Dakota Community Church
February 27, 2011
End of the World 2
Ephesians 2:1-3
1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
So far we have covered:
1. Dead in transgression and sin
Ephesians 2:1, 5 - As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins…
…made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions…
2. Conformed to the pattern of this world
Ephesians 2:2 - …2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world…
Paul is advocating a balance between two important Christian directives.
1. The gospels infiltration of every culture of men. – It takes up residence
John 17:14-18
I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.
What does that mean?
We are in the world, we participate in culture, business, everything – however, we are of a different substance, our treasure is elsewhere our citizenship is in another land.
2. The gospels criticism and correction of every culture of men. - It transforms
The gospel does not only infiltrate and make itself at home.
The very nature of the gospel results in its transformation of any culture it enters.
The BALANCE is CRUCIAL because of the dire results of going too far in either direction.
If the church capitulates to the culture in the extreme the very message and it’s eternally significant purpose is lost. The gospel is not preached – in its place is a syrupy spirituality that soothes the consciences of people on their way to hell.
2 Corinthians 6:14-17
14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
17 “Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”
That my friends is a pretty strong admonition to non-conformity and acting upon it is going to send the message that as believers we are not okay with business as usual in the secular market.
Now consider this:
1 Corinthians 5:9-10
9 I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world.
We have passages in the New Testament which suggest participating in and supporting societies and governments and others that call for confrontation and conflict of same.
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12
Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
1 Timothy 2:1-2
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
Be good citizens; get along with everyone as much as possible for the sake of evangelism.
Ephesians 5:6-11
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
Expose them? Expose them? – That’s not going to result in peaceful quiet living.
2 Timothy 3:12-13
In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
Persecution comes from saying and doing things that confront, challenge, and cause conviction. Sometimes persecution will come merely because you graciously refuse to participate in a commonly practiced wrong. (Office Gossip)
Live at peace – but be confrontational
Engage and participate – but be ye separate
Remain in the world – but not so far in as to become of it
Do not conform any longer – but be all things to win some
It is the end of the world as we know it!
We are changed by the new birth.
Our world is changed by the influence of the gospel as it spreads.
Everything must change? Because of Jesus EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED!
For years the idea of “balance” was to me a dirty word as far as Christianity is concerned. My thinking at the time was that anyone talking balance was really talking about trying to straddle the line between faith and unbelief.
The truth is that the Christian perspective is loaded with the call to balance difficult ideas that often seem contradictory on the surface.
Creation is the Lord’s and through Him ours to use and enjoy – yet it is fallen, groaning and in desperate need of redemption.
Christ is incarnate, human, fully man – yet fully God, to be obeyed, submitted to and worshipped.
The old nature is crucified with Christ – yet the things I want to do those very things I do not do…
The Kingdom of God is here right now – fully present – yet not yet, we wait and cry deeply “even so, come Lord Jesus”
Then there is the distinction between “Law and Gospel” – On the one hand legalism on the other antinomianism.
Romans 6:1-2
1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?
When Paul says, “Do not be conformed to this world,” he is pushing on one side of this balance. There is another side – find the balance.
Yes, confrontation of the world! - But also missionary adaptation.
Yes, separation! - But also cultural participation.
No, not of the world! - But yes, in the world.
No, not conformed to this world! - But yes, becoming all things to all people.
The End of the World as we know it – the beginning of a new world of life in Christ.
PowerPoint available (Free of charge) on request dcormie@mts.net
