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The world Psalm 98v1-9, John 17v13-19 by Stephen Coffin
God created the whole world good and loves it
- "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3v16-17
As an artist’s work reflects him, so we can learn about God from the world he’s made
- For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made. (Romans 1v20)
God wants us to enjoy the world
God wants us to manage the world for the good of all
- The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. (Romans 8v19-21)
So let’s think about how we interact with the world
- Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. (Colossians 2v20-22)
- My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. (Jean 17v15)
But the world is under the control of the evil one
- We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. (1John 5v19)
- Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. (1Peter 5v8-9)
Therefore the world opposes God and his servants
- Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. (Hebrews 10v33-34)
- Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. (1John 3v13)
- "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. (John 15v18-19)
It seeks to corrupt and lead them astray
- Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world - the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does - comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. (1John 2v15-17)
Jesus has overcome the world
- "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.“ (John 16v33 )
With his help we can prevail too
- No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8v37-39)
We must therefore remember that we are not OF the world, whilst being in it and doing all we can to bring it God’s salvation
- They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. (John 17v16)
- We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. (1Corinthians 2v12)
We are to be God’s ambassadors to the world
- As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. (John 17v18)
- Jesus said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” (Mark 16:15)
- "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.” (Matthew 5v13)
- "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5v14-16)
Ultimately God will create a new world which will be in harmony with him
- But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. (Philippians 3v20-21)
- "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.“ (Revelation 11v15)
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