THREE ENEMIES OF BELIEVERS – ENEMY # 2 – THE WORLD
As long as we are in the world, we are going to have temptations in three different sources – the devil, the world, and the flesh. This second part deals with the second enemy we have to contend with – the world. While the devil attacks us from above (in the spiritual realm), the world attacks us from AROUND.
Nothing is more important in the life of a child of God than that he know his relationship to the world. Jesus said that we are in the world, but 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 (John 17:15-16).”
WHAT DO WE MEAN BY THE WORLD?
In Scripture the word “world” can mean three different things according to the way it is translated from the original Greek:
1. Sometimes the word “world” means the material earth. Of course, this world is not our enemy, but our friend, for out of the earth we receive our food, our clothing, our drink, and all other necessities for life.
2. Then again, the word “world” sometimes means “a dispensation” or “a period of time.” This too, is in no sense our enemy.
3. The third meaning of the word “world “comes from the Greek word “Kosmos” which means this “WORLD ORDER” or this “WORLDS SOCIAL ORDER.” This is the world which is the believer’s enemy; this is a world that crucified our blessed Lord.
When we speak of the world as being an enemy of the believer, we need to understand that we are not talking about the trees, the flowers, or the grass. God made these things for us to enjoy. God wants us to enjoy the beauties of His creation, but God does not want us to love this “present world system.”
THE WORLD – AN ENEMY OF GOD
The Bible makes it perfectly clear that Satan is the god of this world. We are told in 1 John 5:19, that “We (believers) are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one (Satan).”
Three times Jesus referred to Satan as the “prince of this world. (John 12:31, John 14:30, and John 16:11).” Do you remember when Satan took Christ to a very high mountain and offered Him the kingdoms of this world with all their glory? (Matthew 4:8). In verse 9, the prince of this world, Satan, said to Jesus, “All these things (the world) I will give You if you will fall down and worship me.” Clearly, Jesus did not dispute the devil’s ability to give him this world because our Lord recognized Satan as the prince of this world and knew that he had not yet been removed from rulership of this world. Later the cross crushed Satan’s head for good and he became a defeated foe.
Yes, this is Satan’s world. It is a world that is in rebellion against God. This world hates God and His Son. Jesus said, “The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that it’s works are evil (John 7:7).”
We can talk to people about work, business, the weather, etc. In fact, you can talk to people about almost anything but when we start talking about Christ being a wonderful Saviour then the fight is on. If there is anything that this world hates it’s the message of our crucified, buried, and risen Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Jesus said that we can expect nothing but hatred from the world. He said, “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…. (John 15:19-20).” Also, in 1 John 3:13 we read: “Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you.”
From the above verses we can clearly see that the world is an enemy of God because of its attitude towards Christ and Christ’s body of believers.
AS BELIEVERS WE ARE TO BE SEPARATE FROM THE WORLD
When we are saved God expects us to make a clean break with the world. We are not to love the world or the things of the world. Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world… (John 18:36).” It is true that we have to live in this world, but we don’t have to run with the world.
The Bible tells us in 1 Peter 2:11 that we are STRANGERS and PILGRIMS here in the world. In other words, this world is not our home. We are in the world, but not of it. Our aims, desires, ambitions, and hopes are all different than those of the world.
God is always commanded His people to live a separate life from the world. The Scripture has a great deal to say about separation. Notice these few verses:
- “And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind… (Romans 12:2).”
- “Therefore, come out from among them (the world) and be separate, says the Lord and do not touch what is unclean (2 Corinthians 6:17).”
- “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 (James 1:27).”
- “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).
It is plain to see that God wants His people to be separate from the world. We are not to find our satisfaction in the things of the world, but in the things of the Lord.
Perhaps you’re asking the question, “How can I tell whether something is of the world or if it is of God?” This is a good question and there are two verses of Scripture which give us the answer. In Colossians 3:17 we read: “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Then again in 1 Corinthians 10:31 we read: “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” We need to understand that anything you cannot do for the glory of God is of the world. Any place where you cannot take the Lord Jesus Christ is of the world.
Paul tells us in Titus 2:11-12 that the grace of God that brought our salvation also teaches us to deny ungodliness, and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world. We are not to wait until we get to heaven to start living pure and holy. We are to try to live that way here and now in the midst of all the filth and pollution of the world.
Perhaps you may be saying, “But how can we live in the world and not partake of these things? Wouldn’t we have to get out of the world completely? Well, let’s listen to the prayer of Jesus: “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one (keep the world out of them).” (John 17:15).
It is as simple as a ship. It is all right for the ship to be in the water, but it is all wrong for the water to be in the ship. Likewise, a believer is to be in the world, but not let the world get into him. As long as we live here, we will have temptations from the world… but God’s Word gives us the way to victory – “And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind… (Romans 12:2).”
Oscar