Crucified To The World And Raised To It
Jesuss assumption in John 17 is that those who have embraced him, and identified with him, are indeed not of the world. And now his summons is our sending we are sent into the world on mission for gospel advance through disciplemaking.
Jesuss true followers have not only been crucified to the world, but also raised to new life and sent back in to free others. Weve been rescued from the darkness and given the Light not merely to flee the darkness, but to guide our steps as we go back in to rescue others.
So lets revise the popular phrase in, but not of. Christians are not of this world, but sent into it. Not of, but sent into.
Where In The Bible Does It Say Not Of This World
The not of this world part comes from John 18:36, where Jesus claims His kingdom is not of this world.
John 15:19 calls Christians out of this world, as it says: If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.
John 17:14 claims the world will hate Christians because they are not of the world.
In many other passages in the New Testament, believers are referred to as aliens, pilgrims, and sojourners. This means, we will stand out from the crowd.
1 John 2:15 tells us not to love things in the world. Multiple parables Jesus preached had warned against storing treasure or casting great value on anything the world has to offer, as moth and dust will destroy them in the long run.
Although we may be part of the same country or work in the same office as someone else, we will always stick out.
What Is The Meaning Of The Phrase Not Of This World
Because God has set us apart as His people, this makes us different from others in the world around us who do not know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Some differences that we may exercise are:
- A difference in belief about how the world works. For instance, we may believe God created the world , but a person who does not believe in Christianity may not.
- A difference in behavior. For instance, the world may encourage people to sleep with anyone they love outside of the boundaries of , but as Christians, we believe Christians should exercise sexual relationships within marriage .
Similar to the Israelites during the Old Testament, God has called us to a higher standard than everyone else around us. Although He has placed us in the world, we are not of it in the sense that we do not practice or engage with the same things the world around us does.
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Today’s Inspiring Thought: Greater Is He Who Is In Me
“He who is in the world” refers to the devil or Satan. There’s no doubt that Satan, the evil one, is strong and fierce, but God is much more powerful. Through Jesus Christ, the Lord’s mighty strength dwells in us and equips us to overcome the enemy.
In this verse, the verb “overcome” is in a perfect tense, meaning it speaks of a past finished victory and a present state of being an overcomer. In other words, our victory over Satan is finished, complete, and continual.
We are overcomers because Jesus Christ overcame Satan on the cross and continues to overcome him in us. Christ said in John 16:33:
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart I have overcome the world.”
Don’t get the wrong impression. We will still face hard times and tribulations as long as we are living in this world. Jesus said the world would hate us just as it hated him. But at the same time, he stated that he would pray to protect us from the evil one .
In The World Not Of The World Applied To Today
My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
Jesus did not ask the Father to take His followers out of the world. In fact, Jesus commissioned them to go into the world as His ambassadors. Instead, He asked the Father to protect them from Satan and his schemes, to guard them from temptation, and to make them holy through the truth of His word. This is what they needed to fulfill their commission.
Did you notice that Jesus prayer was not just for those handful of disciples? Jesus included you and me in that prayer those who will believe in me through their message. The truth principles also apply to us.
Second, immerse yourself in Gods Word. Know the truth inside and out so you can recognize lies when you hear them. Obey what God shows you in His Word so your life will be holy and above reproach. Then get your boat in the water! There are some drowning souls in need of rescue.
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Who Rules The World
When the word “world” is used in the New Testament, it’s a translation of the Greek word cosmos. “Cosmos” most often refers to the planet earth and its human inhabitants who live their lives with their backs turned toward God. Satan is the Prince of this “cosmos.” Even Jesus called him that in John 12:31 . The Apostle John mentions that the “whole world is under the control of the evil one” .
Basically, the system of the world is ruled by Satan. We really don’t want to be a part of that, right? Awesomely enough, Jesus says that those who believe in Him are no longer a part of that cosmossin has no power over us, and we don’t have to be trapped by the evil principles of the world. Even more awesome is that belief in Christ causes us to change. Our hearts will be less interested in the things of the world as we strive to be more like Jesus.
So if we aren’t ruled by Satan and sin anymore, that’s great, but we still live here! Yeah. Not so great. But Jesus has given us freedom from that evil, remember? We may be physically present , but we don’t have to be a part of its values . We’re set apart from the wickedness of the cosmos as we seek to live a holy, righteous life.
The Bible Verses For In The World But Not Of The World
Now here are 5 very good verses from the Bible that are giving us this specific revelation in that we are to be in the world, but not of the world.
I will first list each one of the verses one right after the other, and then I will point out and highlight several key words and phrases in these verses.
- If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
- I have given them Your word and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
- Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
- Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it but he who does the will of God abides forever.
- Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
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How Are We Not Of The World
Since the world is under the sway of the wicked one, how can we who are of God, and in Christ, which is one and the same thing, be a part of that which is opposed to God?
