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A Difference Exodus 11:7- But against any of the children
of 1 Corinthians 4:6- And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. 7.For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? In both the Old and New Testaments, we are taught that God’s people are to be different from the rest of the world. It should not be difficult to distinguish between Christians and the rest of mankind. In my lifetime alone, particularly in the last 20 or so years, it has become significantly harder to do so, as the world seems to have seeped into the church and those who make it up. The difference between the Israelites and the Egyptians was very marked. Think about it. And how about the 1st century Christians
verses the Jews and/or the Gentiles under the I.There
are many respects in which the church and the world differ. A.They differ in character. Originally there was no difference between the Israelites and the Egyptians, since all descended from Adam. 1.As to origin, both the world and the church came from God. 2.There is a distinction between the two, however. a.The church is divine (1) It is the body of Christ – Ephesians 1:22-23:22.And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23.Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all. (2) It was purchased with
His blood. Acts (3) It is a kingdom separate
from the world. Colossians Translate: (methistimi
or methistano)-To change, remove. Now let’s see a description of “the world”, from the Psalmist. Psalms 17: 8-15 Keep me as the apple of the eye; hide me under the
shadow of thy wings, 9
From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me
about. 10
They are enclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly. 11
They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing
down to the earth; 12
Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion
lurking in secret places. 13
Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the
wicked, which is thy sword: 14
From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which
have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy
hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance
to their babes. 15
As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied,
when I awake, with thy likeness. b.The difference is internal. (1)There is no change in physical makeup or outward appearance. (i.e. Long ears, prettier) Thus you can’t judge by height, weight, sex or race. (2)The
change is inward, as those who were dead that are now alive. Romans (3)These changes should however, cause us to stand out among those of the world. Read John 15:18-19. 18If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. c.It is a “great” difference. (1) There is as much light between the church and the world, as there is between light and darkness. John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5.And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. (2) There is as much difference as between the wolf and the lamb. Luke 10:3 Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. Discuss: Do you see the contrast painted in scripture? Do you honestly see that big a difference in yourself and the world? Does the world? B.They differ in their masters. 1.The world belongs to Satan and those who do not follow God are followers of Satan. a. 2 Corinthians 4: 3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4.In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. b. I John 5:19And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. 2. Christians are followers of God. Christ is their master and God’s Word is their law……………... “Willingly” (stress) Philemon 14: But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity,
but willingly. II Corinthians 5:6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7.(For we walk by faith, not by sight) 8.We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9.Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. II Corinthians C.They
differ in their aim. 1. The unsaved aim at glory of self and the love of the world.
I John 2:15-16 a.15.
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. 16. For all that
is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the
pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 2.The
church aims at the glory of God. Colossians 3:17 And
whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God and the Father by him. D.They
differ in their destiny. 1.There
is a difference in the fate of the world and that of the church. Mark 2.That difference is the difference between Heaven and Hell. Matthew 13: 41-43 The Son of
man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom
all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them
into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then
shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.
Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. Revelation 21: 7-8.He
that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he
shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable,
and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all
liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone:
which is the second death. Discuss concept of “second death”. John 14:1-3. Let not your heart
be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house
are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare
a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again,
and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. II. Where is the difference seen? A.The difference should be seen in the social life. 1.I
Corinthians 2.Who are your companions? This is a serious question. Kids-Do you really think about this? Parents – Do you really enforce this? Because it doesn’t say it might, it may, or it could…….it says it does! B.The difference should be seen in the home life. 1.Remember Joshua 24:15. We sing about it all the time. And
if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye
will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the
other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye
dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. 2.Does
your home life truly glorify God? Is there prayer? Study? Discussion? Etc?
Do we follow guides given to us in scripture as to each of our roles? C.The
difference should be seen in our religion. Matthew
15:8-9 Ye hypocrites,
well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8This
people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their
lips; but their heart is far from me. 9But
in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of
men. 1.What
are you thinking about when we sing? Do you sing? What runs through your
mind while we are observing the Lord’s Supper? 2.Are
you really interested in the message? What do you do with it when it steps
on your toes? 3.How
do you think God truly regards your worship? D.The
difference should be seen in the hour of trial and temptation. 1. Do you weaken and fall?
I Cor. 10:13There
hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful,
who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will
with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear
it. 2.Are
you able to bear up under trial? II Cor E.The
difference should be seen in our business lives. 1.The
Christian should be honest. Rom 2.Christian
principles should govern our business lives, just as it should all areas
of our lives. No jeckle & hyde syndrome. F.The
difference should be seen in the hour of death. II
Cor 5:8. We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from
the body, and
to be present with the Lord. G.The difference will clearly be seen in the judgment; as we studied toward the beginning of this lesson. III. Why should
this distinction be seen? A.The church cannot grow if the members are not living right. 1.The
worldliness of even a few can hurt the church, I Cor 5:6 Your
glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole
lump? 2.Let
us remember, all of B.There
must be a distinction between the church and the world because the church must
be pure. C.The
difference must be seen to warn the lost and those who would merely profess
religion. We
can see that there must be a difference between Christians and people of
the world. If there is no real difference, then people are not converted.
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