Should we Try to Fix the World: Has God told us to save our culture

Should we Try to Fix the World: Has God told us to save our culture and planet?_____________

And Jesus said to Peter, “ Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men” Luke 5:10. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you… Matthew 28:19-20. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be My witnesses…to the remotest parts of the earth (Acts 1:8).

Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, (there) you may be also” (John 14:2-3).

And he gave some as prophets, evangelists and pastors and teachers for the equipping of the saints for the works of service to the building up of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-12).

We are born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to obtain an inheritance imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away reserved in heaven for you (1 Peter 1:3-4).

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God on account of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning and the elements will melt with intense heat. But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:10-13).

I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven, the first earth passed away (Rev21:1).

Observations about fixing the world (Noticing what the author wrote)

Analysis:

1) Who are the people involved? The disciples catching men and make disciples. Jesus preparing a place in heaven for us. Leaders Christ gave to the church to equip it. Those born again with a place reserved in heaven. Christians who ought to live with holy conduct knowing how things will end.

2) What is happening? The disciples are catching men and making disciples. Jesus is preparing a place for us in heaven. Jesus gave leaders to equip the church for works of service to build up the maturity of the church. The earth and heavens are burned up and a new one replaces it in the end. A new heaven and earth emerge forever to replace the old.

3) Where and when is it taking place? On earth fishing for men (evangelism) and making disciples and equipping the saints and living holy and godly lives and eventually this earth will be destroyed. In heaven Jesus is preparing a place for us The Holy Spirit comes to fill and empower us as witnesses for Christ, we have an imperishable place reserved in heaven, the Lord comes to destroy earth, a new earth and heaven filled with righteousness emerges.

4) Why is this material included? The disciples ask if Jesus will establish His kingdom now and He tells them that not important—go and be my witnesses and make disciples. Leaders given to equip and prepare the church to serve one another. To live holy lives and not lives for this world because it is all going to burn.

5) How should this be carried out? By baptizing, and teaching; by equipping and building; by looking and hastening; by burning and creating a brand new eternal existence.

6) Anything emphasized by repetition, relationship, contrast? Catching men and being witness and making disciples and equipping the saints and living holy lives all in light of eternity and the end of it all. The first earth and heaven destroyed by burning and the new heavens and earth emerge as God’s eternal residence for us—one Jesus has been preparing.

7) Anything compared or commanded? Old earth and heavens compared to a new earth and heaven. Make disciples is commanded.

8) Any basic solutions or directions? Be witnesses of Christ in the world. Equip the saints for ministry to one another. We have a hope that cannot fade away with time. Live holy and godly lives in light of the end. The old way will pass out of existence and a new one replaces it.

Synthesis:

Summary: The church is to reach and disciple people out of the world. We are not to try and make the world a better place for them since it is destined to be destroyed and all will burn. We should live out this reality as godly and holy people knowing the end is coming and living with eternal values in mind. That includes evangelism, discipleship, Bible teaching, loving service to one another, and being Christ’s witness to the world wherever we are and whatever we do.

Subject: Reaching people and making disciples out of this world

Predicate: because this world will be destroyed forever and replaced.

Big Idea: We must reach people out of this perishing world and prepare them for a new eternal one.

Interpretations about fixing the world (Understanding what the author wrote)

1) What are the responsibilities given by Christ to the disciples? Luke 5:10; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8 Jesus told the disciples they would become fishers of men, not changers of culture. Jesus and the disciples never once suggested the church try to unseat Caesar. On contrary, they told followers to submit to Caesar’s corrupt government. Our mission is about the eternal destiny of people, being a witness to lost people, and discipling people who come to Christ. There is no mandate to fix our world or change or fix or redeem our culture.

2) Where is Jesus preparing a place for us and how does that reflect where His priority is? John 14:2-3

Jesus said He would prepare a place for us and come back to take us there. Not that we should prepare a place for Him to come back to, like an earth that we have fixed or a culture we have changed. He never suggested we should be involved in helping Him prepare it. We should care for the planet, care for our families and have things to give to people but this is done for heavenly rewards not for creating a new culture for Christ to come back to.

