Don't Let Water Get In Your Boat - Part 2

In summary the word "world" is used in a variety of ways in the Bible. But there is a use of the word that exhorts Christians not to be part of.

So what does it mean then to “be in the world but not be part of the the world”? 

Let me use an illustration that I think we will all get.   Most Christians would know this verse:  “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” (1 Timothy 6:10, ESV).  Most Christians know how this verse is misused.  We note that the verse does not say that money is the root of all evil.  Christians have money and are in fact encouraged to use it wisely.  We are instructed not to “love” money.  To love money and to crave it, is according to Paul the root of all evil and in fact cause people to depart from the faith.

This evil world entity is also referred to by Paul as this present evil age (i.e., “who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,” (Galatians 1:4, ESV)).  We note that Christians have been rescued from it.  This is a spiritual system that is ruled by Satan.  (Confirm: “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,” (Colossians 1:13, ESV). Here in Colossians Paul calls it a domain or a kingdom.  Christians are taken from and delivered from a spiritual kingdom or “world”.   It is that “that evil organized system under the rule of the devil which opposes God and His will.”^[1] It is a sphere where God and godliness are not welcome.

Primarily the “world” that Christians are saved from is a spiritual sphere.   The warnings to believers are:

a.       “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (James 4:4, ESV)

b.      “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.” (1 John 2:15, ESV)

c.       “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2, ESV)

d.      “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” (Colossians 2:8, ESV)

The next blog will continue the study and particularly examine these issues of friendship, love, conformity and the philosophy of the world.


Previous Blogs on this Subject:

Don't Let Water Get In Your Boat - Part 1

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^[1] Believer’s Study Bible. 1991 (W. A. Criswell, P. Patterson, E. R. Clendenen, D. L. Akin, M. Chamberlin, D. K. Patterson & J. Pogue, Ed.) (electronic ed.) (Jas 4:4). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.