why is separation from the world important?

WHY IS WHY IS SEPARATION SEPARATION FROM THE FROM THE

WORLD WORLD IMPORTANT?IMPORTANT?

Ephesians 4:17-19Ephesians 4:17-19

So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. of impurity, with a continual lust for more.

Ephesians 4:20-24Ephesians 4:20-24

You, however, did not come to know Christ that You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. righteousness and holiness.

Why is separationWhy is separation

from the world so important?from the world so important?

You are in Christ - a new creature!You are in Christ - a new creature!

I. What the World Really Looks Like I. What the World Really Looks Like from God’s Perspective. from God’s Perspective. - v17-19- v17-19

A. The world’s understanding is A. The world’s understanding is darkeneddarkened..

So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. do, in the futility of their thinking. They are They are darkened in their understandingdarkened in their understanding and and separated from the life of God because of separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. - v17-18hardening of their hearts. - v17-18

I. What the World Really Looks LikeI. What the World Really Looks Likefrom God’s Perspective.from God’s Perspective.


So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in do, in the futility of their thinkingthe futility of their thinking. They are . They are darkened in their understanding and darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. - v17-18hardening of their hearts. - v17-18

1. “The futility of their thinking” = their 1. “The futility of their thinking” = their brains were empty!brains were empty!



2. The Lord Jesus wants you to2. The Lord Jesus wants you to. . . seek first his kingdom and his . . . seek first his kingdom and his

righteousness, and all these things will be righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. - Matthew 6:33given to you as well. - Matthew 6:33


B. The world’s lives are B. The world’s lives are separatedseparated from the life of God.from the life of God.

So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and understanding and separated from the life of Godseparated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. - v17-18hardening of their hearts. - v17-18



So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorancebecause of the ignorance that is in them due to the that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. - v17-18hardening of their hearts. - v17-18

1. Do you have a 1. Do you have a willfulwillful ignoranceignorance??



2. Do you hesitate to surrender 2. Do you hesitate to surrender to to Him because you are Him because you are ashamedashamed of your past?of your past?

John 3:19-20 - This is the verdict: Light has John 3:19-20 - This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.deeds were evil.



So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them because of the ignorance that is in them due to the due to the hardening of their heartshardening of their hearts. - v17-18. - v17-18

3. Do you have a 3. Do you have a hardeninghardening of of your heart?your heart?


C. The world’s consciences have C. The world’s consciences have lost all lost all sensitivitysensitivity..

Having Having lost all sensitivitylost all sensitivity, they have given , they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. - v19continual lust for more. - v19




1.1. SensitivitySensitivity ( (ἀπαλγέωἀπαλγέω) ) = = cease cease to feel pain for, callous, to feel pain for, callous, petrified.petrified.




2. Like the2. Like the

Petrified Forest!Petrified Forest!


D. The world has given itself over to D. The world has given itself over to sensualitysensuality..

Having lost all sensitivity, they have Having lost all sensitivity, they have given given themselves over to sensualitythemselves over to sensuality so as to so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. - v19continual lust for more. - v19



1. What is the Law of Sin?1. What is the Law of Sin?Romans 7:14-15 - We know that the law is Romans 7:14-15 - We know that the law is

spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I dohate I do. .




spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. to sin. I do not understand what I do. For I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I dodo. .

a. Demonstrated in drug a. Demonstrated in drug addiction.addiction.




spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I dohate I do. .

b. Demonstrated in alcoholism.b. Demonstrated in alcoholism.


I. What the World Really Looks Like I. What the World Really Looks Like from God’s Perspective. from God’s Perspective. – v17-19– v17-19

II. God Expects His Redeemed II. God Expects His Redeemed Children to be Different. Children to be Different. - v20-24- v20-24

A. Because you did not come to A. Because you did not come to knowknow Christ that way. Christ that way.

You, however, did not come to know Christ that You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. - v20way. - v20

II. God Expects His Redeemed ChildrenII. God Expects His Redeemed Childrento be Different.to be Different.

A. Because you did not come to A. Because you did not come to knowknow Christ that way. Christ that way.

1. The way of the world is 1. The way of the world is opposedopposed to the ways of God. to the ways of God.


1. The way of the world is 1. The way of the world is opposedopposed to the way of God. to the way of God.

a. In the Lord we have a. In the Lord we have respect respect for human for human lifelife..


1. The way of the world is 1. The way of the world is opposedopposed to the way of God. to the way of God.

b. In the Lord we have b. In the Lord we have respect respect for human for human dignitydignity..


2. How did the Lord demonstrate 2. How did the Lord demonstrate His way?His way?


2. How did the Lord demonstrate 2. How did the Lord demonstrate His way?His way?

Philippians 2:5 - Your attitude should be the Philippians 2:5 - Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.same as that of Christ Jesus.


B. Because being in Him involves a B. Because being in Him involves a changechange of of conductconduct..

You were taught, with regard to your former You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and like God in true righteousness and holiness. - v22-24holiness. - v22-24



. . . . . . put off your old selfput off your old self, which is being , which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires . . . - v22corrupted by its deceitful desires . . . - v22

1. Your former way of life must 1. Your former way of life must be laid aside.be laid aside.

Romans 6:1-2 - Shall we go on sinning so that Romans 6:1-2 - Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! grace may increase? By no means! We died We died to sin; how can we live in it any longerto sin; how can we live in it any longer??



. . . and to . . . and to put on the new selfput on the new self, created to be , created to be like God. - v24like God. - v24

2. Your new self must be put on.2. Your new self must be put on.Galatians 3:27 - all of you who were baptized Galatians 3:27 - all of you who were baptized

into Christ into Christ have clothed yourselveshave clothed yourselves with with Christ.Christ.



. . . and to . . . and to put onput on the new self, created to be the new self, created to be like God. - v24like God. - v24

2. Your new self must be put on.2. Your new self must be put on.Galatians 3:27 - all of you who were baptized Galatians 3:27 - all of you who were baptized

into Christ have into Christ have clothed yourselvesclothed yourselves with with Christ.Christ.

Put on & clothe yourselves Put on & clothe yourselves ((ἐνδύωἐνδύω))




b. How is this accomplished?b. How is this accomplished?. . . to be . . . to be made new in the attitude of your made new in the attitude of your

minds minds - v23- v23




b. How is this accomplished?b. How is this accomplished?. . . to be . . . to be made new in the attitude of your made new in the attitude of your

minds minds - v23- v23

Romans 12:2 - Do not conform any longer to Romans 12:2 - Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but the pattern of this world, but be be transformed by the renewing of your mindtransformed by the renewing of your mind..


It’s time to get with it!It’s time to get with it!It’s the changed life that becomes It’s the changed life that becomes

the abundant life - the abundant life - not the life of the world!not the life of the world!

why is separation from the world important?

Documents

life of god

worlds understanding

gods perspective

way of life

world important

worlds lives

lord jesus

willful ignorance