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An Ungenerated World

• The unregenerated world has a religious part to it, but it does not follow God.
• Mankind was made in God’s image. We all know the difference between good and evil.
• All have knowledge and holiness buried deep within us. We to have to in order to be made in God’s image. The problem is sin has corrupted that. That is why we have to ABCD and accept a new self.
• Morality can be found in an unregenerated world; however, it is not God’s spiritual graces.
• We get to choose what habits we make. The choice we need to make is to have and be strengthening habits that bring us closer to God.
• The thing is, we have to not only have a conscience and habits, but we also have to have a heart. We have to get it down to the heart level. By getting morality to the heart, they come through our submission to God. They become His spiritual graces that lead to holiness.
• The unregenerated world is larger than the regenerated world.
• Unfortunately, worldview people do not see themselves as slaves to sin. But they are.
• Living in an unregenerated world leads to hell.
• Following the world’s religion isn’t going to get us into Heaven. Being a good person isn’t going to get us into Heaven.

Glossary

Made in God'Image

Obedience

The State of the Unregenerated World

• An unregenerated world has Satan as its ruler.
• Satan is in this world, not just ruling over it.  
• Satan tries to blind mankind to the truth of the gospel. He is trying to pull the curtains between Heaven and earth to hide Heaven from our view.

• Satan does everything to hinder the progress of the gospel. Whatever he has in his arsenal, Satan will use. He uses pride, prejudice, and passions to do that along with worldly wisdom. He skews our value system and perception of what things are actually worth.
• Worldview people think that sin is nice and shiny. Therefore, nothing is wrong with it.
• The worst part of sin is that it leads to spiritual death.
• An unregenerated world recognizes Satan as the prince of darkness.
• Sin is the work of darkness. It is the acts of doing evil.
• Darkness is the absence of light. Spiritual darkness is the absence of the Light . Jesus’ presence is not with us because we are ignorant of His ways and disobey His laws and commandments.
• If a regenerated heart is one that has received the internal new birth and requickening that God brings upon salvation, an unregenerated heart has not had that rebirth.
• Satan is a liar. If he says easy, in reality, it will be very, very painful.
• An unregenerated world does not recognize the authority of God’s law, which lead to it being cursed.
• God’s laws and commandments are the laws under which we will be judged on the Day of the Lord. Everyone will be judged – not just children of God.
• We are cursed because we disobeyed those laws. We break the laws and commandments God gave Moses.
• God does not take disobedience lightly. It may look like it now because today’s equivalent of Sodom and Gomorrah are not being destroyed let alone the whole earth experiencing the equivalent of the flood. But that doesn’t mean God isn’t all threat and no follow through.
• An unregenerated world wants salvation to be of their own merit.
• We want to make it a law of works, but it isn’t. It isn’t about doing the do’s and not doing the don’ts.

• The whole purpose of the law is to show us we don’t have God’s character and that nothing we do can get us to it. We need more. The more is Jesus.
• An unregenerated world refuses God’s righteousness and mocks those who hunger for it.
• Worldview people who fall on the flesh side of the continuum try to rely on their own knowledge and understanding. They see things as they think they are or as they want them to be. Those that fall on the Spirit side of the continuum look to God instead of ourselves.
• When we are people of the flesh, we ignore the promptings of the Holy Spirit. We focus on our earthly pleasures and desires. The more our focus is put there, the more we quench Him.  
• God’s Word tells us exactly how He expects us to live. This is the same standard on which we will be judged on the Day of the Lord.
• Worldview people will mock disciples. We can’t let that get to us. We must remain faithful to God.
• We sometimes give Satan too much credit. We think he is all-knowing as God is. He isn’t. We think Satan is all-powerful. He is powerful, but not all-powerful.

Glossary

Wisdom

Righteousness

How the Unregenerated World Is Wicked

•  The unregenerated world is bound by sin.
• A poor person can be someone who is weary, in despair, in the darkness of prison, and is unrighteous. But through Jesus, we can become righteous by gaining His righteousness.
• The unregenerated world, in many ways, is ignorant of its sin.
• Luckily for us, while spiritual sleep isn’t a healing sleep, it can be temporary. That is why the verse says awake. We can choose to wake up from our spiritual sleep and submit our lives to God.

• Maybe we are spiritually asleep when we are physically alive, and spiritually dead when we are physically dead.
• The problem is worldview people can’t see that they are spiritually asleep.

• We only gain salvation through Jesus. God is the One to call us to salvationa

• The unregenerated world is dead to God’s saving grace because of disobedience.

