WE may speak of the world as a great system built up by men and Satan, where those who are of it are trying to be happy without God and Christ. It suits therefore the lusts and habits of a fallen and depraved nature. Its works, whether moral or immoral, are evil; whether highly esteemed among men or not, they are displeasing to God. (John 7:77The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil. (John 7:7).)
Scripture tells us that the world is that which is not of the Father, and that Satan is the prince of it; “for all that id in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” (1 John 2:1616For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (1 John 2:16).)
We all are naturally of the world. We all were having no hope and without God in the world. The holy Son of God was hated by it. The world knew Him not. So morally sunken was it that none of the princes of this world knew Him; for had they known Him, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Hence it is that the cross of Christ manifests the real moral condition of the world. Every department of this vast system was represented at Calvary; they were associated together in the crucifixion of the Son of God. All were unanimous in crying, “A way with Him,” “crucify Him.” “Not this man but Barabbas.” The cross therefore left the world under judgment. “Now,” said Jesus, “is the judgment of this world.” It secured also such triumph and victory over Satan, that his final overthrow and ejection were certain. “Now shall the prince of this world be cast out.” (John 12:3131Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. (John 12:31).) Thus we see at that moment the doom of the world and Satan fixed. Though Satan may be allowed to go to and fro in the earth as a roaring lion for a little longer, still the divine verdict is passed that he “shall be cast out.”
The world then is doomed; its sentence passed; its executioner coming. A little while, and Christ will come in flaming fire taking vengeance. Instead of preaching peace and salvation to the chief of sinners as He now does, He will then put all enemies under His feet. To this the world is madly rushing, in ignorance and unbelief. Like prisoners in a condemned cell, they are trying to amuse themselves and make merriment by indulging the forgetfulness as to where they are hastening, and what so speedily awaits them. But, though crying, Peace and safety, the Lord will come upon them as a thief in the night, and we are told that “they shall not escape.”
Now, while Christ is seated at God’s right hand, crowned with glory and honor, God is sending a message to every creature. This is “the gospel of the grace of God,” and it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth. The testimony shows how righteously God can do this, because His beloved Son has accomplished eternal redemption by His death on the cross. In this way those who believe are delivered from the world and redeemed to God. Those who are not redeemed to God must be condemned with the world.
The believer then is no longer of the world, though in it, but is chosen out of it and made nigh to God. Instead of being of the world, he is supposed in scripture to be suffering with and for Christ in it, and hated by it. “If ye were of the world, the love its own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” (John 15:1919If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. (John 15:19).)
On receiving Christ as his Saviour, man’s position is entirely changed. He is in Christ; He is delivered from his old position of enmity and distance from God, he is reconciled to God, has peace with God, and is made nigh to God. By the blood of Christ he has not only been delivered from the guilt and condemnation of sin, fear of death and hell, but he is redeemed to God. So that after we have been caught up to meet Christ in the air, and are taken to the actual enjoyment of heavenly glory, we shall be forever conscious that the blood of Christ has been our role ground of access into it. We shall, therefore, while gazing on the Lamb as it had been slain, sing, “Thou art worthy, for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.” (Rev. 5:99And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; (Revelation 5:9).) Hence also it is that we are told that “Christ gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world (age), according to the will of God and our Father.” (Gal. 1:44Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: (Galatians 1:4).) We are never taught in Scripture that God’s purpose by the gospel is to improve the world, or to convert the world, but that God is now calling out of—mark out of—the Gentiles a people for His name; and after that He will turn again in blessing to His humbled people Israel. (Acts 15:14-1614Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. 15And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, 16After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: (Acts 15:14‑16).) Well might our Lord say that we are not of the world, even as He was not of the world.
Nothing then can be plainer than the fact that the Christian is rescued from this present evil world (age), chosen out of it—not of it—and made nigh to God on the ground of an already accomplished redemption. No marvel then that such are exhorted by the Holy Ghost not to be conformed to this world, not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers, but to come out from among them and be separate. No wonder either that to hate our life in this world, deny self, take up our cross daily and follow an earth-rejected Christ, should stand so prominently among the essentials of real Christianity.
In fact the cross of Christ has forever snapped every link that connected us with this great system which is under condemnation. That the heart is slow enough to admit it is quite true. The selfishness of nature would hold this present world, and fellowship with Christ in the heavens too, if it were possible. But sooner or later it must learn that “no man can serve two masters.”
Carnal reasoning will utterly fail to deliver souls from a spirit of worldliness; and those too who exhort most warmly on the subject are often deeply disappointed as to the result. But when the heart grasps by faith the divine reality of our new position, new relationships, and new life, as now made nigh to God in Christ Jesus, and through His precious blood, then the pleadings of time and sense are utterly silenced, and the glitter of a moment’s sensual gratification completely outweighed by these eternally blessed considerations.
It is not merely that we have no abiding city here —who has?—but though, as a matter of fact; we are in the world, we have been delivered from it of it, chosen out of it, are not of it; but as children of God sent into it, not to do our own will, but the will of our Father in heaven. (John 20:2121Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. (John 20:21).)
How unfaithful to God, then, it is for a Christian to be contending for a position in it, or for the glory of it! How unfaithful, too, to the ungodly around, not to bear witness to the doom to which they are so rapidly hastening! How it dishonors God! How it deceives souls! Were our hearts more tender, our eyes would surely weep over many around us thus acting. Though not enemies to Christ, such are surely enemies to the cross of Christ. It is easy to plead the hackeyed excuse of “usefulness,” or to gain popularity by mingling with the ignorant and unsaved in their delusive cries of “progress” and “advancement;” but is it true to Christ? Does it suit Christ? What saith the Scripture? The Pharisee’s aim was usefulness; but what marked Christ was, that He was “the faithful witness,” and it was His meat and drink, not to do His own will, but the will of Him that sent Him. We need to look well into this point, and see whether our own wills are guiding us, or whether we are really set on doing the will of God our Father. We shall then be ministers of blessing to. those who are of the world, and expect nothing from it but what Christ had.
