1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

 
Clarifying Terms: The World - Kosmos

• World – the material universe

• World – organized system headed by Satan that leaves God out
and is a rival to Him

1. Warning: Do Not Love the World

• Asceticism is not the answer
asceticism | noun | severe self-discipline and avoidance of all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons

James 4:4
4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

 
• Recognizing the worldly system is critical

2. Warning: We have powerful enemies

• The desires of the flesh
• The desires of the eyes
• The pride of life

3. Warning: The current system is Doomed

 
The Will of God

1 Thessalonians 4:3
For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality

1 Thessalonians 5:14-19
14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Peter 2:15-16
15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.