TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction: ……………………………………………………..………………1

What Is Sin? …………………………………………………….………………5

The definition of sin

Origination of sin

Scriptural distinctions of sin

§ Under law

§ Under grace

Understanding Temptatio…………….…………………………..….…………6

Temptations are distinct from trials

Three necessary things for temptation

The process from temptation to sin

Scriptural assurances concerning temptation

Defining Lust………………………………….…………………...………….…9

There are two types of lust

§ Good lusts

§ Bad lusts

The characteristics of bad lust

Lusts are distinct from sin

The Believer’s Enemies

THE FLESH………………………………………………...…………11

Characteristics of the flesh

Works of the flesh- 3 categories

1. Sexual Lusts………………………………………12

2. Religious Lusts……………………………………12

3. Social Lusts…………………………………….…13

§ “The Truth”

§ Obedience

§ A promise

§ Know…………………………………………………………17

§ Reckon………………………………………………………17

§ Yield…………………………………………………………17

i

The Filling of the Spirit…………………………………………………………18

The Holy Spirit and the Old Testament

The Holy Spirit and the New Testament Believer

Hindrances

The Results of the Filling of the Spirit…………………………………………19

Inward contentment

Submissiveness

Fruit

THE WORLD SYSTEM………………………………………………………..26

To keep order

§ Composition

§ History

§ Shortcomings

§ Future

The believer’s role

§ Remain separate

§ Use, don’t abuse

§ Refuse

SATAN……………………………………………………………………………29

Satan’s motives

Temptation of Eve

Dominion over earth

Satan’s strategy

Use of lusts…………………………………………………...33

§ Lusts of Selfishness

§ Lusts of Anxiety

§ Lusts against saints

§ Anti-spiritual lusts

How to Overcome Satan……………………………………...34

§ Spiritual weapons

§ The whole armor

§ How and when to use armor

THE MARKS OF

MATURITY……………………………………………………………...………37

ii

Charts:

Repentance…………………………………………………………………………4

The Process of Temptation………………………………………………………13

How the Apostle Paul……………………………………………………………14

The Fruit……………………………………………………………………….….21

Overcoming The Sin Nature………………………………………………………25

Words of Deception……………………………………………………………….30

The Craftiness of Satan……………………………………………………………32

Reaching Spiritual Maturity………………………………………………………39

Walking To Attainment…………………………………………………………...40

iii

PREFACE

The Christian poet Annie Johnson Flint wrote a poem that captures the

problem with spiritual growth in the Church today. She wrote:

The Way of the Cross

Some of us stay at the Cross,

Some of us wait at the tomb,

Quickened and raised with Christ

Yet lingering still in the gloom.

Some of us bide at the Passover Feast

With Pentecost all unknown:

The triumphs of grace in the heavenly place

That our Lord has made our own.

If Christ who had died had stopped at the Cross,

His work had been incomplete.

If Christ who was buried had stayed in the tomb,

He had only known defeat.

But the Way of the Cross never stops at the Cross,

And the way of the tomb leads on

To victorious Grace in the heavenly place,

Where the Risen Lord has gone.

God expects believers to leave the cross, where salvation has been secured

(Heb. 6:1), and be borne on to spiritual maturity. God has laid a course for

the lives of each believer; good works that he has for that believer to

accomplish while upon the earth (Eph. 2:10). God also desires the believer be

transformed into the image of His Son (Rom. 8:29; 2 Co. 2:18). The believer

himself is incapable of accomplishing these and other desires of the Father.

However, The Father has given the Holy Spirit who empowers the believer to

live a victorious life. The Holy Spirit guides the believer (John 16:13);

teaches the believer (1 John 2:27) and fills the believer (Eph. 5:18). It is

hoped that this booklet exposes the believer to the Scriptural teaching on how

to live the spiritual life. And, in so doing, the saint will gain an ability to do

those things that are well-pleasing to the Father.

1

INTRODUCTION

The Gospel is sufficient for Salvation.

I. The word gospel means “good news.”

A. Gospel is a compound Greek word

euaggelizo.

1. Eu means good.

2. Aggelizo means news, proclamation.

B. There are many gospels talked about in

Scripture.

