The World Stole the Church
Chapter 2
9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
- Jeremiah 17:9
The Nature of the World
From the Bible perspective the world consists of all those without God;
They are lost persons because of the fall of man, as recorded in Genesis 1-3, but loved and pursued by God for redemption; but their sins are under the condemnation and wrath of a Holy Creator God!
Dead in trespasses and sins;
dead toward God and His Righteousness:
Multitudes of men, in their lost condition are pitiful; blind and unknowing the terrible fate that awaits them; merrily going on their way, saying their “Happy Birthdays” and “Merry Christmases” to one another; having no reason for their mirth because of the Hell that awaits them.
| “21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. | Rom 2:13, Jam 1:22, Mat 25:11-12, Luk 6:46 |
| 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? | 1Co 13:1-2, Joh 11:51, Num 24:4, Mal 3:17-18 |
| 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” – Matthew 7: |
“14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
- 1 Corinthians 2:
Some preachers, rather than giving them warning, give false assurances.
“17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”
- Genesis 2:17
“1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;”
- Ephesians 2:`
| “17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. | 1Jo 4:14, Joh 6:57, Luk 19:10, Joh 6:29 |
| 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. | Mar 16:16, Rom 8:1, Joh 5:24, 1Jo 5:10 |
| 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” | Joh 1:4, Joh 8:12, 2Th 2:12, 2Pe 3:3 |
“36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him.”
- John 3
The world would not be what it is unless the flesh is what it is.
The world is composed of men of the flesh.
And the Bible tells us the “Flesh” is corrupt.
When Adam and Eve tried to cover their nakedness and shame with fig leaves, the description in Scripture is telling us that we, as their progeny, are naked and guilty before our Holy Creator God.
God had to provide them a covering by sacrifice!
Jesus told us the same thing.
“17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good?
there is none good but one, that is, God:
but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.”
- Matthew 19:
“48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”
- Matthew 1:
We need God’s perfect Righteousness; God’s plan is to give us just that!
“21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” – 2 Corinthians 5:
Satan masquerades as an Angel of Light. It is not surprising that people do the same thing.
| “13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. | Rev 2:2, Gal 1:7, Phi 3:2, Gal 2:4 |
| 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. | Gal 1:8, Rev 12:9, 2Co 2:11, 2Co 11:3 |
| 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” |
- 2 Corinthians 11:
Jesus warned us
“15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”
- Matthew 7:
Our problem is that we are blind to the things of God. God has to remove the blinders from our eyes by the Holy Spirit so that we can see.
| “3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: | 1Co 1:18, 2Co 3:14, 2Co 2:15-16, 2Co 4:4 |
| 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.” |
“6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
- 2 Corinthian 4:
Man’s problem is that in his natural state he tends to avoid coming to the Light of God.
“19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”
- John 3:
Men think they can see without the Light of God.
“40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.”
- John 9:41