3) What is the nature of the gifted leadership Christ has given to the church and why? Ephesians 4:11-12

Here is another spiritual responsibility given to leaders in the church that prepares believers to use their gifts to serve one another and build up the body of Christ into maturity. Nothing here about fixing our culture or redeeming our world.

4) What is our hope and where is that hope directed? 1 Peter 1:3-4

This physical earth will be destroyed, so we who are born again have a reservation in heaven, not on earth. This will be a physical and spiritual transformation not a restoration. So redemption is a transformation, supernaturally performed by God, not a make-over of this world’s culture, performed by human effort.

5) How does the ultimate destiny of this world affect the way we live now? 2 Peter 3:10-13

The fact that we have a reservation in heaven and not earth, should govern what sort of people we ought to be—holy conduct and godliness. So Peter calls for godliness in the context of a world and its works destined for destruction not a godliness which redeems this world because this planet is not our eternal destiny. Even Apostle Paul looked to eternal reward not here.

6) What does a new heaven and a new earth tell us about the nature of the first one? Revelation 21:1

The eternal destiny described by John is a heavenly city which sits on a new heavenly earth because the first heaven and the first earth passed away. So our culture and this world is not potentially redeemable. There will be no make-over extreme or otherwise where we fix what is broken. Redemption is the earthly becoming heavenly.

Summary: Our culture and the world is worse off from God’s point of view than ever before in history—even before the flood or Sodom and Gomorrah. We cannot fix it nor redeem it. It is destined to be burned up and destroyed by God. So while we are here, we must fish for men spiritually, make disciples, teach and equip the church to maturity and service and live holy and godly lives in this ungodly and dark world in light of its eventual demise.

Applications about fixing the world (Using what the author wrote)

1. Luke 5:10; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8

INTENTION: The passage says while on this planet be fishing for men, making disciples and being Christ’s witnesses.

APPLICATION: Therefore, I should spend your time sharing the gospel with lost people, teach and equip believers, and live out your faith in Christ on the job, in your home, and with your neighbors.

2. John 14:2-3

INTENTION: The passage says Christ is preparing our heavenly home for us not a place here on this earth.

APPLICATION: Therefore, I should not view earth as my destiny and prepare myself with faithful service on earth for my new heavenly home.

3. Ephesians 4:11-12

INTENTION: The passage says our responsibility is to teach and equip people for service that matures spiritually.

APPLICATION: Therefore, I must be involved in ministry that moves people toward spiritual maturity and ministry not culture-fixing.

4. 1 Peter 1:3-4

INTENTION: The passage says our hope is life eternal in heaven forever.

APPLICATION: Therefore, I must live my life on earth with priorities of my heavenly destiny in view.

5. 2 Peter 3:10-13

INTENTION: The passage says live a godly life in context of a world to be destroyed not made-over.

APPLICATION: Therefore, I must allow my eternal destiny to govern my life and conduct here on earth.

6. Revelation 21:1

INTENTION: The passage says this earth will pass away and a brand new one emerges in the end

APPLICATION: Therefore, my hope is not upon a fixed or redeemed culture or planet since this one will perish, but a brand new destiny being prepared and one day emerging on the scene.

TO SUMMARIZE:

A. Our job is to prioritize the kingdom of God in the world by evangelism, disciple-making and being a Christ-like witness.

B. Our job is to focus our attention on preparation for our new heavenly home.

C. Our job is to serve believers in such a way that they become spiritually mature and contribute to maturity of believers.

D. Our job is to have hope in my new eternal home.

E. Our job is to avoid deny allegiance to this doomed world and live a holy and godly life in it.

F. Our job is to recognize culture cannot have an extreme-make-over but must be replaced with a new one.

Should we try and fix the world? _____________________________________

Make some observations from these passages:

Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, (there) you may be also” (John 14:2-3).

And he gave some as prophets, evangelists and pastors and teachers for the equipping of the saints for the works of service to the building up of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-12).

I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven, the first earth passed away (Rev21:1).

_______________________________________________________________

What interpretations and applications can you make about fixing the culture?

1. What are the responsibilities given by Christ to the disciples?

Interpretation: Jesus tells them_______________________________________________________