1.The gospel concerning Christ’s earthly

kingdom. Matthew 3:1-2

2.The gospel concerning the Kingdom

of God. Mark 1:14

3. False gospel preached by false

teachers. II Corinthians 11:3-4

4. The gospel preached during the

Tribulation Period. Revelations 14:6-7;

Matthew 24:11-14

5. A gospel preached to Abraham.

Galatians 3: 6-9

II. The good news for salvation, in this dispensation of

grace, requires three things for belief. I Corinthians 15:1-4

2

A. Christ died on behalf of our sins.

1. Christ was a substitute for our sins.

Galatians 1: 3-5; I Thessalonians 5: 9-10;

I John 3: 16; Hebrews 10: 10-12

2. Christ was such a perfect substitute

that God sees the sinner as having

actually died for our own sins.

Romans 6: 3-4

B. He was buried.

1. Scripture records that Christ was

physically buried. John 19: 38-42

2. The Roman government set guards

outside His tomb to ensure Christ

remained buried. Matthew 27: 62-66

C. He was raised from the dead according to the

Scriptures.

1. There is no salvation without the belief in

the resurrection. II Timothy 2: 7-9

2. There is no salvation apart from Christ’s

resurrection. I Corinthians 15: 12-18

III. The gospel of salvation is the only means God is using to

save those in this dispensation. Romans 1:16 A. The gospel is the power of salvation to everyone

believing. vs. 16 a. cf. 1 Corinthians 1:17-18

3

B. A righteousness is revealed through the gospel for

salvation that exceeds any human effort. Romans

16b cf. 2 Corinthians 5:21; Phillipians 3:9; Romans

3: 19-24

C. It is erroneously stated by some that repentance

proceeds salvation. Such assertion is not biblical.

Those who teach this doctrine confuse the various

uses of the Greek word for repentance, metanoia, as

used in the New Testament. The following chart

reflects the Scriptural truth that repentance occurs

when one believes the gospel, because man is

depraved. Due to man’s depravity, he doesn’t

have an ability to respond to God apart from divine

intervention. cf. Rom. 3:10-18; 2 Co. 4:4; Eph. 2:8

4

WHAT IS SIN?

I. Scripture defines sin and reveals its origin.

A. Sin (άμαртία) is lawlessness: living

as though God has no restraints

on one’s life. 1 John 3:4

B. Sin originated after creation with

Satan. Isaiah 14:12-14

C. Sin entered the world through

Adam. Romans 5:12,19

D. Sin is an act.(The Greek word

poiew when used with hamartia

means to do or to make (Vines).

James 1:15; Rom.13:14; Ephesians 2:3

E. There are no sins of omission

under grace. I John 1: 9

F. There are some important

Scriptural distinctions to

remember about sin under law:

5

1. Under Law: a. Sin was national (the covenant with

Israel, when one sinned all were

affected) Joshua 7:1, 20-21; Daniel

9: 5, 8, 11, 15

b. Sin was personal. Leviticus 5: 15-17

c. Sin requires sacrifices. Hebrew

5:1-3; Hebrews 10: 11

2. Under Grace: a. Sin is personal. Romans 14: 23; James

4:17

b. Sin is forgiven. I John 1:9

c. Sin is confessed. I John 1:9

d. Christ is the place of satisfaction for

sins. Hebrews 10:10, 12; I John 2:2

UNDERSTANDING TEMPTATIONS

I. Temptations are distinct from trials.

A. Temptation is a solicitation to do evil. Luke 4:2;

Galatians 6: 1

B. Trials are afflictions the believer suffers for the

purpose of testing. James 1: 2-3; I Peter 1: 6-7;

I Peter 4: 12

II. The source of all temptation is three-fold:

A. The sin nature.

B. The World System.

C. Satan.

6

II. The process of temptation to sin.

A. There has to be lust (a strong desire). James 1:14

B. One has to be drawn away, lured (to pull; to draw

out; to distract from one‘s course. cf. Acts 20:30)

by the lust. James 1:14

C. One has to be enticed (to allure by bait). James 1:14

D. One has to make a lust his own. James 1:14

E. Conception of lust (trespass which is unrighteous).

James 1:15 cf. Ephesians 2:2

F. Sin. James 1:15; I Corinthians 6: 18

G. Sin when it matures brings forth death.

James 1:15

III. There are Scriptural assurances concerning

temptation.