•  An unregenerated world is languishing in the darkness of sin. This is our natural state when we do not have Jesus in our lives as our Savior and Redeemer.
• Since Jesus is the light, darkness is the absence of Jesus. This is another way of saying we are spiritually dead without the life-giving presence of Christ.
• The darkness doesn’t destroy the light. Instead, Satan makes us turn away from God. He wrecks our witness.
• A dead spiritual soul is totally corrupt.  
• The separation was all about us and our disobedience. Salvation is all about God and His grace.
• God will not change the Plan of Salvation at the last minute because He has a tender heart or because He sees some redeeming quality in us.
• The wrath of God will be poured out on all those who have not accepted His Son as their Savior and lived a life of obedience to His laws and commandments.
• Once we are physically dead, our location for eternity is set in stone. There won’t be any do-overs, no last-minute Hail Mary’s to finally reach the end zone of Heaven – nothing.
• We are so bound by sin that we become brokenhearted. But that is a good thing. We can only come to God when we are brokenhearted. It is only then that we show remorse for our sins.a

Glossary

Salvation

What Is Apostasy?

• Disciples should have the opposite of apostasy in their hearts.
• Plain and simple, apostasy is rejection of the gospel.  
• Satan knows exactly how to tempt us. He knows what we consider is shiny and appealing. That is exactly what he will throw before us — again and again and again.
• The influence of the world is also strong. It doesn’t want to change, and it doesn’t want us to follow God.
• If we compromise with the worldview, we aren’t in as far as the grace of God wants to transform us.
• If we are compromising with the worldview, we aren’t exclusively following God. That is sin. That is apostasy.
• Despair is also a form of apostasy. We are filled with despair when we are looking for justice instead of faith.
• Part of our apostasy is due to ignorance. Yes, the unregenerated world does not know what God is about or Who He is.
• Unbelief does not mix with righteousness. Bottom line, it is disobedience to God.
• Disobedience is the love of sin. Sin comes from Satan, the prince of the unregenerated world.
• There are deadly consequences when we appear to be disciples have an outward form of godliness without the true inward transformation. When worldview people see disciples’ flawed confession, they may think God is willing to accept that.

• As disciples, we don’t want to fall back into sinful ways. We want our faith to truly be at the heart level.
• Disciples must guard against falling away from the faith because of apostasy.
• Jesus warned us that, in the end times, many would fall away from the Church. They would become immersed once’s again in the unregenerated world. This will happen because of persecution.
• We lose faith because we think we shouldn’t have to endure persecution when we are disciples. We let our emotions take over and take our eyes off God.
• Many churches right now think we have interpreted God’s Word correctly, but too many times we interpret it the way we want it to read.
• Unfortunately, there is a big pull to be like worldview people. We don’t like being different, especially when that alienates us from others. It isn’t that we always want to be voted the most popular person. We just don’t want to be voted the most unpopular person.
• Our duty is to endure in God’s doctrine. We are to follow Him.
• Disciples can choose to rebel against God and commit apostasy.

• Christian labors may not be only going on mission trips and witnessing. We can stay home and witness.
• We are to labor by working out our salvation.  
• If we are okay with how our relationship is with God today and not willing to grow tomorrow, it isn’t as good of a relationship as we think.
• However, wherever we are, that is our mission field.

Glossary

Sin

Faith

What Else Is Apostasy?

• Because sin corrupts us, punishment is needed when we commit it.
• The world is full of moral corruption. It is hard for disciples to live in it and not be affected.
• A polluted world cannot purify itself. That is where Jesus came into play.
• Worldview people define good without having God in the definition. Having God in the mix is the only way people can be totally good and not evil.
• Satan makes it easy — way too easy — to backslide. He takes the familiar to twist us around to where he wants us to be. He uses our friends to lead us down the wrong path.

• It is understandable that we feel guilt when we backslide. We have a better understanding that we are guilty. We know exactly where we went wrong and what we should have done.
• The righteousness for which we are striving comes from having Jesus as our Savior. We believe, we get Jesus’ righteousness.
• While it is easy to sin, we can work on ways to strengthen ourselves to withstand the temptation.
• We can take care to ensure we stay within God’s boundaries of repentance and obedience. We can keep watch and keep on guard.
• We can’t interpret this to mean that salvation and righteousness come through belief only. We can believe that Jesus is real but neither have we truly repented nor are we living in obedience to Him.
• We can’t squeak into salvation on the lowest commitment on our part. We have to fully submit out lives, opinions, wishes — everything — to God.
• \Sin will be prevalent in the end times.
• The Holy Spirit says that some in the Church will fall away in the end times. They will be fooled by the teaching of the evil spirits. Satan will add just enough truth in with his lies to trip us up. a

• We have to consciously choose to follow God, or we remain condemned.
• When we turn our backs on God and our faith, we are renouncing our profession of faith.
• We are going to be in the world. I don’t think God is talking about us loving the beauty of His creation. God’s Word tell us to love our brothers and sisters in Christ (I Pet. 4: 8, Rom. 12: 10) as well as our enemies (Mt. 5: 44, Lk. 6: 35). It tells us to be sober minded and not put undue emphasis on things of this world. So, we can enjoy money and what it brings, including fame. We can value our honor. What does God’s Word condemn? Loving it above anything else.
• It isn’t just hating the things of this world. It is about seeking God.

