March 22nd, 2026
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In this sermon from City Church Marietta, Pastor Austin Baker explores 1 John 2:15–17, 2:18–19, and 4:1–6, emphasizing the spiritual battle believers face between worldly desires and the love of God. He unpacks the danger of loving the world—its fleeting pleasures, pride, and fleshly desires—while highlighting that true obedience flows from a heart transformed by love for Christ, not duty. Drawing on C.S. Lewis’s concept of 'The Weight of Glory,' Austin argues that humanity was made for infinite joy in God, not the shallow gratifications of this passing world. He then turns to the threat of false teachers and 'antichrists' who once claimed to be part of the church but departed, illustrating that true believers remain in Christ by God’s grace, not human effort. The sermon affirms three sources of hope: the indwelling Holy Spirit, the new birth that renews our affections, and the victory of faith in Jesus over the world. Austin closes with a powerful call to lay down our burdens, trust in God’s faithfulness, and fix our eyes on Christ, who will complete the good work He began in us.
Obedience to God flows from love, not duty—true faith produces joyful, heartfelt obedience.
The world's pleasures are temporary and ultimately unsatisfying; our deepest desires were made for eternal joy in God.
False teachers (antichrists) may leave the church, but their departure proves they were never truly part of it—salvation is secure by grace.
The Holy Spirit, who raised Jesus from the dead, dwells in believers and renews our hearts and desires.
Faith in Jesus as the Son of God is the victory that overcomes the world.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The Danger of Loving the World
“The world and its desires are passing away. Mud pies in a slum, C.S. Lewis calls them. All things contrary to God that we seek after in this world are fading, they are fleeting, they are dying.”
Obedience Rooted in Love, Not Duty
“The appropriate response to my wife's question of why the flowers is because you are the love of my life. And delighting you and showing affection for you and showing my love for you is because I am just infatuated with you.”
The Urgency of the Last Hour and False Teachers
“Those who leave the gospel were never in the gospel. Not saying there won't be highs and lows in our walk with Jesus, not saying that we won't wander from the narrow road every once in a while, but what marks those wonderings and those highs and lows, particularly those lows, is we always come back.”
Three Sources of Hope in the Christian Life
“His commandments are not burdensome. Why not? Because a new birth has happened. And now those new affections from that new birth, that new heart, no longer a heart of stone but a heart of flesh that's beating inside of you right now because of Christ Jesus, that new birth now desires to obey the Lord.”
A Call to Rest in Christ’s Faithfulness
The sermon concludes with a heartfelt invitation to lay down our burdens, trust in God’s grace, and fix our eyes on Christ. Austin reminds listeners that God will complete the work He began in them, and he closes with a prayer for renewal and hope.
“It would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us.”
“Those who leave the gospel were never in the gospel. Not saying there won't be highs and lows in our walk with Jesus, not saying that we won't wander from the narrow road every once in a while, but what marks those wonderings and those highs and lows, particularly those lows, is we always come back.”
“He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion to the day of Christ Jesus.”
Host
1 John
book
Austin Baker
person
Caroline
person
City Church Marietta
organization
Eugene Fidel
person
C.S. Lewis
person
Jeremiah
person
James K. Smith
person
Romans 8:11
other
John 3
other
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