#57 -- Gospel and Spiritual Growth

Valley – August 25, 2002 p.m.

THE UNDERLYING PURPOSE OF THE WORLD SYSTEM

This message material was preached on two separate Sundays and two weeks apart. The first part of the outline deals with "in Christ" truth in 1 John. The second part focuses on the concepts of "abiding in Christ" in 1 John and pivots on the first verses of John 15. These two messages filled a gap in the "Gospel and Spiritual Growth" series. Summer is always broken up with vacations and other activities in the church and in our personal lives. Tomorrow (8/25) I will resume the Gospel and Growth series developing more material on the world system.

The Spirit of God impressed the predictions of abiding in Christ on the mind of the Apostle John as revealed in John's Gospel and in 1 John. He understands elements of "in Christ" truth in a very clear way and tied it to Christ's revelation in John 15. He is the primary writer of grace revelation that uses "abide" of the relationship believers may have in Christ. Jesus Christ promised a future new kind of relationship to his disciples in the Upper Room. This relationship involves abiding in Christ and Christ abiding in the believer. 1 John is written with this information as a premise for the practical provisions for Christian living. There are ten clear references to "in Christ" truth in the book by the use of the preposition en, "in." He places the responsibility for abiding in Christ upon the believer and gives revelation concerning how abiding affects the believer's life.

I. in the outline gives the basic data concerning the revelation of "in Christ" truth in the book and the idea of "abiding." "In Him" is emphasized in the center section of the book (chapters 2-4). There is unique revelation concerning one's position "in the Son" in 2:24. This involves a position in the eternal Person and is very special though confusing to some. The grand finale is the reference in 5:20 where the believer is seen as being "in Him the True One, in His Son Jesus Christ." The word meno or abide is found 23 times in the book of 1 John of which 15 describe the believer's abiding. The AV translation confuses this by translating "abide" as "abide, remain, continue, tarry, endure & c." This is evident in 4:13, 15, 16 where it is translated "dwell" and in 2:24 where it is translated "continue." I. C. lists the passages where "abide" and "in Him" or "in the Son" are found together.

"In Christ" truth is the glue that holds 1 John together. The book addresses the possibility for the believer to experientially know what it means to be in Christ. One who happens to be keeping (or guarding) His word (manifested in the new commandment in its two parts) will have the love of God brought to completion. It is by this that we experientially know that we exist or have our state of being in Him (2:5). This is more than informational knowledge or intuitive knowledge but experiential knowledge. This is the same kind of knowledge that a believer receives just after he or she is saved (cf. Rom. 6:3, 6). "We have the information that the Son of God has come and has given us a process for thinking with the purpose that we may experientially know the True One and that we are in Him, in His Son Jesus Christ (5:20)." 1 John practically applies "in Christ" truth. The book also gives some of the most important revelation concerning the believer's position in the Father.

1 John seems to pivot around John 15:4: "Abide in me, and I abide in you. . . ." 1 John 2:10 says, "The one who is loving his brother is abiding in the light. . . ." "Light" refers to the manifestation of the life of God. One who is spiritual and who possesses the fruit of the Spirit (as is evident in agape love) is feeling at ease where there is a manifestation of God's life. This abiding involves abiding in the Father (III. C.). Paul had taught this relationship to the Thessalonian church in his brief visit there. This is evident in the opening statements of each letter addressed to them "to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Th. 1:1; 2 Th. 1:1)." 1 John further refers to this relationship in the Father in 2:24 and 4:15.

IV. deals with the reality of abiding in Christ as presented in 1 John. It would not be fair to say that only John presents these concepts. He uses the word "abide" whereas Paul describes the relationship without using the term. I covered this point in the second message going into detail with each verse listed.

It is interesting how little emphasis is made on "abiding in Christ" in Christendom. Around 1860 Andrew Murray, a Dutch Reformed pastor from South Africa, wrote a book entitled "Abide in Christ." This book had a great influence on many. It did develop some areas of positional truth especially from 1 Corinthians 1:30 and Galatians 2:20. As is evident from the title, he dealt extensively with John 15 yet in a very limited sense with 1 John. His sloppy hermeneutics is evident in his finding principles in five chapters from the Old Testament for living. His final chapter deals with Colossians 3:3, 4 which is very commendable. His book was probably the first book on the subject that I read. It became an important part of the Keswick movement which has its problems with experiential sanctification. Miles Stanford wrote a little booklet entitled "Abide Above" with only limited reference to John 15 and 1 John. He does give some of the Pauline material. Abiding in Christ is very important for the Christian and John makes this very practical.