Glossary

Righteousness

Obediencents

Repentance

The Uneasy Life of the Serious Godly

•  The worldview offers a hateful and repugnant world.
• This world is filled with such hate. It plays out in horrible acts designed to promote widespread hurt and destruction. God, on the other hand, is pure. His holiness means that He can’t exist in sin.
• We see sin because it is a consequence of Adam and Eve’s original sin. That is how it got into this world in the first place.
• Our sin — and our inability to follow God’s laws and commandments perfectly — show us that we need a Savior. We can’t reconcile ourselves to God because we aren’t holy, just, and good without Him.
• Worldview people insist that God should not call a sin a sin. They want to do anything they want and have it be okay. God says no.

•  The world isn’t going to change God’s acceptance — or rejection — of sin. His holiness won’t allow that.
• This world isn’t going to recognize God’s glory and holiness. It comes only from Him, so we have nothing through which to gauge it.
• We have to turn away from the horribleness of the world and look to God. Only He can bring us peace. Only He can — and will for eternity — offer us a better world without sin.
• The worldview offers a prideful solution to things.
• What this world is boiling down to is that everyone is in search of their own pleasure.
• Our lives are so interconnected, yet people are all over the place in what they want, where they are at, and what they are feeling. It is hard to mesh it all together.
• The worldview tries to ensnare disciples to turn them away from God.
• It is a perilous world in which we live. Satan offers what is appealing to us but is contrary to God’s Will. He is always trying something to ensnare us so that we get us off the Sanctification Road.
• We are commanded to watch, be alert, and be on guard. Most importantly, we are to couple that with prayer.
• We have to be so familiar with God’s Word that we know when things are going sideways.
• Trouble is coming – know it, believe it, and watch for it. It will be bad. It will prepare us for the Day of the Lord. Some people who are identifying as sheep really aren’t.
• The worldview doesn’t know God, making them foolish.
• We can’t understand all that God does.  
• God is loving because He does let us go through the trials and tribulations of this life. He lets us go through them so that we may grow closer to Him.
• We don’t have to go through those struggles alone. God is always in our hearts to guide and provide.
• We have to have a true form of godliness when the Day of the Lord dawns. We’ve got to get it to the heart level.

Glossary

The Original Sin

The Unregenerated World on the Day of the Lord

• God is not going to bend over backwards to warn the unregenerated world when it will end. Well, He has warned them. God’s Word makes no bones about what will happen to those who do not ask Jesus to be their Lord and Savior.
• Those who aren’t going to make a profession of faith still probably wouldn’t if they knew the deadline. Those who have may be tempted to stop living in anticipation.
• The heavens and earth aren’t going to go out as a thief, like the Day of the Lord came upon people. It is coming with a roar and a bang. God’s power is going to be on display for all to see.
• God will be exposing all the sin in this corrupt earth. Judgment of sins are coming.
• Yes, our souls are immortal, but nothing sinful from this world will remain. Those who haven’t ABCDed will spend eternity in the torment of hell.
• If you don’t want the heavens and earth to pass away, then you don’t want sin exposed. Then, you aren’t looking forward to the Day of the Lord. Then, are you really a Christian?
• We have to get our relationship right with God now. That is the only way we are going to miss the fire.
• Since the unregenerated world refuses God’s gifts of salvation, grace, and faith, it will see God’s wrath.

• We are being saved from the Day of the Lord. We escape God’s wrath when we accept His gifts of grace, faith, and salvation.
• Jesus will return to judge the world.
  All mankind from all ages are going to be judged. All nations — meaning all ethnicities — will be there. Rich, poor, young, and old — those labels won’t matter.

Good and Welcome Tidings to All Who Accept

• Jesus is Christ of the Cross so that the unregenerated world could be restored from the curse of sin.
• It is our decision to break God’s laws. We can decide to follow Him or not. Unfortunately, too many decide – happily – not to follow God.
• The only way that the curse could have been broken was through the life and death of Jesus Christ as a human. Jesus did what we couldn’t do – bear the curse. All our sins were placed on Him, and His blood covered them.
• The Day of the Lord would mean nothing if it is just words. But it isn’t just a threat – it is very real. The Day of the Lord is coming.
• God knew we wouldn’t stop breaking His laws. That is why He sent Jesus to pay the penalty for our breaking them.
• There is no way God wanted to spend eternity without us. He wants us to love Him and submit to His law.
• God isn’t going to force us to obey Him – any more than He forced Adam and Eve to obey Him. 

• God’s laws and commandments apply to all of us.
• God’s goal is not that we do the do’s and not do the don’ts.  God’s goal is that we take the laws and improve our character so that it is more like His. The laws tell us what God’s character is. We are to be more like Him.

