What is the World? What does it mean to be separate from it?
1 John 5:19 The whole world lies in the power of the evil one. One day this will change. This verse makes it very clear that there are two different kingdoms.
What are the clear teachings from scripture about the world?
- 1 Corinthains 2:6 it has wisdom
- 2 Corinthians 4:4 has its own God
- Luke 16:8 has children
James 1:27 we can be stained by it. What does that look like? This verse alone shows the importance of understanding the “world”.
There are things in Scripture concerning grace and works which appear to contradict themselves. Maybe our understanding is small, and are hearts need motivation.
James 4:4 If you are friends with the world, you are an enemy of God. God desires the spirit He put in you. Pride is somehow related to being a friend of the world. Pride is related to Babel/Babylon.
Let’s get away from arguments about movies, tattoos, and piercings, and look at what our heart desires.
1 John 2:15 3 things that are in the world
- Lust of the flesh – our enticement to sin
- Lust of the eyes – lust of knowledge
- Boastful pride of life – trust in the stability of earthly things
We cannot trust in economies, governments, nor even the firmament itself. God shakes the ground and cracks mountains open.
What is the world?
- 1 John 3:1 The world cannot know God’s children. It cannot understand them, but they can understand it.
- 1 John 3:13 it can hate
- 1 John 3:17 it has goods – wealth or sustenance
- Galatians 4:3 it can hold you in bondage through its things
- Ephesians 2:2 it has its own course that we can walk
- Ephesians 6 forces of darkness of this world that we battle
- Colossians 2:20 it has rules and decrees
- 2 Timothy 4:10 it can be loved
- Romans 12:2 it can be conformed to
- 1 Corinthians 1:21 its wisdom cannot lead to the knowledge of God
- 1 Corinthians 2:12 it has a spirit
- John 17:21 It is the target of ministry
- Matthew 13:22 it causes worry
“be in the world but not of the world” is not in the Bible. This does not make it necessarily not correct. But its simplicity and lack of context hinders our understanding of the world. It is a bad substitution for what actually is in the Bible.
Matthew 16:26 – the world can be exchanged for your soul
John 12:25 – hate our life in this world
Mark 4:19 Parable of the Sower, worries of the world, deceitfulness of riches, and desires for things. These things choke out fruitfulness of ministry. Jason thinks the “American dream” is a lie that eats people alive, because it’s dependent on an economic system that is opposed to God’s design.
Is your desire for fruitful service greater than your desire for the things of the world?
- John 14:30 The ruler of the world is coming and has nothing in Jesus. If we are abiding in Christ, put on the mind of Christ, we will not be owned or deceived by the ruler of this world.
- John 16 You will have tribulation in this world.
- 1 Corinthians 3:19 the wisdom of the world is foolishness before God
- 2 Corinthians 4:4 the god of this world blinds minds so they can’t see the glory of God
- Galatians 4:3 we are in bondage to the elemental things of the world. What are those?
- Galatians 6:14 the world is crucified to me and I to the world
- Ephesians 2:2 the world’s course comes from the prince of the power of the air, and we formerly walked in it
- Philippians 2:15 we should appear as lights in the world
- 2 Peter 1:4, 2:20 escaping the corruptions and defilements of the world
Songs
Matt Papa – Where is the Difference
Caedmon’s Call – This World
This episode originally broadcast live on June 19, 2015 on KXEN 1010AM in St. Louis, MO
For more info:
www.sunministries.org
Theme music: “The Resistance” by Josh Garrels (www.joshgarrels.com) licensed by Marmoset Music (www.marmosetmusic.com)
Other music:
“Rugged Old Hand” by Ben Pasley. http://www.benpasley.com/ Used by permission.
“With Your Eyes” by Enter the Worship Circle. Www.entertheworshipcircle.com Used by permission.