Love Not the World
We should not love the world because it is opposed to God and will lead to our condemnation.
Horatius Bonar emphasizes the dangers of loving the world, warning that its gain leads to the loss of the soul and that friendship with the world is enmity against God. He highlights that the world does not recognize or love Christ, and that believers are called to be separate from it, as it is ruled by Satan and filled with wickedness. Bonar urges Christians to focus on eternal treasures rather than the fleeting pleasures of this world, reminding them that their true home lies in the kingdom to come.
Text
Love Not The World.--Why?
Because the gain of it is the loss of the soul.--Matthew 16:25.
Because its friendship is enmity to God.--James 4:4.
Because it did not know Christ.--John 1:10; 17:25.
Because it hates Christ.--John 7:7; 15:18.
Because the Holy Spirit has forbidden us.--1 John 2:15.
Because Christ did not pray for it.--John 17:9.
Because Christ's people do not belong to it.--John 17:16.
Because it will not receive the Spirit.--John 14:27.
Because its Prince is Satan.--John 13:31; 16:11.
Because Christ's kingdom is not of it.--John 18:36.
Because its wisdom is foolishness.--1 Corinthians 1:20.
Because its wisdom is ignorance.--1 Corinthians 1:21.
Because Christ does not belong to it.--John 8:23.
Because it is condemned.--1 Corinthians 11:32.
Because the fashion of it passeth away.--1 Corinthians 7:31 .
Because it slew Christ.--James 5:6; Matthew 21:39.
Because it is crucified to us.--Galatians 6:14.
Because we are crucified to it.--Galatians 6:14.
Because it is the seat of wickedness.--2 Peter 1:4; 1 John 5:19.
Because its God is the evil one.--2 Corinthians 4:4.
'Love not the world! It cannot be your home,
Thy fatherland must be the world to come;
There lay up treasures for eternity;
And where thy treasure is thy heart shall be.'
--H.B.
Sermon Outline
- Why We Should Not Love the World
- The World's Character
- The Consequences of Loving the World
- We will lose our souls
- We will be condemned
- We will be crucified to the world
Key Quotes
“Love not the world! It cannot be your home, Thy fatherland must be the world to come;” — Horatius Bonar
“There lay up treasures for eternity; And where thy treasure is thy heart shall be.” — Horatius Bonar
Application Points
- We must prioritize our relationship with God over our worldly desires.
- We must crucify ourselves to the world and its values.
- We must lay up treasures for eternity by prioritizing our relationship with God.