• 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. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
     
  • Revelation 3:15-17
    "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, "I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing"—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—
     
  • Romans 12:2
    And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
     
  • Matthew 6:24
    “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
     
  • 2 Corinthians 6:14-18
    Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
    "I will dwell in them
    And walk among them.
    I will be their God,
    And they shall be My people."
    Therefore "Come out from among them
    And be separate, says the Lord.
    Do not touch what is unclean,
    And I will receive you."
    "I will be a Father to you,
    And you shall be My sons and daughters,
    Says the LORD Almighty."
     
  • James 4:4
    Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
     
  • Matthew 7:16-20
    You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
     
For more scripture references, please see Bible verses for Worldliness


Resources

This Is Not God's World

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

The world is not God's world, though He is its Creator, Owner, and Ruler. The systems that operate human cultures—government, politics, entertainment, fashion, religion, business ethics, medicine, health care, culinary tastes, social programs, institutions, education, science, technology, economics, and use of …


A "Lot" of Credibility

Sermonette by Joseph B. Baity

We need to resist the lure of the world to pitch our tent toward Sodom as Lot did. Love for the world's ways constitutes enmity for God and His law.


Come Out of Her

Sermonette by Craig Sablich

Coming out of the world constitutes replacing the traditions with which we grew up with God's lifestyle, preparing us to conform to the culture of His Kingdom.


God Hates? (Part Two)

Sermonette by Ronny H. Graham

Almighty God loves righteousness—something which Gods saints should emulate. Conversely, God abhors, disdains, and hates evil, particularly the Nicolaitans'.


The Beatitudes, Part One: The Sermon on the Mount

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Worldliness is simply being like the world, defining an attitude toward our relationship with God and a failure to reflect His way of life in our lives. If the church conforms to the world, appearing to outsiders as merely two versions of the same thing, it is evident that the church is either losing or has lost its God-intended …


The Christian and the World (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The concept of worldliness, as conveyed through the term "cosmos" in the New Testament, carries a deeply negative connotation, distinct from its original Greek meaning of order and beauty. Cosmos is used to represent the present order of things, encompassing various cultures since Adam and Eve, and is always portrayed in a …


John 3:16: Does God Really Love the World?

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

God does not love everybody equally. Nowhere does He tell us to prefer the ungodly world. Though He tells us to love our enemies, but not to be affectionate.


Christianity Is a Fight! (Part 3)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

We must avoid following the negative examples of our forbears. We have been enlisted into spiritual warfare on three fronts: the heart, the world, and Satan.



For more resources, please see the library topic for Worldliness