A. They are common to mankind. I Corinthians 10: 13

B. God won’t allow the believer to be tempted above

his ability. I Corinthians 10: 13

C. Christ understands the temptations of the

believer. Hebrews 2: 18; Hebrews 4: 15

7

DEFINING LUSTS

Lusts are defined as a strong desire. A strong desire of any kind,

the various kinds bein frequently specified by some

adjective (Vines); more than just a thought, desire is a

craving. To set one’s heart upon; to desire, to long for

(Green).

I. There are two types of lust discussed in Scripture

A. Good Lusts.

1. To eat. Luke 15:16;16:21;22:15

2. For office of pastor. 1 Timothy 3:1

3. Angels lust to look into the believer’s

salvation. 1 Peter 1:12

4. For believers to grow. Hebrews 6:11

5. Prophets and righeous men to see things

disciples saw. Matt. 13:17

6. Paul lusted to see other believers. 1 Thess.

2:17

B. Bad Lusts.

1. From Satan. John 8:44.

2. From the world system. 1 John 2:15-17; Titus

2:11-12

3. From the flesh, the sin nature (the sin nature

appeals to the emotions, not reason)

Galatians 5:24; Eph. 2:3; 1 Pet. 2:11)

C. Law provides knowledge of lusts.

1. One purpose of the Mosaic law was to

provide an experiential knowledge o f the

lusts. Rom. 7:7

9

2. Law produces lust in one who is

under it. Rom. 7:8 cf. 1 Co. 10:6

II. Characteristics of Bad Lust.

A. They war against the soul. I Peter 2: 11

B. They give a false impression. Ephesians

4: 21-22; Heb. 3:13

C. They can be hurtful and harmful.

I Timothy 6:9

D. They can lead to passions. Galatians 5:24

I Thessalonians 4: 5

E. They can lead to uncleanness. Romans 1: 24.

F. They prevent one from doing the will of God.

1 Pet. 4:2-3

III. Scripture outlines how believers are to respond to

bad lust.

A. He is not to take fore thought to fulfill them.

Rom. 13:14

B. He learns to say no to them by Grace. Tit.

2:12

C. He walks by the Spirit in order not to fulfill

them. Gal. 5:16

D. He doesn’t allow the sin nature to reign in

his body that he should obey them. Rom. 6:12

10

THE BELIEVER’S ENEMIES Flesh + Satan + World System

I. THE FLESH

According to Thayer’s Greek lexicon, “The Flesh,” when used

in an ethical sense, denotes mere human nature. The earthly

nature of man apart from divine influence, therefore is prone to

sin and opposed to God. It includes the whole of man (body,

soul, reason, and all his faculties) because all the parts of man

long and strive after that nature.

A. The Flesh and the Believer.

1. Every believer has the same sin nature he

possessed when he was unsaved. Galatians 5:

16; I John 1:8

2. Every believer has a capacity to do anything

he did when he was unsaved (fleshly

indulgences). Ephesians 4:17-26; I

Corinthians 6:18

3. Anyone who says they don’t have a sin nature

is a liar. I John 1: 8

B. The Uses of the word Flesh in Scripture.

1. To denote the physical body. John 6: 63

2. To denote generation of relationship.

Romans 9:3

3. To denote a living creature, man or beast.

I Peter 1:24.

4. To denote ethical sense of the fallen nature of

man gained through the fall of Adam. Rom. 8:6-7

11

II. The works of the Flesh are divided into three categories.

A. Sexual Lusts. Galatians 5:19

1. Fornication: all sexual impurity, fornication,

adultery. I Thessalonians 4: 3

2. Uncleanness: the thought of committing

sexual acts. Romans 1: 24; Romans 6: 19;

II Corinthians 12: 21; Ephesians 5:3;

Colossians 3:5; I Thessalonians 4:7

3. Lasciviousness: outward sexual display,

inability to control sexual drive, outrageous

behavior. Mark 7: 22-23; I Peter 4: 3

B. Religious Lusts. Galatians 5: 20

1. Idolatry: a continual desire for more;

putting anything in place of God.

Colossians 3:5; I Peter 4: 3

2. Sorcery: witchcraft, awed by superstitious

things that have no spiritual substance.

