Page 89 - Fundamentals Ebook Final

lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life,
is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world is
passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of
God abides forever.”

I’m sure you are all familiar with that passage. “All that’s in the
world; the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life.”
I don’t know how it is in France but in America, depending on where
you go, they have a different list. They say, “Don’t be worldly.
Don’t’ smoke and don’t drink and don’t gamble and don’t play
contact sports and don’t use dice.” Anyway, they all have their own
standard of holiness. But God includes more under the word
“world” than Christians do. God includes the lust of the flesh, the
lust of the eyes and the pride of life.

On one side you have the world. What is the opposite of the world?
Listen to 1 John 2:17, “And the world is passing away, and also its
lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever.” It’s an
amazing contrast. It’s either the world or the will of God. Every
time I don’t do the will of God, I’m worldly. It’s not just a list that
some people keep. It’s missing the will of God.

2 Corinthians 2:14, “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in
His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of
the knowledge of Him in every place.” He always leads us in
triumph. Romans 8:37, “But in all these things we overwhelmingly
conquer through Him who loved us.” John 10:10, “The thief comes
only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life,
and might have it abundantly.” Is such a life possible? Are we in
everything conquerors, and not just having life but abundant life?

Let me share God’s provision for victory. Galatians 6:14, “But may
it never be that I should boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus
Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to
the world.” The Apostle Paul saw himself as crucified to the world.
The key verse is John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you,