"Abide" carries with it the idea of being rested and settled when used of "in Christ" relationships. As a result, we prefer to translate it "feel at ease." Abiding and practical Christianity are bound together in 1 John. 2:6 says "the one who is saying that he abides in Him has an obligation also himself to be walking like that One walked." This is not an "In His Steps" concept from His earthly ministry but relates to Christ's conformity to the truth and obeying the Fathers Word. "That which you have heard from the beginning let it abide in you. If what you have heard from the beginning should abide in you, you will both abide (or feel at ease) in the Son and in the Father (2:24)." Note the three directions of abiding in the verse. The beginning mentioned in the verse goes back to the beginning of grace revelation as presented in the Upper Room anticipating the coming of the dispensation of grace. 2:27 indicates that the gracious teaching of the Holy Spirit provides the information to help one abide in Christ. 2:28 appeals to the believer with an imperative to abide in Christ. This teaches us that it is the believer's responsibility to abide.

"Everyone who is abiding in Him is not continually sinning; everyone who is continually sinning has not seen Him nor experientially known Him (3:6)." Those who are continually sinning have not seen the manifestation of the Son (cf. vs. 5). "And the one who is keeping His commandments is continually abiding in Him, and He in him; and by this we are experientially knowing that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He gave to us (3:24)."

"Loved ones, if God (the Father) so loved us, we also have an obligation to be loving one another. No man has beheld God ever; if we happen to be loving one another, God (the Father) abides in us, and his love is in a state of being brought to completion in us. By this we experientially are knowing that we are abiding in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit (4:11-13)." The indwelling of the Holy Spirit gives the believer experiential knowledge that he or she abides in Him and He in him or her. Our relationship to the Holy Spirit gives us the opportunity to know and feel at ease in all we are and have in Christ and in the Father.

The two-week interval between messages found me traveling with my kids and grandkids down to Gold Beach, Oregon. George and Debbie had given Pat and I tickets for the jet mail boat on the Rogue River. Six of us went (DKS, Debbie, Justine, Morgan, David Jr. and Tina). We had good time of sharing in a sort of a memorial trip. We really needed to be together. I then flew out of Portland for 10 days with Pat's Mom in Nevada. We had a good time of sharing in many ways. I especially appreciate my good friend and pastor Greg Kuehn of First Evangelical Free Church in Reno for the use of his van. Many thanks! His love was evident to Pat's Mom also. Pat's Mom and I talked of many things that helped with our loss. I flew back last Saturday in the late afternoon. In some ways it was hard to return to an empty house with no one to whom to report the events of the week. God gave a good Sunday and I am thankful.

My sustenance comes from God through His Word.

In Christ free yet a bond slave of Jesus Christ,

DKS

THE UNDERLYING PURPOSE OF THE WORLD SYSTEM

1 John 2:15

Proposition: To identify the core reason that Satan developed the world system and to evaluate his objectives in its establishment.

Introduction

A. The Source of the World System Is Satan

B. The Simplicity of Satan's Whole Purpose to His Existence from His Fall

C. The System Designed to Manipulate Its Constituents

D. The Sides of Opposition to God

1. Replacing God with a Designed Alternative – Substitution

2. Rebelling Against God in Open Rebellion -- Sedition

TRANS: Satan designed the world system with a specific purpose and that was to create an environment that would encourage independence from God. The system does this in a different way than Satanic attack. It is organized to be an environment in which a person can live with no consideration of God and His revelation. A part of the problem is the confusion that has come concerning what the world system is.

I. MISCONCEPTIONS CONCERNING WHAT SATAN DESIGNED THE WORLD SYSTEM TO DO – THE PROBLEMS WITH VIEWS OF THE WORLD SYSTEM – THE DELUSIONS CONCERNING WHY THE WORLD SYSTEM EXISTS

A. God Permitted Its Organization to Have a Playing Field to Work Out the Decree for Man

B. God Permitted Its Organization to Have a Battleground for His Fight with Satan and Demons

C. The World System Is the Place Where Satan, Demons and God Battle for Supremacy

D. The World System Was Satan's first Endeavor at Organization

E. The World System Is Not a Part of the Overall Program of God

TRANS: The world system itself provides its own propaganda machine justifying its existence and promoting its cause.