Exodus 7: 11, 22;Revelation 18: 23

3. Enmity: hostile, hating, opposing; to count

someone as an enemy. Luke 23: 11-12

4. Quarreling: contention, strife, wrangling.

I Corinthians 3: 3; I Timothy 6: 3-4

5. Zeal: envious contentions, rivalry, that

which is not subordinate to godly living.

a. Good zeal: would be consistent with

God’s will in your life. Colossians

4:13

12

b. Bad zeal. Romans 10: 1-4; Philippians 3: 6;

James 3:13-16

6. Wrath: an inward burning. II Corinthians 12: 20;

Ephesians 4:31; Colossians 3: 8

7. Intrigues: contending against God. Romans 2: 8-9;

Phil. 2:3

9. Divisions: (seditions) to disunite, divisions within

the whole. Romans 2:3-8; Romans 16:17

10. Heresy: making the Bible say something that it

does not; misplacing truth in time, not balancing

truth with truth. II Peter 2:1-2; Titus 3:10; II

Timothy 2: 15-18

11. Envy: to be spiteful. Matthew 27:18 (Jesus or

Barabbas). Romans 1: 29; I Timothy 6:3-4; Titus

3: 3

C. Social Lusts. Galatians 5:21

1. Murder: senseless slaughter, killing just to be

killing. Matthew 15: 17-20

2. Drunkenness: a habit of becoming drunk or high.

Luke 21:33-34; Romans 13:11-13

3. Carousing: feasts and drinking; parties that are

protracted until late in the night, indulging in

revelry. I Pet. 4:1-4

13

III. Obedience to “The Truth” is the means given in Scripture

whereby the believer can overcome the sin nature.

Romans 6: 17; John 8: 31-32

A. Obedience to “The Truth” allows the believer to

manifest godliness. I Timothy 6:5

B. An absence of an experiential knowledge of “The

Truth” allows the sin nature to run rampant.

II Timothy 3: 1-8

C. The apostle Paul prophesied that in the last days men

would resist the doctrine concerning “The Truth”.

2 Timothy 3:8; 4:4

D. Men attempt to replace “The Truth” (how to

overcome the sin nature) with “fables”. Tit. 1:13-14;

2 Tim. 4:4

E. Obedience to “The Truth” relieves the believer so

that the Holy Spirit can battle the sin nature;

the believer only has to get out of the way to enable

the Holy Spirit to do battle. John 8:31-32

F. The Grace Believer who adheres to “The Truth”

allows the Holy Spirit to battle the sin nature. Gal.

5:16-18

15

H. Three things involved in “The Truth”

1. KNOW. Romans 6:6

a. “The Truth” involves experiential knowledge

of how God accounts the cross work of

Christ to the grace believer.

b. The believer perceives that the old man

was crucified together with Christ

Ephesians 4: 22-24; Colossians 3: 8-10;

Romans 6: 11

c. The believer perceives the purpose for the

“old man” crucifixion was to render the sin

nature non-operable. Romans 4: 14

Galatians 5: 4

d. The believer perceives as the sin nature is

rendered non-operable, the believer no

longer has to be a slave to the sin nature.

Romans 8: 15; Galatians 5: 1

2. RECKON. Romans 6:11

a. “The Truth” involves the believer seeing

himself the way God sees him because of the

cross. Romans 6: 11

b. The believer counts himself to be dead to

the sin nature. Romans 4: 1-3; Ephesians 5:

14-15; Philippians 3: 7-14; Romans 6: 1-2

c. The believer counts himself to be living to

God in Christ Jesus. Colossians 3: 1-4

3. YIELD. Romans 6:13

“The Truth” teaches the believer to yield his

body as an instrument of righteousness unto God.

Romans 6:12-13; 12: 1-2

17

FILLING OF THE SPIRIT

A believer is filled by the Spirit when he counts himself to

be dead to the sin nature. Consequently, he is spiritual.

cf. 1 Co. 2:15; Gal. 6:1

The spiritual believer is one manifesting things pertaining to or

stemming from the Holy Spirit. He is not doing something

from himself, but is allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal things to

him and manifest Christ through him…….The fruit of the

Spirit is one of the evidences of Spirit-filling. The fruit

produces the Christ-like qualities in the believer’s lifestyle.