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life .
The fact that we now able to walk in newness of life is only because the Spirit of Christ, which is the Holy Spirit, dwells within us. Had it not been for this glorious truth, we too would be part of this world system.
To further understand this concept of not being of this world, we must look further at what happened when we were born again. At the moment of salvation, we are sanctified this means that we are separated.
To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ their Lord and ours .
Being sanctified in Christ Jesus requires that we be mindful of who we are. Knowing who we are is an aid in helping us to steer clear of that which is of the world:
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, Gods special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light .
We Should Have A Redemptive Relationship With Society As Jesus Did
by Billy GrahamJanuary 28, 2016
At a meeting of church leaders in Seattle, Washington, one member of the group reportedly said that if the church is to make its greatest impact on our generation, it must become more worldly minded. While in one sense that may bear some truth, in the Biblical sense it is false.
As we read the New Testament, it is clear that we are not to become entangled with the world. Now at first glance, a new Christian might shrink from this idea. But the question I want to ask today is, What is the world? There are at least three meanings attached to the word world.
First, the Bible says that there is the created world. God made the world and everything in it .
Second, there are the inhabitants of the world, whom God loves and for whom Christ died. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son .
Third, there is the cosmos, the world system, which is headed by Satan and based upon self, greed and pride. This is the world that God warns about, and it is this world system and philosophy that Christians are to shun and remain free from.
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What World Are Believers To Be Of
Only two kingdoms truly exist, the kingdom of this world ruled by the prince of this world, and Gods kingdom . These two kingdoms battle constantly and will continue to do so until the end of time.
No matter what groups were are a part of in this world, we have to remember that we are also a part of a greater kingdom. Our status as citizens of the kingdom of heaven will lead to broken friendships, loss of opportunities or jobs, and danger down the road as we approach the End Times.
We do have to keep in mind living in but not of does not mean hiding away from dangerous powers, like a group in the New Testament times known as the Essenes had.
Many heroes in the Old and New Testament continued to obey Gods commands whilst being in the midst of lifestyles far from perfect.
For instance, Daniel, an Israelite captive in Babylon, lived in one of the most corrupt cities in the world at the time. Nevertheless, he excelled in his Babylonian education, in his occupation within the palace, and never disobeyed Gods commands once.
How Can Christians Live In The World But Not Be Of The World
Viewing the treacherous condition of this world from Gods perspective can be overwhelming. Heres the good news: that bad news is no longer our burden to carry, for everyone born of God overcomes the world.
While we sojourn through this dry and weary land, we are not alone. Christ has made every provision for our successful journey. Hes given us His word, His armor, His example, and the best resource of allHimself. His Holy Spirit indwells each believer, sets us apart, leads us into truth, and helps us live out our earthly calling through His divine power.
In fact, Jesus was so passionate about equipping us for our journey that He took the request straight to the Father on the eve of the crucifixion. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth your word is truth .
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What Is A Christians Role In This World
Equipped with His power, each believer has been assigned a mission to fulfill while were here on earth. Some of these callings are unique to the individual, but as ambassadors of Christ, we also have a collective responsibility to represent our kingdom well. Our loyalty to our King should come before any other allegiance, but part of our duty to Him involves conducting ourselves in a worthy manner while were away from home. Heres what the Bible has to say about the role of Christians in this world:
Christians should avoid futile arguments and the entanglements of this world .
You Cannot Straddle The Fence
We do not belong to the world and Jesus made it clear in Revelation 3:16 that straddling the fence is not acceptable.
So because you are lukewarm neither hot nor cold I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
NIV
We either have to be on fire for God and offer ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy to God, or all in with the world but we cannot have a little of both. We can be IN the world and not of it but we cannot be in Gods Kingdom and not of it!
What are some things youve enjoyed in the past that you had to say goodbye to in order to live for the Kingdom? Share in the comments!
Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.
NASB Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Copyright by The Lockman Foundation
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Be In The World Not Of It
We often hear as believers that we are to be in the world but not of it. In fact, this is even in Scripture.
John 17:16 says:
They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
ESV
What does the Bible mean when it says we are not of this world. To see what Jesus meant here, we need to look back another couple of verses to put it all in context.
John 17:14-16 says:
I have given them Your word and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I am not asking You to take them out of the world, but to keep them away from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
NASB
You see, we live IN the world, that goes without saying. Jesus lived IN the world as well, but He was not OF it. He was of the perfect will of the Father and because we are people who follow the Word, the world will hate us. They dont understand us.
But Jesus didnt ask that we be taken out of the world but that the grace of God would guard us from the enemy and from the evil of this present age.
Keep in mind that people are not our enemies. The Bible tells us we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against the ruler of THIS WORLD and the spiritual forces of evil.
But many times, we try to compromise and we try to keep an equal measure of God and world and it doesnt work.
Colossians 3:2 says: