millennium
1 John 2:17, “And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
IV. ITS LEADING
In other words its teaching
Ephesians 2:2, tells us this world has a “course” which we all followed before we got saved.
“Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:”
“prince of the power of the air” is another name for the leader of this world, Satan.
Course: Manner of proceeding; way of life or conduct; deportment; series of actions.
The course of this world is one of open rebellion against God.
It breeds in its children a spirit of disobedience against the authority of God and His Book.
Colossians 2:8, tells us this world also has “rudiments”
Rudiments: Basic fundamental principles which something is established and developed.
The rudiments of this world are:
1) Everybody else does it
2) We always have done it
3) A little bit doesn’t hurt
4) My conscience doesn’t convict me.
5) We know when to quit.
6) You gotta make a living
7) It all depends on how you look at it.
These are the alibis for every sin that has ever been committed on earth.
This is the philosophy of the world and it is the tradition of mankind.
Every sin you ever committed, you committed on one of those grounds, or more than one of them.
The rudiments of Biblical Christianity
1) It is right?
2) Will it please God?
3) Does it edify?
4) It is expedient?
