Not of the World: Part 1

 •  6 min. read  •  grade level: 10
 
To Our Dear Young Christians:
We were talking together recently about the reasons to be found in the Scriptures for a Christian’s not doing some things that are common enough in the world, and, in answer to your wish, I am putting in writing the thoughts I then expressed.
The Lord Jesus, in His prayer when about to leave the world (John 17), used an expression which long ago first made a deep impression on my heart. I refer to verse 16:
“They (those who have believed) are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”
I yet ask myself, after many years, Do I really enter into this amazing truth? I mingle with the world daily, of necessity, but “am not of the world.” How is this to be exhibited, if at all, in my daily life? The Scriptures give no direction for believers to wear outward distinguishing marks, such as peculiar clothing, or other things which would call attention to us. Indeed, I gather a warning against this sort of thing from Matthew, Chapter 6 and 23:5.
Nevertheless, the Word of God is far from silent on the subject of the believer’s conduct in the world. Let us glance at a few passages, having in mind the practices of smoking—long indulged by men, and of late finding an ever increasing share of women among its devotees—of card playing, theater-going, dancing, and of indulging in beer and stronger alcoholics, all of which are very common in the world, and Christians are, sad to say, evidently being affected by these things.
We may turn first to the 119th Psalm, verse 105: “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path,” and to 2 Timothy 3:15-17, from which, for brevity, I quote only a part:
“All Scripture... is profitable for... instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
Believers who slight the Word of God, do so at their peril; it is this, more than all other causes combined, that explains the widespread spiritual paralysis of our times.
Romans 12 and the following chapters are full of much needed and often neglected practical instructions for believers, young and old, and I call attention particularly to the first five verses of the 12th chapter. They furnish the foundation upon which the details of Christian practice of a right sort depend, the substance of an acceptable life before God.
In verse 1, every believer is sought to present his body as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable (well pleasing) unto God. Truly, it is the Apostle Paul beseeching, but he was expressing the mind and will of our God and Father concerning us, His children.
Then, in verse 2 we find, “Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed (transfigured) by the renewing of your mind.”
These are weighty statements; if only they were grasped and entered upon by God’s beloved people everywhere! I call attention to the fact that the word in the original tongue which is here translated “transformed” is found but four times in the Scriptures, twice to describe the appearance of the Lord on the mountain of transfiguration (Matt. 17:2; Mark 9:2), and twice referring to believers, the remaining reference being 2 Corinthians 3:18, where the word is translated “changed,” but the “change” is from an earthly to a heavenly condition. We desire humbly to confess that our measure of realization of the transforming or transfiguration (moral, not a physical change) urged upon us in Romans 12:2 is far, far too small. May it increase more and more, to the glory of God!
We turn now to Romans 13:14 and find, “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.”
Perhaps it is asked, What are the “lusts of the flesh”? It is always best to look for the answer to our questions about the Scriptures in the Scriptures themselves, and while there are other passages to which helpful reference may be made, Galatians 5:16-26; Ephesians 2:3; 1 John 2:16,17 are suggested as disclosing what the “lusts” are, and how largely they pervade the world.
Another helpful word in our considerations of the subject before us is found in Ephesians 4:1-3. In 1 Corinthians 10:31, which may next engage our attention, we come to specific, instruction:
“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
With this let us read Colossians 3:17: “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.”
These pointed directions for Christian behavior open to our spiritual vision the truly happy path of holiness, and guard us fully against fleshly lusts as to which the Word itself tells us (1 Peter 2:11), and experience proves, that they war against the soul.
In 1 John 2:6 we have another word, addressed to the conscience, that monitor within the child of God:
“He that saith he abideth in Him (Christ) ought himself so to walk even as He walked.”
Then as our blessed example we have Him presented to the heart thus in Romans 15:23: “For even Christ pleased not Himself.” All His desires were holy, but His unvarying object as He passed through the world was not to gratify Himself but to please the Father.
Our consideration of Scriptures bearing on the subject of Christian behavior has been somewhat wide, but let us turn to four more passages. First, 2 Corinthians 5:14, 15:
“For the love of Christ constraineth us, because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: and that He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them and rose again.”
Next, John 14:21: “He that hath My commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me.”
Our third passage is 1 John 3:3: “And every man that hath this hope in Him (Christ) purifieth himself, even as He is pure.”
And our last will be found in Romans 14:10-12: “For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ... So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”
O my soul, mark that word; I, even I, shall give account of myself to God. Are you prepared for that hour? The life I have lived will be reviewed at the judgment seat of Christ, not to decide my eternal dwelling place, for that, thanks be to God, is settled already, but that I may have His estimation of my course, learn what in it had self as its motive, and what (I trust) really had Christ as its object. All will be seen in the full light of God’s presence.
The passages to which reference has been made leave no room for the worldly things which were mentioned at the outset of this letter. In essence they are evil, taking their origin in the heart of man, a fallen creature and a wanderer from the true God, seeking satisfaction in a judged, condemned world.
(To be continued).