The world has its varied departments, and presents a religious as well as an irreligious side; but who can help on either in true love and faithfulness to God or men? It is easy to see others pandering to the allurements of the age; but the question for each heart is. Am I doing it? or, Am I practically siding with Christ, who has been crucified and cast out by it? Nationalism may go to the world for money, titles, honor, and patronage, and securely hold them by Act of Parliament; and dissenters may go also to the world for money, titles, honor, and patronage, without an Act of Parliament; but where is the moral difference? Nothing can be more plainly taught in Scripture than that the Christian’s place is to go forth unto Christ without the camp, bearing His reproach; and servants of God in a former day so faithfully trod this narrow path, that we are told in Scripture that “they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles for His name’s sake.” Nothing can be set in wider contrast in Scripture than the moral position of a saved and of a lost soul; one who is in Christ, and the other who is of the world. It is well to remember that we are called, not only to believe, but also to suffer for His sake.
The world’s comfort and joy, such as it is, is based on the endeavor to obliterate in entire forgetfulness the fact, that the Son of God has been wickedly put to death by it. The delusive hopes of the world’s religion are vainly cherished by the false idea, that man is not so sunk but that he is capable of being raised; which is quite contrary to the divine verdict, that “the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed con be: so then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Rom. 8:7, 87Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:7‑8).) No doubt the reason why so many Christians have so pandered to the world is, losing sight of God’s revealed mind as to what it really is, and what the value of the cross of Christ is in giving everlasting deliverance from it, and failing also to enter into the blessed fact of the new and eternally blessed position God has given us outside the world—the other side of death—in His beloved, risen, and ascended Son. Thus the waters of death and judgment roll between us and the world, as truly as the waters of the Red Sea rolled between Israel and Egypt, while their feet were standing on the dry ground, and they saw the Egyptians dead upon the seashore.
Christians formerly rejoiced at being counted worthy to suffer for the name of Jesus. Some, however, will tell us that was in a dark age of the world’s history, as if “the world” had ceased to be “the world,” or had grown into something of a Christian community. But what saith the Scripture? When Paul describes prophetically the state of Christendom in the last days, the Holy Ghost carefully adds, not only that “seducers will wax worse and worse,” but that “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus”—not may perchance suffer — “shall suffer persecution.” (2 Tim. 3) The soul too must feel this, who knows that he is linked with a rejected Christ. Paul keenly felt both the privilege and the smart when he exclaimed, “God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” (Gal. 6:1414But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. (Galatians 6:14).)
The great cause of spiritual leanness among so many Christians in our day is, doubtless, much to be ascribed to worldliness of spirit and action; for this not only dishonors the Lord, but so grieves the Holy Spirit that dwells in as, that the soul cannot enjoy the Lord’s presence, and the power of His precious truth. A discontented spirit, and worldly lusts, encouraged instead of being denied, spoil the soul of that peace and blessing it would otherwise enjoy. Those are happy Christians who are content with such things as they have; for the Scripture tells us that “Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain that we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment, let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things.” (1 Tim. 6:6-116But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. (1 Timothy 6:6‑11).)
Nothing, therefore, can be more antagonistic than vital godliness and the world; and nothing be more contrary to God’s mind, or unfaithful to men than the attempt to hold the both positions. The two are so incompatible, that we are told that “the friendship of the world is enmity with God; whoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” (James 4:44Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. (James 4:4).) Can anything be plainer? Surely to maintain honest callings, or to work with our own hands to live honestly in it, is not being of it, but obedience to the Lord’s word. A single eye can easily detect the difference.
Before concluding, let me ask, What was our state when the gospel found us? We were surely “dead in sins,” “ungodly,” and linked with a world under judgment. We were therefore under condemnation: first, as having a sinful nature; secondly, as transgressors of God’s truth; and thirdly, as of the world. How then has God righteously met us in this triple condemnation? By the death of His beloved Son on the cross; “for what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.” (Rom. 8:33For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: (Romans 8:3).) Thus Christ died for us—in our stead, so that “our old man is crucified with Him.” This shows our deliverance from the condemnation of a sinful nature. As to transgressing, we are told that “He bare our sins in His own body on the tree,” and that “He suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, to bring us to God.” Thirdly, as to the world “He gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.” Thus the cross of Christ doses our history as “of the world,” “under law,” and “in the flesh.” We are born again by the Spirit and word, and because we are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts; crying, Abba, Father. Children of God now by faith, sealed, and united by the Holy Ghost to Christ Jesus in the heavenlies—our Life, Righteousness, and Head —we are left for a little while in this doomed world as pilgrims and strangers, to abstain from fleshly lusts, to serve Christ faithfully, and to wait for His return from heaven.
Do you then, dear Christian reader, take this place practically, as not of the world but as of God? In a former time Christians could say, “We know that to are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.” (1 John 5:1919And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. (1 John 5:19).) Elsewhere scripture speaks of separation even from religious persons and things that dishonor the Lord, but it is the world in its broad aspect that we are here considering, as calling for separation from, standing in heart and conduct outside it with Christ, whom it has rejected, and still rejects.
“Before His cross we still are left
As strangers in the land.
“O leave us not in this dark world,
As strangers still to roam;
Come, Lord, and take us to Thyself,
O Jesus, quickly come!”