If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 2 Cor 5:17
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Go to the source! Discover what the Bible says about …
These pages are designed to aid study or investigation for Christian discipleship through individual Bible study, Cell groups, Home groups, or meeting one to one. The questions could be used alone allowing each person to use their own Bible.
Introduction
There are systems around us pressurising us to conform. These systems want us to do things their way. They often stand against the Lord’s way of love As human beings we can be so immersed in them we cannot even see them. As we grow in Christ we begin to understand the ways of the world and to distance ourselves from them.
Bible Zone
We see that the world draws us to jealousy through our selfish desires. What does the Bible say about it?
- World’s Wisdom - A wisdom based on jealousy and selfishness.
- World & Division - The world is a divisive factor causing fights and quarrels.
- God or the World - We have to choose who we align to..
The term ‘the world’ can be confusing. There is nothing wrong with planet earth. This is a label given to a way of operating that is opposed to God’s way, and so to God Himself.
Look at what James has to say about it in James 3v13-18
- What are the characteristics of the wisdom that comes from the world?
- What is produced by this wisdom of the world?
- What are the motivations of this type of wisdom?
- How is the wisdom of the world contrasted with God’s wisdom?
James 3:13-18 13 If you are wise and understand God's ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.14 But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don't cover up the truth with boasting and lying.15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God's kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.
17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.18 And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.*
One of the tragedies of the world’s wisdom is that we slip into it without realising. An indication that this has happened is when we justify an evil action for a good end.
The world leads us into actions that displease God There are also consequences to our relationship with Him. James 4v1-3 develops this thought.
- What does James suggest motivates quarrels among people?
- Can you think of a conflict you have been in. What motivations were involved?
- What impact do these motivations and attitudes have on prayer?
James 4:1-3 What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don't they come from the evil desires at war within you?2 You want what you don't have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can't get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don't have what you want because you don't ask God for it.3 And even when you ask, you don't get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.
Ultimately we must choose which system to be governed by. Whichever we choose will become more and more dominant in our lives.
- What choices are presented?
- What are the ramifications of each choice?
- When you look at your life style choices, where is your loyalty?
James 4:4-8 4 You adulterers!* Don't you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.5 What do you think the Scriptures mean when they say that the spirit God has placed within us is filled with envy?*6 But he gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say,
"God opposes the proud but favors the humble."*
7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world..
THE WORLD SYSTEM
