Love not the world nor the things in the world.
"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. 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.The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever"
1 John 2:15-17
This one pastor in particular speaks about how most of today's self-professing Christians look, act, and speak just like the world. Click here to listen to a pastor challenging those who claim to be Christians. (Thanks morebooksandthings for bringing this pastor's message to attention.) Over the past few months, I've been especially convicted that I cannot love the things of this world, and as I continue to read God's Word, I find myself increasingly aware of the disgust and hatred God feels toward sin and how I also need to be disgusted by sin and not take pleasure in it and continually pursue righteousness.
Let love be without hypocrisy Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Romans 12:9
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, Titus 2:11-12
In the past few months, I have found myself often putting on a cd and having to throw it out because I cannot stand to hear ungodly talk anymore. Same thing with movies: I find myself increasingly disgusted by even the "tame" movies as they are not speaking God's truth. I'm not trying to say that I've got it all together or anything- I'm constantly reminded that I am a sinner and I would never measure up to God's standards, but it's only by Jesus' blood that has covered my sins that I am able to stand before God on judgment day and not be condemned since I've accepted Jesus as my personal Savior and His payment for my sins in full. It doesn't matter if you've sinned once or a million times-it's still sin-and God cannot accept ANY of it.
Don't get me wrong; I'm NOT saying that we will be perfect and never sin once we are a Christian. The Bible is clear that Christians do continue sin on this earth. I'm also NOT saying that living a godly life is what gets you saved. Salvation is by grace alone-the Bible is clear on that. What I AM talking about is "the good fruits" that the Bible talks about, which is evidence a person is saved.
"So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit."A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."So then, you will know them by their fruits."Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter."Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'"And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.' Matthew 7:17-23
Here are some examples of what I mean by look, act, and speak like the world: Many Christians are dressing sensually as to draw attention to their bodies (I see this even in some church services I've been to), and although I have heard some pastors speak about this issue in youth groups and young adult groups, I don't think I've ever heard a Sunday morning message that addresses this problem. The church is to bring glory to God, not to glorify or draw attention to ourselves, and I know I have been guilty of this before too.
I often hear self-professing Christians use God's name in vain and other names God has given himself and also use characteristics of God, such as holy, in vain. I have been personally convicted of the latter and realize that I should no longer speak like this if I am truly one of God's children and want to please and honour him with my life. With the speaking like the world also includes telling inappropriate jokes, laughing at those jokes, gossiping, bragging, boasting, etc.
And with acting like the world, I mean loving money, pursuing worldly pleasures (drinking/partying, smoking, lusting, etc), desiring worldly status, having sex with a person before marriage, etc. And also, I notice that many self-professing Christians think like the world, and even if they don't practice these things, they agree with worldly ideas that are contrary to what the Bible says. For example, they believe homosexuality is not a sin, even though the Bible clearly says it is. Or they see nothing wrong with having sex before marriage, or they believe that God would never allow someone to go to hell, etc. If we are Christians, we need to be transformed. And evidence of having a repentant heart is that you are not only sorry for your sins, but you also turn from your sins and live a life no longer conformed to the patterns of the world, but instead you try to live according to God's commands and instructions he gave us in the Bible.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2
If you claim to be a Christian, please examine yourself. The Bible is clear that those who are truly saved will show evidence of this through the way they live by continuing to repent of sins and striving to live a life honouring to God.
Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you--unless indeed you fail the test?
2 Corinthians 13:5
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