Chapter 7

The topic is about religious perspective on “the world” and Satan.

“The world” is not just as the physical earth, but as an organized system of social, economic, and religious philosophies that are opposed to God.Satan is the”prince of the world” or “god of this world,” who blinds those who do not believe.The world is an “enemy territory” that surrounds man with earthly desires.The World inteferes and deals with spiritual matters.

After Eve and Adam sinned against God, humanity’s lost dominion over the world, Jesus reclaimed it through His death and ressurection.

There is usually a conflict between the flesh and the spirit.There will be a “final conflict” and is a “spiritual warfare” against evil forces, comparing it to a military/political situation. The current world system is evil and in opposition to God.

The “rudiments of the world” are the principles upon which its structure rests.

Worldly wisdom is not God’s wisdom and is foolishness with God. The “course of the world” is its routine and its “many voices” as contrary to God and without significance.

There is a contrast between worldly peace (temporary, fragile, deceptive) and sorrow (which brings death) with Godly peace and sorrow (which brings repentance to salvation).

The World has an attitude that hates God and believers. Believers are separate from the world and should expect to be hated as Christ was.

The “Flesh “is a social force and an evil, compulsive inner force working within believers. It is the basic “sin nature” of man (also called “carnal” or “old man”), characterized by willful defiance and rebellion against God, as in Romans 3:23 and Romans 8:18-20.

The Lust of the Flesh: This is a strong desire, soulish emotion, or tendency toward evil. It is the primary way Satan attacks believers, creating an internal “civil war” against the spirit. We should walk in the spirit to avoid fulfilling these lusts.

Development of Lust: Lust enters through the natural senses (sight, hearing, smell), which are used to induce evil desires.

Temptation and Lust: God does not tempt people; rather, individuals are tempted by their own “sinful fleshly lusts” and should not yield to them. The mind is the main battlefield for spiritual warfare.

Results of Lust: Lust leads to temptation, which leads to sin, ultimately resulting in death. The world and the human flesh are described as corrupt because of lust.

Spirit vs. Flesh: It explains the relationship between the spirit and the flesh, stating that a saved person’s spirit wrestles against their flesh, which entices them toward their sinful nature.

Works of the Flesh: As described in Galatians 5:19-21, categories of sins resulting from the flesh, include 1)Worship sins (witchcraft, idolatry), 2)Sexual sins (adultery, fornication, uncleanness),

3)Personal sins (drunkenness, revellings), and Relationship Sins (hatred, strife, envyings).

These sins are contrasted with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The world, flesh, Satan, and demons are the powerful evil forces that combine to wage war against believers.