Introduction:
Ask about scripture: Have you ever read a piece of scripture that seemed too harsh, difficult to hear, too much?
Talk about scripture: There are plenty of verses that are so straightforward, yet shocking. We may try to brush it off as a “unimportant verse” but guess what?…All scripture is important, even if it is difficult to hear or difficult to follow. In this lesson, we will be diving into some straightforward verses from the Bible that we shouldn’t question.
1st Straightforward Verse: Read 1 John 2:15: (ESV) “If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him”
Ask about loving the world: What does it mean to love the world?
Talk about loving the world: We should probably learn what this means. According to this verse, we are without God if we are loving the world.
Read 1 John 2:16-17…This answers what loving the world is. What does it mean to give into the lust of the flesh?…having a preoccupation with gratifying desires. What does it mean to give into the lust of the eyes?…having a craving and accumulating things, bowing down to the god of materialism. What does it mean to give into the pride of life?…having an obsession with one’s status
Ask about the world: Is it possible to enjoy the world and what it has to offer for us, yet not love the world? According the Bible Concordance, this love is translated to agapao, or to love in a social or moral sense.
Ask about the translation?…What would it mean to love the world in a social or moral sense?
Read Ecclesiastes 5:18-20…
Ask about the interpretation: What are these verses saying?…Work hard and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Enjoy what you worked hard for.
Talk about loving the world: On the other hand, we must not give into being coerced into loving the world.
Read 2 Corinthians 4:1-6…It says “ The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
Ask about the god of the world: Who is the god of this age?…The God of this age is Satan. He is the ultimate tempter in this world. He is the one who tries to coerce you into loving the world over loving God.
Analysis of 1st Straightforward Verse:
If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. If you love the world, you are following Satan. If you follow Satan, the love of God is not in you. You may enjoy what you earn in this world and love God, but you may not love the world. Loving the world includes living to please yourself and indulging in the lusts of the world.
2nd Straightforward Verse: Read John 15:6…”If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.” or “Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.
Talk about the verses: This is some harsh stuff to hear. It almost seems that we will lose connection with God the moment that we stop dwelling in him. We need to have an idea of what “remaining in Christ” means?
What does remaining in Christ mean?…According the a Bible Commentary, “remaining in Christ” means: (1) Believing that He is God’s son (1 John 4:15), (2) Receiving Him as Savior and Lord (John 1:12), (3) Doing what God says (1 John 3: 24) (4) Continuing to live the gospel (1 John 2:24) and (5) relating in love to the community of believers, Christ’s body (John 15:12)
God will never leave us nor forsake us. His spirit is steadfast (fixed and never moves)…Psalm 51:10
Summarize what “remain in Christ” means: Basically, don’t be a useless Christian. If you have faith in God, act as if you have faith in God. If you don’t have faith in God, you are considered useless in the eyes of God.