Believers in the world, but not of the World

1. Believers inthe world, but not of the world?"– 16th
November 2016
“My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil
one” (John 17:15).
Whenwe read of the "world"inthe New Testament,we are readingthe Greekword cosmos.Cosmos
mostoftenreferstothe inhabitedearthandthe people wholive onthe earth,whichfunctionsapart
fromGod. Because the bible refersto Satanwhoiscalledthe prince(ruler) of this"world"aswe can read
fromJohn 12:31, “ Now is the time for judgmenton thisworld; now the prince ofthis world will be
driven out”.We can learnagainfrom 1 John5:19, “Weknow that we are childrenof God,andthat the
whole worldis under the control of the evil one.”
Thisteachesus thatthe Bible referstoaworldsystem thatis currently ruledbySatan –the evil one. The
bible alsoteachesusthatas believingChristians throughfaithinJesusChrist are “notof the world”any
more than He isof the world. Jesussaysthatbelieversare nolongerof the world because those who
receivedsalvationthroughFaithandsteadfastlyprotectsame are nolongerruledbysin,norare we
boundby the principlesof the world.Inaddition,we are beingchangedintothe image of Christ,causing
our interestinthe thingsof the worldtobecome lessandlessaswe mature inChrist.
We can understandthatbelieversinJesusChristare simplyinthe world—physicallypresenttoday—but
not of it,not part of itsvalues systemdominatedbythe evil one.We canlearnwhenJesussaidin John
17:14-15, “I have giventhem your word and the world hashated them, for they are not of the world
any more than I am ofthe world. 15
My prayer is not that youtake them out ofthe world but that you
protect them fromthe evil one”. Through theirfaiththose whofollow Jesus’teachings, will moveaway
and notconformto the waysof Satan. But they will be hatedbythe majority whofollow the evil one
and therefore we canlearnfromabove where Jesusisprayingforthe protectionforbelieversfromthe
Father.
As believers,we shouldbe setapartfromthe world.Thisisthe meaningof beingholyandlivingaholy,
righteouslife—tobe setapart…be deferentfromthe sinful waysof the world. AsChristianswe are not
to engage inthe multitudesof sinful activitiesthe worldpromotes,norare we to retainthe insipid,
corrupt mindthat the worldcreates.Rather,we are to mindfully conformourselves,andourminds,to
that of JesusChrist as we can learnfrom Romans12:1-2, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers andsisters, in
view of God’smercy, to offeryour bodiesas a livingsacrifice,holyand pleasingtoGod—thisisyour
true andproper worship. 2
Do not conformto the pattern of thisworld,but be transformedby the
renewing ofyour mind.Then youwill be ableto test andapprove what God’swill is—hisgood,
pleasingandperfect will”. As Christiansthisshouldbe ourdaily activityandcommitment.
We mustalsounderstandthatbeinginthe world,butnot of it, isnecessaryif we are to be a lightto
those whoare inspiritual darkness. We have aGod givenmandate forusas Christians,“tobe a Light”in
thisdark worldbeginningfromthose we have contactwithona dayto day basis.We are to live insucha
waythat those outside the faithsee ourgooddeedsandour mannerandknow that there issomething
“different”aboutus. We can learnfroman importantteachingbyJesus thatwe can learnfrom John
14:7, “If youreally know me, you will knowmy Father as well. From nowon, you doknow him and
have seen him.” AsChristianswhomake everyefforttolive,thinkandactlike those whodonotknow
Christdo Hima greatdisservice.Eventhe heathenknowsthat“bytheirfruitsyoushall know them,”and
as Christians,we shouldexhibitthe fruitof the Spiritwithinus. We can learnaboutthe Fruitof the spirit

2. fromGalatians5:22-23, “But the fruitof the Spiritis love,joy, peace, forbearance,kindness,goodness,
faithfulness, 23
gentlenessandself-control.Againstsuchthingsthereis no law”.
We can alsoknowthat “beinginthe world”as Christians doesnotmeanthatwe are deprivedof whatis
good. We can enjoythe goodthingsof the world,suchas the beautiful creationGodhasgivenus from
the day we were born, forour family,home andself.Whenwe carefullyconsiderGodsprovisionforus
duringour lifetime, we understandthatHe hasgivenusso muchthat it isincalculable. Scripture warns
us that we are notto immerse ourselvesinwhatthe worldvalues,norare we to chase afterworldly
pleasures. ButasChristianswe needtoknow that“pleasure”isnolongerour callinginlife,asitonce
was,but ratherthe ultimate objectiveof workingtowardshavinganeternitywithGodforever.We
needtoread,learnand meditate onHisteachingsfromthe bible sothatwe can developaclose
relationshipwithHim. “WhoeverbelongstoGodhears whatGodsays. The reason you do not hear is
that you donot belongto God” (John8:47).

3. This phraseis derived in part from John 17, that believers need to be "in the
world but not of it" is often used, but perhaps certain of its nuances bear further
scrutiny.
First, it could be taken for granted that believers are in the world; we resideon
Earth, after all. However, being in the world implies more than simply inhabiting
it. We need to actually be involved in our societies. Jesus told His disciples to "go
therefore and makedisciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19). They werenot to
set themselves up apart fromthe world and expect others to come to them to
hear truth. They were told to "go." Similarly, in John 17:15 Jesus prayed regarding
His disciples, "I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep
them fromthe evil one." His disciples needed to stay in the world, not be
removed to heaven. Acts 1:8 and Isaiah 43:10 tellus that we are to be witnesses
to the world. Matthew 5:16 tells us that our light is to shine beforeothers to point
them to God. Allowing our light to shine requires us to be around people. There
are certain Christian sects (such as the Amish) who believe in a "Christapart from
culture" model of evangelism; however, such separation is not the biblical norm.
To be "not of the world" requires us to be free of worldly influence. This does not
mean that we do not participate in government or typical social processes. It
means that we do not act as the unsaved world does. We are not slaves to our
sinfulnatures but act in accordancewith righteousness (Romans 6:6, 11). Weare
told to put to death things that are of our sinfulnatures and to flee from
immorality (Colossians 3:5-10; 1 Corinthians 6:18; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians
5:3-11). We"train [ourselves] for godliness" (1 Timothy 4:7); weare "imitators of
God" (Ephesians 5:1); wehave nothing to do with "unfruitfulworks of darkness,
but instead expose them" (Ephesians 5:11). Wesubmitto authorities and prepare
ourselves for good works (Titus 3:1). In essence, weact according to the new
nature we havebeen given rather than the sinfulnature of the world (2
Corinthians 5:17, 21; Titus 3:3-8). "Weare ambassadors for Christ" (2 Corinthians
5:20), spreading His fragrance(2 Corinthians 2:15-16) through theworld.
FirstPeter 2:9 says, "Butyou are a chosen race, a royalpriesthood, a holy nation,

4. a people for his own possession, thatyou may proclaim the excellencies of him
who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." We live in a world of
darkness, butweare not part of that darkness. Weare not of the world because
we are in Christ; wehave the light. And while we are still in the world, we are
called to be set apart, to shine the light that others might know Him and be saved
(Matthew 5:13-16).