I John 4:5

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They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them.

THE STUDY:

          There a few things we need to remind ourselves when it comes to this verse. 1) John is referring back to “the spirit of the antichrist … in the world” (v 3). 2) The world represents the devil and all opposed to God.

This verse reiterates a passage from Johns Gospel: “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you” (John 15:19).^[1]

One’s allegiance, John contends in 1 John 4:5, affects both how one hears and how one speaks. Those allied with the world and the leader “who is in the world” (v 4) have learned to speak the same language. The Greek text literally says of/from the world they speak (ek tou kosmou lalousin), though viewpoint (found in the NIV) does catch the sense. The use of “from” is not intended in the sense of separation and distance, but rather refers to origin and nature.^[2]

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away this morning with the understanding that Christians will not look or sound like what the world does. This is not necessarily meaning materialistic things. It is perfectly fine to have nice houses, cars, money, etc. What needs to be different from the world is our character, morals, ethics, language, and purpose of life.  

CONCLUSION:

          Even Christians Gardens are to be different from the world:

First, plant five rows of peas: Preparedness, Promptness, Perseverance, Politeness, and Prayer. Next to them plant three rows of squash: Squash Gossip, Squash Criticism, and Squash Indifference. Then five rows of lettuce: Let us be Faithful, Let us be Unselfish, Let us be Loyal, Let us be Truthful, Let us Love One Another. And no garden is complete without turnips: Turn up for Church, Turn up with a Smile, Turn up with Determination.

          Let today be a day that you find yourself different from the world. Let today be a day you find yourself the same as Christ: that SPIRIT that lives inside you pouring out so others may see.

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

 

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^[1] Williamson, R. (2010). 1, 2, & 3 John: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition. New Beacon Bible Commentary (140). Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press.

^[2] Williamson, R. (2010). 1, 2, & 3 John: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition. New Beacon Bible Commentary (140). Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press.