There are some things common to all Christians. n n Everyone who is a Christian has once lived in the world. (Titus 3:3; Eph 2:2-3)

There are some things common to all Christians.

Everyone who is a Christian has once lived in the world. (Titus 3:3; Eph 2:2-3)


Titus 3:3 (NKJV) - For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.


Ephesians 2:-3 (NKJV) - in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.


It not an enjoyable thing to look back at a time of self-deceit and bondage.


It not an enjoyable thing to look back at a time of self-deceit and bondage.

Paul found this a good teaching opportunity to describe his past struggles. (1 Tim 1:12-15)


1 Timothy 1:12-15 (NKJV) - And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, 13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.


14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.


It is my prayer that this study will help us not only to hate worldliness but to rejoice in the grace of God that has freed us from the bondage of sin.


One must be born again to leave the world! (Jn 3:3-5; Rom 6:3-4)


John 3:3-5 (NKJV) - Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”


5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.


Romans 6:3-4 (NKJV) - Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.


The new birth by necessity involves a radical change of thinking.



Many are in churches but in reality are still in the world.



Many are in churches but in reality are still in the world.

Let us look back on that painful time when Christ was not in our lives.

What is the “Worldliness”?

Worldliness is a philosophy of life. (1 Jn 2:15-17)


1 John 2:15-17 (NKJV) - Do not love the world or 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, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.


17And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.


The lust of the flesh – We have God given desires and emotional needs. Do we control them or do they control us?


The lust of the flesh – We have God given desires and emotional needs. Do we control them or do they control us?

The lust of the eyes – We make judgments on the things we see. What is reality? What will really last?


The pride of life – It is easy to compare yourself to others and gain “esteem” from that. This desire is like a drug addiction that must be fed and increased.


The root idea of worldliness lies in an unrestrained fulfillment of our lusts.


How do you make decisions? The worldly person looks within and is essentially self centered. He makes judgments based on what he can see and hold.


The Godly person looks to God. He seeks the council of the unseen as found in the scriptures.


The Godly person looks to God. He seeks the council of the unseen as found in the scriptures.

Worldliness is very subtle; most worldly people do not know it!


One is worldly if his guide is self and not God.


One is worldly if his guide is self and not God.

He may focus on what outwardly seems good.


Family. (1 Cor 7:32-33)


1 Corinthians 7:32-33 (NKJV) - But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord. 33 But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife.


Religion. (Col 2:8)


Colossians 2:8 (NKJV) - Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

Worldliness thrives on deception

Outwardly I though of myself as being in control.


Outwardly I though of myself as being in control.

A worldly man does not control himself, his lust do! (Eph 2:1-3)


Ephesians 2:1-3 (NKJV) - And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,


3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.


This mind is from “the prince of the power of the air.” Satan is the ruler of all worldly people! (John 12:31, 14:30; 16:11; 2 Cor 4:4)


John 12:31 (NKJV) - Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.


John 14:30 (NKJV) - I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.


John 16:11 (NKJV) - of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.


2 Corinthians 4:4 (NKJV) - whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.


Worldly people find comfort in numbers. Because of this they think of themselves as “pretty good.” What did Jesus say? (Mt 7:13-14; Lk 6:26)


Matthew 7:13-14 (NKJV) - “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.


Luke 6:26 (NKJV) - Woe to you when all men speak well of you, For so did their fathers to the false prophets.


Inwardly I was fearful and allowed the pressure of what others thought to mold

me. I was a slave! (Rom 6:20-21)


Romans 6:20-21 (NKJV) - For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.


I sought things that would not last and acted as if they would not end. (1 Cor 7:29-31)


1 Corinthians 7:29-31 (NKJV) - But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, 30 those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess,


31 and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away.


In high school my happiness depended on meeting the standards of the world.


In high school my happiness depended on meeting the standards of the world.

Things that were not wrong within themselves were seen as the road to success. Such as dating, career, having good looks and many other things.


This deceit was easy to accept as long as things did not change. My first challenge came when I graduated from high school and looked change in the face.


I claimed to be a Christian but hated the “rules” of righteousness. (Jn 15:18-19; 1 Jn 3:13)


John 15:18-19 (NKJV) - “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.


1 John 3:13 (NKJV) - Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you.


If you stand as a Christian, the world will not like it!


At one time in my life I did not like Christians either (that is real Christians, not the name only kind).


At one time in my life I did not like Christians either (that is real Christians, not the name only kind).

Those who would dare be against drinking or the prom or other social norms would be considered “judgmental” (Even if they did not say a word!). (1 Pt 4:3-4)


1 Peter 4:3-4 (NKJV) - For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.


The world screams out:” Do Not Correct Me!” The present day “non-traditional” movement in churches is full of this spirit. (John 16:20)


John 16:20 (NKJV) - Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.


I thought I was going to heaven! (John 16:2-3)


John 16:2-3 (NKJV) - They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. 3 And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me.


I has the “Good old boy” concept. I had no concept of God’s judgment.


I did not understand the consequences of my own sin. (Rom 3:23; 6:23)


Romans 3:23 (NKJV) - for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,


Romans 6:23 (NKJV) - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.


I wanted a religion to salve my conscience but not one that changed me.


My goals, heart and life was in the world. But I thought I was going to heaven.



I had no peace in my life but I was afraid and did not know what to do.




Yes I had my highs, but they were temporary.




Yes I had my highs, but they were temporary.

I was not in control! I had to constantly look for that “high”.


In fact I wanted escape. What a vain life! (John 14:27; 16:32-33)


John 14:27 (NKJV) - Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.


John 16:32-33 (NKJV) - Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. 33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”


I had to wear a mask because of my self deception.


I had to wear a mask because of my self deception.

With the world, you wear a mask. Dishonesty is a must. (Jn 14:17; 2 Cor 4:4)


John 14:17 (NKJV) - the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.


2 Corinthians 4:4 (NKJV) - whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.


There is another way! (Rom 7:24-25)


Romans 7:24-25 (NKJV) - O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

How I was able to be freed from the

slavery of the world

I asked God for light. (Jn 7:17)



John 7:17 (NKJV) - If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.



I was moving too fast into sin.



I was moving too fast into sin. I faced death and my mask was removed in

terror. I knew I was lost.



I was moving too fast into sin. I faced death and my mask was removed in

terror. I knew I was lost. I began to seek God from a reading of the

Bible.



We must die to the world.



We must die to the world. We must be sick of it! (James 4:3-4)



James 4:3-4 (NKJV) - You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not 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.



We must die to our lusts. (Gal 6:14)



Galatians 6:14 (NKJV) - But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.



We must live a life on Conviction – (1 John 5:4-5)



1 John 5:4-5 (NKJV) - For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?



What does the worldly life lead to? Let us wake up and live for God!



What does the worldly life lead to? Let us wake up and live for God!

Sadly many who leave the world later find a way back in. (2 Pet 2:20; 1 Jn 4:4-5).



2 Peter 2:20 (NKJV) - For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.



1 John 4:4-5 (NKJV) – 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. 5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.



What a great salvation we have in the Lord! (1 Tim 1:15-17)



1 Timothy 1:15-17 (NKJV) - This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.



17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

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There are some things common to all Christians. n n Everyone who is a Christian has once lived in the world. (Titus 3:3; Eph 2:2-3)