BIBLE PASSAGE: 1 John 2:15-17

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.

¹⁶ For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

¹⁷ And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

MEMORY VERSE: 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.

INTRODUCTION

A Christian is a person who has accepted the Lord Jesus as his Lord and personal saviour and is Iiving a holy life with the ultimate goal of making it to Heaven (1 Peter 1:3-4).

However, there are three terrible enemies- “the world system”, “the flesh”, and “the devil” – contending with the believer daily, to make the Christian journey difficult and impossible (Acts 20:29-30).

In this study, we shall consider the enemy called “the world system.”

OUTLINES:

1. Satan’s “World System”

2. God Has A “New World”

1. Satan’s “World System”

The Bible uses the word “world” in three ways.

First, it can refer to the earth, which God created (Genesis 1:1; Acts 17:24).

Second, the “world” can refer to people, as in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world…”

A third use is found in 1 John 2:15, where the believer is warned not to love the world or the things in the world.
“The world” in this passage refers to the “operating system of the world” – which is satanic.

Since the fall of Adam and Eve, Satan has not changed his mode of operation (Genesis 3:11-13):

He has been consistent at deceiving; manipulating and dominating those who refuse to completely yield themselves to God (Romans 6:13, 16).

The “software” Satan designed to turn man against his maker is still working in the world (Ephesians 2:2-3; 2 Corinthians 4:4).

Satan controls his evil ‘world system’ and uses the attractive things of his world to deceive and destroy people (Matthew 4:8-9; 1 Peter 5:8).

i. Satan’s “world system” comprises money, materialism, cultism, addictions, lust, selfishness, greed, pride, etc.

Also, Satan uses filthy and worldly music, adulterated TV reality shows, sexy movies and indecent dressing to entice innocent souls by flooding their minds with wrong thoughts and getting them involved in unspeakable vices.

He convinces people to repel against higher authorities (Jude 8).

This is what Apostle John summarises in 1 John 2:16
“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.”
There is nothing good or godly in these things.

CLASS ACTIVITY 1

Mention other tools of the “world system’.

2. God Has A “New World”

Satan’s ‘world system’ hates God, it hates God’s Son-Jesus Christ, and it Hates God’s people.

Hence, the Bible clearly warns against friendship with the world (James 4:4).

God will one day destroy Satan’s world system (2 Peter 3:10).

This world has been ruined by sin, but God has a “new world” for those who love him.

It is called “the kingdom of God.”

The Lord Jesus is the King and Ruler of God’s new world (Isaiah 9:6; 1 Corinthians 15:25).

When we surrender our lives to the Lord Jesus to be our Lord and Saviour, God takes us out of Satan’s kingdom of darkness and puts us into “the kingdom of His dear Son.”

We are no longer in Satan’s ‘world system’ (Galatians 1:4; Colossians 1:12-14).

CLASS ACTIVITY 2

What can believers do to be part of the “New World”?

CONCLUSION: RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENT MANUAL 12 NOVEMBER 2023

Satan’s world system may seem very beautiful and attractive but it is a path to destruction (Proverbs 14:12). Choose to be on God’s side.

QUESTION

• Mention three examples of Satan’s “world system.”
• Explain God’s new world.

RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENT MANUAL 12 NOVEMBER 2023 ASSIGNMENT

Identify five differences between Satan’s “world system” and God’s new world. (2×5=10 marks).