II. MISREPRESENTATION BY THE WORLD SYSTEM OF ITSELF TO HUMANS AND SPIRIT BEINGS – THE PRESENTATION OF AN IMAGE OF THE WORLD SYSTEM – THE DECEPTION FROM THE WORLD SYSTEM ITSELF

A. It Is Necessary [There was a time in human history when it was not – Luke 11:50, 51)

B. It Is Righteous and Not Evil (cf. John 15:18-19)

C. It Possesses Righteousness though There Is Evil

D. It "Civilizes" Mankind Making Humans Acceptable to a Higher Power

E. It Has Divine Sanction Rather Than Divine Permission

TRANS: The whole system is designed to carry out Satan's purpose of attempting to make created beings independent of God. While he attacks with independence, the system provides for an independent existence by providing an environment where that independence can thrive and be maintained.

III. MANAGEMENT OF THE PERPETUATION OF THE LIE BY SATAN – THE PLATFORM FOR PERPETUATING THE LIE TO HUMAN BEINGS – THE DESIGN FOR PRESENTING AND IMPLEMENTING THE LIE AMONG HUMAN BEINGS

A. Satan Establishes the Lie for Human Beings with Eve – Genesis 3:1-5

1. Satan's Approach to Eve with a Question – Vs. 1

2. Eve's Answer Concerning God's Instructions – Vss. 2, 3

3. Satan's Appeal to Independence from God – Vss. 4, 5

B. Satan Expresses the Lie Because He Is a Liar – John 8:44

C. Mankind Extends the Lie through Early History – Romans 1:25

1. The Accountability of the Race – Vss. 19, 20

2. The Accountability of the Eight Who Survived the Noahic Flood – Vs. 21 (Gen. 11)

3. The Accountability of the Race at Babel – Vss. 22, 23 (Gen. 11)

4. The Accountability of the Sodomites – Vss. 24, 26 (Gen. 18)

5. The Arranging to Replace the Truth with the Lie – Vs. 25

a. Did Worship and Religious Service to the Creature

b. Replaced the Creator as Rightful Object of Worship and Service

D. Christians Are Expected to Put Off the Lie – Ephesians 4:25

E. Mankind Will Be Enabled to Believe the Lie as Presented by the Man of Lawlessness --

2 Thessalonians 2:11

F. The Evidence of the Perpetuation of the Lie

1. Satan Seeks to Make All Created Beings Independent of God

2. Satan Seeks to Focus on the Created Being Rather Than the Creator

TRANS: In a sense the world system is a marketing system for Satan's simple goal. He uses it to provide a means to keep people independent of God.

IV. MARKETING OF SATAN'S ULTIMATE GOAL OF INDEPENDENCE FROM GOD THROUGH THE WORLD SYSTEM – THE PRESENTATION OF AN OPTION TO HUMANS FOR DEPENDING ON GOD – THE DECEPTION THAT THE SYSTEM IS AS IMPORTANT AS GOD

A. Satan's Program for People on Planet Earth

1. By Attacking Spiritual Christians

2. By Controlling Carnal Christians and Unbelievers

3. By Manipulating All People Through the World System

a. Through Other People in the System

b. Through Demons Working the System

c. Through the Sin Nature and Its Gratification

B. Satan's Plan in His Fall – The Five Statements of Intent – Isaiah 14:12-14

C. Satan's Projection for Handling the Sin Nature in as Many as Possible (cf. Lu. 11:50, 51)

D. Satan's Provision of a General Undercurrent Within the System Promoting Independence from God

TRANS: Satan promotes independence from God on the part of created beings. In return his ultimate goal appears to be that of making created beings dependent upon him to some degree and for various purposes.

The root evil in the cosmos is that in it there is an all-comprehensive order or system which is methodized on a basis of complete independence of God. It is a manifestation of all that Satan can produce as a complete exhibition of that which enters into the original lie. It is the consummating display of that which the creature – both angelic and human – can produce having embarked on an autonomous career. The cosmos is not a battleground whereon God is contending with Satan for supremacy; it is a thing which God has permitted, that the lie may have its fullest unveiling. It is reasonable to suppose that the cosmos represents the supreme effort of the supreme creature, and that as it began with the repudiation of God, it has maintained its intended segregation from the will and purpose of God.

-- Lewis Sperry Chafer, Systematic Theology, Vol. II, pp. 84, 85

--DKS—

© by David K. Spurbeck

Valley Baptist Church

P. O. Box 99, Gaston, OR 97119