It is one fruit with nine parts. Gal. 5:22

A Christian can be in a position to use any or all of the nine

parts, or he is not able to use any. All of the parts of the fruit

of the Spirit deal with mental attitudes and activities. They

affect the human spirit or the rational part of the mind. None

of the parts of the fruit are emotional, and thus are not

soulish. (Dr. Lavern Schafer, founder of Valley Dispensational

Theological Seminary)

A. The Holy Spirit and the Old Testament

1. The Old Testament saints had a different

relationship with the Holy Spirit.

a. He came upon some of them

Judges 14:6; 15: 14; Psalms 51:11

b. He helped them with this filling to

enhance an ability that was lacking

Exodus 35: 31; 36: 1

18

B. Grace believers are given the imperative to be

Spirit-filled. Ephesians 5: 18

C. The filled believer is able to “walk” by the Spirit. 1. The believer “walks” by the Spirit by

mortifying the his members (deeds of the sin

nature). Col. 3:5

2. Scripture outlines how the believer can put

to death the deeds of the flesh.

a. Allow the Holy Spirit to put to death

the practices of the body each time

the believer is tempted. Rom. 8:13

b. Refuse to consider the lust. Titus.2:12

3. Mortification of the deeds of the flesh (which

is walking by the Spirit) results in continued

filling of the Holy Spirit. Eph.5:18

4. The believer continues to be filled as he

reflectively thinks on things above. Col. 3:1-4

D. Hindrances to the filling of the Spirit

1. Un-confessed sin. I John 1: 3-9

2. Grieving the Holy Spirit

(Believers grieve the Holy Spirit by sinning

Ephesians 4: 25, 28, 30-31)

3. Failure to Know, Reckon, Yield. Romans

6:6,11,13

THE RESULTS OF A SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE

A. A Spirit-filled believer possesses an inward

contentment reflected in the believer:

19

1. “Speaking to themselves” in:

a. Psalms: praising the character of God

b. Hymns: worshipping God

c. Spiritual songs: songs sung in one’s

spirit. Ephesians 5: 18-20

2. Having a thankful heart. Eph. 5:20

3. Having a submissive heart.Eph. 5:21

4. Having a loving heart in marriage. Eph. 5:22-33

B. The Fruit of the Spirit marks The Spiritual believer

Gal. 5:22-23 1. LOVE -The spiritual believer has a desire

for and a delight in the well being of the one

loved even if it costs something. I John 3:

16-24; 4: 6-12; 1 Co. 13:1-8; 1 Thess. 1:2

2. JOY -The believer enjoys circumstances

whatever they may be; a mental willingness

to accept and appreciate any circumstances

without resentment or frustration in these

circumstances. James 1:2; Philippians 4: 4;

I Thessalonians 1:5-6

3. PEACE- The believer has an unruffled

mind, without timidity (lacking courage)

John 14:27; Philippians 4: 4-7

4. LONGSUFFERING (lit. long-burning, this

pertains to people; patience deals with

things) A long holding out of the mind in

response to any (believer/non-believer)

persons who are trying or troublesome.

Romans 9: 22-23; 2 Peter 3:9

5. GENTLENESS (kindness) A sweetness of

temper, putting others at ease, bringing

people to repentance.Romans 2: 4; Ephesians 2:7

20

6. GOODNESS -A desire for the happiness of others because

of your happiness, sharing. Acts 14: 17; Galatians 6: 10

7. FAITH : Taking God at His Word. Heb. 11:1; 2 Co. 5:7; Gal.

3:11

8. MEEKNESS- A tameness of mind or control of the mind

(spirit) that keeps one focused on accomplishing an objective.

Galatians 6: 1; I Peter 3: 15; Num. 12:3

9. TEMPERANCE- Control over the bodily appetites

I Corinthians 9: 24-27; 7: 9; II Peter 1:6

21

KDJ/04

T

H

E

F

R

U

I

TSelf-Control

Meekness

Goodness

Kindness

Longsuffering

Love

Faith

PeaceJoy

Others Directed

Focus Directed

Stabilizing

Fruit

MARKS OF SPIRITUALITY

I. The Spiritual believer discerns all things

1 Co. 2:14-15

A. The term “discern” is the Greek word

anakrino which is used of the examination

of a thing to determine its value. cf. Acts

25:26

B. The “natural” (soulish -- one led about by

his five senses) doesn’t discern the things

from the Spirit of God, nor does he

welcome them.

II. The Spiritual believer discerns things prepared for

those loving God. I Corinthians 2: 9-10

A. God has prepared “things” for those

loving Him in this Dispensation of Grace.

B. The Holy Spirit reveals these “things” to the

believer by His Spirit. 1 Corinthians 2:10

III. The Spiritual believer discerns things that can only be

spiritually discerned I Corinthians 2: 12-13

A. He has an ability to compare one spiritual

thing to another to appreciate their relative

value.

