Building up believers and the New Testament church

In the World But Not Of the World

"My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here" (John 18:36). "They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world" (John 17:16).

"Adulterers and adulteresses. Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God" (James 4:4). "And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever" (I John 2:17).

We can see from these scriptures that God makes a clear distinction between the world and what He is doing in Jesus Christ our Lord. It is a distinction that we must see clearly and maintain, if we are to be of any use to God. To try to bring about friendship where God has brought division is to make ourselves enemies of God and what He is doing. As we consider this area, let us ask God for that "eye salve" that only He can give, that we may see clearly and move in faith under His control.