I hope you will join me this Sunday at DCC as we continue our journey through the Epistle of James with Part 6 of “Pure Religion”.
The last time I spoke (at the beginning of November) we began to examine what James meant when he said that Christians are to keep themselves “Unstained from the world”. This week I want to try to further define our understanding of this concept by viewing it in light of 1 John 2:15-17.
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
Notice that worldliness is expressed here in sinful tendencies that come from within us.
- Desires of the flesh
- Desires of the eyes
- Pride of life — which is literally pride in possessions
This is what John says characterizes the evil world we are commanded not to love and that James warns us not to become stained by. Notice also that these fleshly failures set the agenda for our entire world system.
Join me this Sunday for another sober look at worldliness; and what it means to avoid it. - Pastor Dan
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