Love not the world
William MacDonald teaches that believers must reject the world's values and pleasures to fully embrace the love of the Father and live in faithful separation from worldly influences.
In this sermon, William MacDonald explores the biblical command to 'love not the world,' emphasizing the spiritual dangers of conforming to worldly values and pleasures. He explains the nature of the world as a kingdom opposed to God and calls believers to live in faithful separation through devotion to Christ. MacDonald challenges Christians to examine their lives and reject anything that competes with their love for God, offering practical guidance for living as strangers on earth.
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“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.” (1 John 2:15)
The world is presented in the New Testament as a kingdom that is opposed to God. Satan is its ruler, and all nonbelievers are subjects. This kingdom makes its appeal to man through the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. It is a society in which man tries to make himself happy without God, and in which the name of Christ is unwelcome. Dr. Gleason L. Archer Jr. says that the world is “the organized system of rebellion, self-seeking and enmity toward God which characterizes the human race in opposition to God.”
The world has its own amusements, politics, art, music, religion, thought-patterns and life-style. It seeks to force everyone to conform and hates those who refuse. This explains its hatred of the Lord Jesus.
Christ died to deliver us from the world. Now the world is crucified to us and we to it. It is positive treason for believers to love the world in any of its forms. In fact, the Apostle John says that those who love the world are the enemies of God.
Believers are not of the world, but they are sent into it to testify against it, to denounce its works as evil, and to preach salvation from it through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Christians are called to walk in separation from the world. In the past, this may have been too narrowly limited to dancing, theaters, smoking, drinking, card playing and gambling. But it includes much more. Much of what comes over the TV is worldly, appealing to the lust of the eyes and the lust of the flesh. Pride is worldly, whether it be pride of titles, degrees, salary, heritage or a big name. Luxurious living is worldly, whether palatial homes, gourmet foods, attention-getting clothing and jewelry or prestige cars. So is a life of ease and pleasure, spent largely on travel cruises, shopping sprees, sports and recreation. Our ambitions for ourselves and for our children may be worldly, even while we appear to be spiritual and pious. Finally, sex outside of marriage is a form of worldliness.
The more devoted we are to the Savior and the more sold-out we are to Him, the less time we will have for worldly pleasures and amusements. C. Stacey Woods said, “The measure of our devotion to Christ is the measure of our separation from the world.”
We are but strangers here, we do not crave
A home on earth, which gave Thee but a grave;
Thy cross has severed ties which bound us here,
Thyself our treasure in a brighter sphere.
J. G. Deck
Sermon Outline
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I. The Nature of the World
- The world is a kingdom opposed to God ruled by Satan
- It appeals through lust of eyes, flesh, and pride of life
- It is a system of rebellion and enmity toward God
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II. The Believer's Relationship to the World
- Christ died to deliver us from the world
- Believers are crucified to the world and must not love it
- Loving the world makes one an enemy of God
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III. The Call to Separation
- Believers are sent to testify against the world
- Separation includes rejecting worldly amusements and pride
- Devotion to Christ reduces worldly desires
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IV. Practical Implications
- Avoid worldly entertainment and lifestyles
- Reject pride in titles, wealth, and status
- Live as strangers on earth with Christ as treasure
Key Quotes
“If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” — William MacDonald
“The world is the organized system of rebellion, self-seeking and enmity toward God which characterizes the human race in opposition to God.” — William MacDonald
“The measure of our devotion to Christ is the measure of our separation from the world.” — William MacDonald
Application Points
- Evaluate your entertainment and lifestyle choices to ensure they align with devotion to Christ, not the world.
- Cultivate a heart of separation by rejecting pride and worldly ambitions that compete with your love for God.
- Focus on Christ as your true treasure and live as a stranger on earth, prioritizing eternal values over temporary pleasures.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to 'love not the world'?
It means rejecting the values, pleasures, and pride that oppose God and instead embracing devotion to Him.
Why is the world considered opposed to God?
Because it is described as a kingdom ruled by Satan that promotes rebellion and enmity against God.
How should Christians relate to worldly amusements?
Christians should avoid worldly entertainments that appeal to lust and pride, choosing instead to live in separation.
Can Christians participate in society while not loving the world?
Yes, believers are sent into the world to testify against it without conforming to its values.
What is the measure of devotion to Christ according to the sermon?
The measure of devotion is the degree of separation from worldly pleasures and values.