When the Bible talks about “the world” what does that mean? We live in a world full of people. We live in a world full of trouble. God created the world (the earth and everything in it), God so loved the world (the people of the world), but we are to not love the world (worldly affairs and systems which oppose God; I think that’s what is meant when Jesus says that we are in the world but not of the world). Something like that. Let us see what God’s word has to say about it.
John 3:16-21
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”
Jesus came to this earth to save the world. God loved us so much that He sent His on into the world to pay for our sins. He took on the sins of the world so that if we believe and trust in Him, we would be saved. But the world hated Him and hated those who follow Him because the world is evil. We live in a society that goes against God. It is a society of greed and lust. It is about what can the world do for ME. “If it feels good, do it.”
1 John 2:15-17
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.
God warns us to be wary of the lusts that this world offers and the pride of our hearts. Remember, Satan is called the ruler of this world (see John 12:31, Ephesians 2:2), and he will do whatever he can to lead us astray and to prevent us from sharing the gospel and the love of Christ to others.
Ephesians 2:1-7
And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
I am so thankful that God gave me grace that I may be saved through Jesus who died on the cross for me. God has changed me (and is still working on me; I have a long way to go, but I am saved by His grace, and He has brought me into His kingdom as a child of God) to turn away from those things of this world and toward the righteousness of God.
John 1:9-14
That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
We who believe and trust in Jesus Christ become children of God. We are in this world but not of this world. Our citizenship is in heaven.
Philippians 3:17-21
Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
We should long for the day when we will be with Christ in heaven. One day He will return and make all things right in this world. We should allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives and “walk in the Spirit,” not going after the fleshly desires of this world but seeking His righteousness. But we need to keep in mind that the world will hate us for it. The world does not like their sin to be exposed, and they are against Christ.
John 15:18-23
“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 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. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates Me hates My Father also.”
Many of us don’t know what it is really like to be persecuted because of our faith in Christ. We may be mocked and made fun of, we may lose our friends or our job because of it. But many in this world suffer true persecution. Let us pray for those who so suffer that they will be encouraged and receive strength, for they will be rewarded in heaven.
John 16:33
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
My Daily Scriptures 