22

B. The spiritual believer judges between the

things graciously given believers in Christ

by God. vs.12 cf. Romans 8: 32

IV. The Spiritual believer knows in his experience the mind of

Christ. 1 Co. 2:16; Eph. 4:23; 1 Peter 2:2

A. The believer is “knit together” with the

Lord. 1Corinthians 2:16; Ephesians 4:16

B. Believers have a quality of the mind of Christ

due to being “knit together” with Him.

V. The Spiritual believer discerns between a believer who is

sinning versus a believer who is in a trespass. A. There is an expectation in Scripture that a

believer can discern when another believer

is committing an act of sin. 1 John 5:16

B. The believer in a “fault” (trespass) is one

who has determined to sin but has not carried it

out. Gal. 6:1; cf. Ephesians 2:2

VI. The Spiritual believer has the Spirit abiding in him and can

be taught by Him. A. The abiding believer is one who is at ease with

his position in Christ. John 15:4

B. The Holy Spirit will abide in the abiding believer.

1 John 2:20,27,28

23

VII. The Spiritual believer is properly directing (possessing

discernment to know when to use it) some of the fruit.

Galatians 5:22-23

VIII. The spiritual believer is able to put on the armor when

attacked by Satan. A. He is empowered by the Grace in Christ. Ephesians.

6:10; 2 Timothy 2:1

B. Being empowered, he can put on the armor. Ephesians

6:11-18

IX. The Spiritual believer is careful not to love the world.

A. The believer who is spiritual has overcome the sin nature,

but can still be attacked by Satan and the World system.

1 John 2:13-16

B. John admonishes the spiritual belivers to whom he wrote in

his epistle to “stop loving” (according to the grammar, they

were currently loving the World System)

X. The Spiritual believer, on occasion, can be strengthened

by the inner man. A. The inner man is the saved part of the heart, the mind.

B. Christ will settle down and feel at home in the believer who

is “strengthened”. 22-23

24

XI. The Spiritual believer, on occasion, can ask according to God’s

will. 1st John 5:14 A. God has a specific will for the individual believer’s life.

B. God hears and responds to the believer asking consistent

with His will. 1st John 5:15

25

I. THE WORLD SYSTEM

In the sense of the present world system, the ethically bad sense

of the word refers to the order or arrangement under which

Satan has organized the world of unbelieving mankind upon his

cosmic principles of force, greed, selfishness, ambition, and

pleasure. This world system is imposing and powerful with

military might; is often outwardly religious, scientific, cultured,

and elegant; but seething with national and commercial rivalries

and ambitions, is upheld in any real crisis only by armed force,

and is dominated by satanic principles.

Scofield Reference Bible

A. Satan devised the world system as a means of

keeping order.

1. The World System is comprised of three things

that blind men to the transitory nature of life:

I John 2:15-17

a. The lust that appeals to the eye

b. The lust that appeals to the flesh

c. The pride of life (vainglory: empty

opinion, ownership)

2. The things of the World System are not out

from God. 1 John 2:16

B. The History of the world system is recorded in

Scripture.

1. It originated with Cain. Genesis 4:16-22

Note: The Jewish historian Flavius Josephus in his record of the

Antiquites of the Jews records this about Cain:

26

“He only aimed to procure everything that was for his own bodily pleasure,

though it obliged him to be injurious to his neighbours. He augmented his

household substance which much wealth, by rapine and violence; he

excited his acquaintance to procure pleasures and spoils by robber, and

became a great leader of men into wicked courses. He also introduced a

change in that way of simplicity wherein men lived before; and was the

author of measures and weights. And whereas they lived innocently and

generously while thy knew nothing of such arts, he changed the world into

cunning craftiness. He first of all set boundaries about lands; he built a

city, and fortified it with walls, and he compelled his family to come

together to it”

2. The world system was destroyed once before.

II Peter 3:5

3. Satan is the ruler of the world system.

Luke 4:5-7; John 12: 31;14: 30

Revelation 13: 1-2

C. The shortcomings of the world system

1. It’s unable to bring peace. John 14: 27

2. It’s absent of God’s wisdom. 1 Corinthians

1:19-20

3. It’s outward fashion is passing away.

I John 2:17; I Corinthians 7: 29-31

D. The future of the world system.

1. The world system will be dismantled

during the tribulation period. Revelation

18: 1-19

2. The saints will judge (to make a distinction)

those in the world system. I Corinthians 6:2

27

E. Believers should be distinct from the world

1. Believers are to remain separate from the

world. II Corinthians 6:14 – 7:1

2. Believers are in the world. John 17: 1-12

3. Believers are not of the world.John 17: 14,

16

F. Believers can use the world, but shouldn’t abuse

it I Corinthians 7:31

1. Use: taking advantage of a thing that is

available cf. I Timothy 5: 23

2. Abuse: using it down to the ground,using it

completely up. cf. I. Corinthians 9:18

3. The world system should be viewed as

temporary. I. Corinthians 7:29-30

G. Believers can overcome the world by refusing to

love it. I John 2:15

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SATAN

I. Satan’s goal is to usurp God’s plan and purposes.

A. Satan’s motives are seen in his own sin to be like God.

Isaiah 14:12-16; Ezekiel 28:13-15

B. Satan wants to duplicated God’s program. Matt.

13:24-26; 37-39; 2 Co.11:1-5; 13-15

C. Satan’s peddling of his message is seen in his temptation

of Eve.

1. Satan deceived Eve by twisting what God had said.

Genesis 3:3-4; 2:17

2. Eve was thoroughly deceived because of her

discontentment with what God had promised.

1Timothy 2:14; 2 Corinthians 11:3

D. Satan gains dominion over the earth through Adam’s fall.

1. Adam was given dominion, superior authority,

ruler over the earth, by God. Genesis 1:26

2. Adam lost dominion to Satan when he sinned

cf. Luke 4:5-7; Revelation 13:2-4; 11:15

E. Man gained a sin nature that Satan cannot control. cf.

Genesis 4:13 (the word punishment is the Hebrew word

“awen” which should be translated perversity, bent of

nature).

30

II. Satan has a strategy against believers today.

A. He attacks from the outside. 1 Peter 5:7-8

B. He devised the World System. Genesis 4:16-22;

1 John 2:16

1. Satan used Cain, who was one of his (1

John 3:12) and his descendants to originate

the World System. Gen. 4:16-22

2. Satan uses the World System to blind

unbelievers to the reality of God’s quility of

life.

C. Satan uses various methods to attack believers

1. He accuses and slanders believers

Revelation 12: 10

2. He hinders the work of believers

I Thessalonians 2: 17-18

3. He sows tares among believers.

Acts 13:6-12

4. Satan causes the believer to be

persecuted. Revelation 2: 10; II

Timothy 3:12-13

5. Satan uses demons to defeat believers

Ephesians 6: 11-12

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III. Satan’s primary attack is by placing lusts in the mind of

the believer from the outside

A. Selfish Lusts

1. Independence from God. Genesis. 3:5

2. Pride. I Timothy 3: 6; Isaiah 14:13

3. Lying. John 8:44; Acts 5:3

4. Stealing Eph. 4:27-28

B. Anxiety Lusts 1. Disappointment Job. 23:1-5

2. Discouragement Job 7:1-6; cf. Colossians

3:21; 2 Co. 1:8-10

3. Worry and Self Pity. 1 Peter 5:7-9;

Philippians 4:1-7

C. Lusts Against Saints 1. Tattlers or Tale Bearers and Gossips or

Busy Bodies. I Timothy 5: 13

2. An Unforgiving Spirit. 2 Co. 2:9-11

3. Corrupt Communication. Eph. 4:29

D. Anti-Growth Lusts

1. Laziness (idleness) in spiritual things. 1

Timothy 5:13-15

2. Cowardice in spiritual things. Lk. 22:31-32

3. Doubt concerning spiritual things.

Matt. 21:21;Rom. 4:20

33

IV. Scripture outlines how the beliver can be victorious over

Satan.

A. The believer overcomes Satan by using spiritual

weapons when he attacks

1. Be sober minded: calm and collected in one’s human

spirit.I Peter 5: 8;I Thessalonians 5: 6-8;

II Timothy 4:5

2. Be vigilant: watchful, giving strict attention to a thing,

to be awake.I Peter 5:8; Matthew 26: 38, 40, 41

3. Being humble: persons of trivial power or

significance, lowly, poor, undistinguished.