• God chose to forgive us. He chose to forgive all our sins, not just some. Also, God chose to forgive the sins of all who repent.
• Following God’s law does not bring forgiveness of breaking it.  Only faith in Jesus as our Savior does.

• God doesn’t make salvation out of our reach. He gives it to us freely. It is a gift He gives us out of His love for us.
• Sin is still a choice with us. We can choose to lie to someone or not. We can choose to murder someone or not. We can choose to believe in Jesus as our Savior and Lord – or not.
• We can only be made holy through the work of God.
• There is no distinction as to who is invited and who isn’t. Everyone is offered the gift of salvation. It is up to us to accept it.
• The unregenerated world is starving for the food the Savior has to offer. Its meager fare pales in comparison to the feast. They will die if the do not partake in the feast.

Glossary

Redeem

Forgiveness

Holy

Christ’s Great Preaching under the Old Testament Dispensation

• Jesus taught from the Old Testament of the need for the Plan of Salvation
• Jesus was present in Genesis 1. Even from Genesis, Jesus was going to be victorious over Satan. There was never a version where Satan was going to win. He may think he is winning the battles now, but he won’t win the war.
• That is what the cross was all about — defeating Satan and sin.
• Jesus taught from the Old Testament through others.
• What the Jews had — and thought they knew — were teachings from the Old Testament. They called it the Torah. It consisted of what are the first five books of what we call the Old Testament.
• Jesus affirmed the law given in the Old Testament. 
• Jesus acknowledged the law given by the prophets, not just Moses.
• Jesus taught about God’s grace and righteousness so all who were searching for Him could understand.
• Jesus taught using the Scripture of the Old Testament. 
• All of God’s Word is about the need for Christ to come; waiting for His arrival; His birth, death, and resurrection; His return to Heaven, and His second coming during the Day if the Lord.
• We have everything we need to believe Jesus is the Messiah.

Christ’s Great Preaching under the New Testament Dispensation

•  Jesus approached the Jews according to what they would know and built from there.
• The gospel message began with Jesus’ teaching of it. He told the story in which He was the main character.
• Jesus was talking to the people who thought they had it all figured out. They knew exactly what God was expecting of them – and only them. Because of that, Jesus had to come as “one of them.” He had to be a Jew – one of God’s chosen people.
• It was more than our just looking like them in order to witness to them. God’s primary concern is not that we have representation so we “see ourselves” in the person(s) witnessing to us.
• Jesus’ gospel is all about unity.
• Jesus witnessed under the conformity of the law. That was the only way to learn God’s character.

• Jesus expects greater works out of disciples than He accomplished.
• How could flawed, earthly men do more than the sinless Perfect Son of God? And applying that to today — how can us continue to use flawed, earthly us?
• What was one reason that the Apostles had so much trouble understanding what Jesus was trying to tell them? Jesus didn’t say things in plain Hebrew.
• Jesus didn’t speak so that everyone understood first pass. They — and we — have to open the eyes of our hearts so that we can see the meaning behind the words.
• God doesn’t want to spill His soul to anyone but His children. Because of that, much of our discipleship training is through revelation. The Holy Spirit teaches us what we need to know.
• While Jesus was here on the earth, the Plan of Salvation was still being accomplished. He needed to return to the Father and send the Holy Spirit.
• Conviction of sin didn’t come until after the Plan of Salvation was completed.
• God uses anything that He has created — which is everything — to introduce us to Sovereign God.
• What was greater is the reach that the Apostles had. Jesus stayed around the same areas during His life. The Apostles went everywhere. Paul specifically went to the Gentiles.

• Our work is only great because The Lord is within us. He guides us in the work and accomplishes it through us.
• There will always be work for Christ’s disciples to do. We are going to work for Christ all the way from Calvary to the seventh trumpet.
• Jesus expects ministry to be organized.
• Jesus is the Prince of Peace, and God works in an orderly fashion. Therefore, the ministry done is their Name is done in an organized manner.
• Jesus knows if His work is to be accomplished, we need structure. We need a plan and a designation of who is going to do what.

• The work is not only are we to strive to mature in our faith and holiness, but we are also to help others grow.
• Jesus expects the ministry to continue until the Day of the Lord.
• Jesus said He would be with us in performing the Great Commission until the end of the age. He meant that He would be spiritually with us until the Day of the Lord.

• When we trust Him enough to open the door of our hearts to Him, He strengthens our abilities to do His work and He increases our success. Remember, our success is defined by our obedience to Him, not by the outcome.
• Prayer is the only way in which we are connected to Him.
• What is in God’s Word is an introduction to Who He is. We must become His children before He reveals Himself to our hearts.
• We are to focus on our inward relationships with God.

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On the Day of the Lord theme

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