The World

by J. Drain | Category: The World | Feb 1960

Writing to the churches of Galatia Paul said,

"Grace to you and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us out of this present evil world (age), according to the will of our God and Father" (Galatians 1.3, 4).

These words indicate (1) one of the great reasons for which Christ died, (2) one of the fixed objectives of the will of God for those who receive the forgiveness of sins. Note that the apostle says this present world. He is not referring to deliverance from hell and the Lake of Fire. Note too that it is this evil world. This description of this age is in complete agreement with what the Lord said concerning the works of this world. Let us see the world as it is branded by the Lord and by Paul. It is evil. The Lord Jesus said, "The evil man out of his evil treasure bringeth forth evil things " (Matthew 12.85). Out of this evil world evil men bring forth evil things, and the disciple of the Lord Jesus must be very careful, lest by association with this world he not only practically nullifies a purpose for which Christ died, not only infringes God's will for him, but also shares the evil of the world.

In another reference to the world Paul exhorts,

"Be not fashioned according to this world (age) : but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God" (Romans 12.2).

The contrast between being fashioned and being transformed is very significant. Not only is the one related to this world (age) and the other to the will of God, but the fashioning has to do with what is moving, external and changeable, whereas the transforming has to do with what is permanent and essential. When giving counsel to the saints in the assembly in Corinth Paul exhorted them to be "those that use the world, as not abusing it : for the fashion of this world passeth away " (1 Corinthians 7. 81). This fact is illustrated by the popular use of the word fashion to denote the external coverings of men and women, and also the interests and habits of their lives. In some of these things the changes are so rapid that many find it difficult to keep pace with them and to avoid being described as old-fashioned. In contrast with the changing fashion of the world is the permanent character of the" course (or age) of this world " (Ephesians 2.2). This course is always the same, it is always contrary to God. Men and women in their sins are said to walk according to this course. Such as so walk are children of wrath. But those who have known the saving and delivering grace of God in their lives need to hear the exhortation to be not fashioned according to this world (age). There are the religions, the politics, the philosophies, the entertainments, the sports of this world. How easy it is to be fashioned according to these! How strong is the tendency to be worldly minded! What is the remedy? Being transformed by the renewing of our mind is the

answer. How can this be secured? By the mere exercise and application of human self-will? The answer here is No ! This experience is produced by the working of the Holy Spirit, whose mind is life and peace. Our responsibility is to be subject and obedient to Him, to yield ourselves to Him and to enjoy the transformation. It is not just a matter of passivity. We have responsibilities to which we can rise by the power of the indwelling Spirit. If this is not so then many of the exhortations of Scripture lose their meaning and applicability.

In the preceding paragraph we have observed how that the great spiritual experience of being transformed is connected with the renewing of the mind. This leads us to draw attention to the special danger of the mind of the disciple of the Lord Jesus being destroyed by the philosophy of this world. Paul asks and answers,

"Where is the wise ? where is the scribe ? where is the disputer of this world (age)? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom knew not God ... " (1 Corinthians 1.20, 21).

The world has its boasted wisdom. It has its many philosophies. But these will be searched in vain for the knowledge of God. Let the words ring clearly, "The world through its wisdom knew not God." When writing to the Colossians Paul says,

"Take heed lest there shall be any one that maketh spoil of you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ" (Colossians 2.8).

The wisdom of the world in its philosophy has framed imposing expositions and speculations. They are empty delusions. Let disciples of the Lord Jesus be warned against the soul-withering teachings of the political and religious philosophy of this world.

James was obviously a man whose vigorous, spiritual exercise imparted to him strong and practical views about many matters. He was used by the Holy Spirit to write, "Ye adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world maketh himself an enemy of God " (James 4.4). In the Old Testament Scriptures it is clearly taught that, from His people who were in covenant relationship with Himself, God claimed undivided loyalty and faithfulness. In this the LORD was seriously disappointed. Many times the affection of His people for the nations around them and their affinity with them drew solemn censure from Him. He described their actions as answering to those of a woman who had been unfaithful to her husband. In the New Testament we see God's people and the world. We see the Lord Christ and the world. Writing to the Church of God in Corinth Paul said,

"I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy: for I espoused you to one Husband, that 1 might present you as a pure virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and purity that is toward Christ

(2 Corinthians 11.2, 3).

There is ever the danger of God's people proving unfaithful to Him. The friendship of the world may attract and seduce. It may seem to have many advantages to offer. But if these advantages are to be gained at the cost of sincere and pure loyalty to Christ how very sad will be the consequences! Those exceedingly solemn words hold a searching message for each one of us, "Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world maketh himself an enemy of God." A child of God an enemy of God-espoused to Christ but in illicit association with the world ; these are serious possibilities.

>From Peter's second epistle it is very clear that he had no misgivings as to the character and activities of the world. He speaks of "the corruption that is in the world by lust" (2 Peter 1.4) and of "the defilements of the world "(2 Peter 2.20). How dreadful must be the stench which arises from the moral corruption of this world! How terrible must be the abominable pollutions which stain it! Here is the world stripped of its veneer of convention and refinement. It is a hole of corruption and defilement. There perhaps was never a time when these characteristics of the world were more widely displayed. Both blatantly and insidiously, corrupting and degrading influences are being turned upon the minds of young and old. The most abominable and vicious habits of men and women are publicized, excused and even in some cases praised. Little wonder is it that delinquency multiplies. In Peter's day there were men who, themselves the slaves of corruption, were making false promises of liberty to others. " Uttering great swelling words of vanity, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by lasciviousness, those who are just escaping from them that live in error" (2 Peter 2.18). Such men and women abound today. How tempting at times is the bait with which enticing and entrapping are pursued! Let us hear the warning.

"For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the last stage is become worse with them than the first" (2 Peter 2.20).

In the epistles of John we find the apostle meeting the great challenge of apostasy. Deceit, lies, error, hypocrisy range themselves against the truth. John tells us, "The whole world lieth in the evil one" (1 John 5.19). The devil is not only the god of this world (age); he is the one in whose power the world lies, and from him emanate the very powerful forces which oppose the truth of God. "Many false prophets are gone out into the world" (1 John 4.1). "Many deceivers are gone forth into the world" (2 John 7). How important it is for children of God to be made strong through the word of God abiding in them! If God's word is not abiding in us, we shall not be able to overcome the evil one and his evil workings.

As we think of this powerful entity the world and realize that its activities embrace the religious, social, political, commercial and recreational pursuits of men and women, we must feel the great need to beware. We have to live in the world. There is much which we can legitimately use. We may have to work for and with men of the world. We may engage in business bringing us into inevitable contact with men of the world. For all such possibilities there is guidance in the word of God. But we should feel the weight and importance of words such as,

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the vainglory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever"

(1 John 2.15-17).

J. Drain | Feb 1960
The World