(Louw-Nida) , not prideful. James 4: 6, 7, 10;

Philippians 2:8

4. Being empowered by the believer’s position in Christ.

Ephesians 6: 10; II Timothy 2: 1

5. Putting on the armor. Ephesians 6: 11-13

B. Believers need the armour to counter Satanic

attacks

1. The whole armour is to be put on each time

Satan attacks. Ephesians 6:13

2. The armor has sufficient parts to dislodge

thoughts from Satan.

C. There are six parts of the armor.

1. Loins gird with truth: (counters the lust of

lying or tattling) Evaluating the temptation

for what it is instead of giving in to the

temptation. Ephesians 6:14

34

2. Breastplate of righteousness: (counters

pride and independence) Dependence on

God’s righteousness instead of establishing

one’s own. Ephesians 6:14

3. Gospel of peace: (counters idleness,

stealing, bitterness) Having the mindset to

give the gospel in the midst of temptation

Ephesians 6: 15

4. Shield of faith: (counters doubt)

Taking God at His word. Ephesians 6: 16

5. Helmet of salvation: (counters

discouragement, disappointment,

cowardice, unforgiving spirit) Remembering

what God gave the believer in salvation

Ephesians 6:17

6. Sword of the Spirit: (counters filthy talk

and busybodies) The Rema of God, the

sword of the Spirit, the individual utterances

of Scripture that fit the attack. Ephesians 6:17

D. The believer needs to know how and when to

use the armor

1. When awake and when attacked by Satan

and demons. Ephesians 6: 13

2. The believer is not fighting constantly, but

is to rest in Christ. Hebrews 4:10 (the

whole chapter talks of “rest”)

3. When fighting Satan, he will flee from the

believer, when the believer resists him

with the armor. The believer will not be a

soldier again until Satan or demons attack

again. James 4:7

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MARKS OF MATURITY

Maturity occurs when the believer

is consistently able to put into practice

the things that he has learned in the Christian Life.

I. The Greek word for maturity is teleos: to be perfect, complete.

Matthew 5: 48; Romans 12:2

A. There are different degrees of maturity. Philippians

3:12-15

B. Spiritual maturity is unique to the Dispensation of Grace.

Hebrews 7:19; Colossians 1:25-28

C. The maturing believer has moved from oida (facts)

knowledge to ginowsko (experiential) knowledge.

Philippians 3:8,10-11

D. The maturing believer has developed a dependency on

Grace II Peter 3:18

E. The maturing believer understands the mysteries written

specifically for the maturing believer. I Corinthians 2: 7;

Romans 16: 25-27; Ephesians 3: 2-6; I Timothy 3: 16;

Ephesians 1: 9-10

F. The maturing believer distinguishes between doctrine for

faith and doctrine for practice.

1. Romans 15:4 (referring to the O.T.writings for

our faith)

2. I Corinthians 10: 6, 11 (referring to the O.T. of

what not to do)

G. The maturing believer suffers together with The Body

Colossians 1: 24; Philippians 1: 29; Philippians 3: 10

37

H. The maturing believer has fellowship with the

Father. I John 1: 3

II. An important characteristic of the maturing saint is “fruit

bearing”. A. The maturing believer bears fruit John 15:2a

B. The maturing believer is pruned to bear more

fruit. John 15: 2b

C. The maturing believer has matured to the

point he is at ease in his position in Christ.

John 15: 3-4

D. The maturing believer bears much fruit

because he is at ease in the Son and the Son is

at ease in the believer. John 15: 5-8

38

SUMMARY

The apostle Paul stated that it was his ambition in his life to be

devoted to the cause of doing that which was well-pleasing to the

Father (2 Co. 5:9). All believers should have a similar

mindset. Paul gives the basis for his motivation:

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat

of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in

his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be

good or bad.” (2 Co. 5:10).

God has prepared good works for the believer to accomplish

in this life (Eph. 2:10). The believer cannot accomplish God’s will

for his life on the basis of his own ability (John 15:5). When the

believer lives by Grace he can utilize God’s provisions to live life

as a spiritual believer, overcoming the Flesh, Satan and the World

System. The end result is that the believer will grow and mature,

thereby having an ability to do those things that arewell-pleasing to

God the Father.

Grow in Grace!!!

41

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Heb. 12:1-3

Grace Bible Institute a ministry

of Grace Bible Church of Titusville

PO Box 5663 Titusville FL 32981 321.383-7750

Pastor: Kevin Jeffrey, M. Div. jjeffrey1@cfl.rr.com 321.383.7750

For the perfecting of the saints Eph. 4:12

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