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Read Introduction to 1 John

 

“We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.”

 

and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one

The corollary to Christians finding their origin in God is that the world finds its origin in the world system.  This world, in its entirety, is under the sway of Satan.  It lies helplessly recumbent with no possibility of resistance.  It passively resigns itself to the pernicious power of the “wicked one.” 

The Christian is under the sway of a new nature.  That sets him off from the rebellion of the satanic system.

PRINCIPLE: 

The entire constitution of the world system serves Satan. 

APPLICATION: 

The satanic system orients to different values than that of God.  Satan fiercely defends this system.  He pulls the strings here.  It is a system entirely dominated by the devil. 

Only by regeneration [the new birth] can anyone get out of the vicious cycle of lust, greed, drugs, pornography, immorality, betrayal, and empty religion.  The world loves to pour people into its mold. 

Jn 12:31, “Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.

Jn 14:30, “I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.”

Jn 16:11,  “…of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.”

Eph 2:1-3,  1 “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.”

We can determine whether we are spiritual or carnal by asking ourselves which nature dominates our lives: “Does the new man or the old man have control of my life?  Who is running the show?”  That determines what kind of Christian we are, spiritual or carnal.  The carnal Christian and the spiritual Christian both have the same amount of salvation – eternal salvation.  The big difference is what kind of reward we will have when we get to heaven.  The issue is not whether we will get in, but what will be our reward. 

God always gives the Christian latitude when he sins.  The degree of latitude differs according to the light received – the more light, the less latitude.  The Spirit of God convicts him and disciplines him so that he gets back on track.   

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