Dear Christian,
Jesus teaches us that our life is one of overcoming. Over and over again, He not only tells us to overcome this world, but also gives us the tools of truth to do so. It’s not easy. He never promised it would be. On the contrary, He told us it will be difficult. He likens it to a narrow gateway, and beyond it lies a hard path leading to life. Jesus contrasts the narrow gate and difficult path with a wide and easy way, but it leads to destruction.
According to the Lord, only a few will find the narrow way. Whether by searching for it or happening upon it. The person searching for it desires to know the way to righteousness. The seeker is like the merchant in Matthew 13: 45-46. He was seeking to find a pearl of great value, and when he found it, he sold all that he had to possess it. The one who happens upon it is like the man in Matthew 13:44. While in a field, he came across a hidden treasure, then he covered it up, and because of his great happiness, he sold all that he had to buy the field.
Every believer must choose: to live this life, trying to get all they can out of the world, or to live in Christ and maintain their hope in the future fulfillment of His Heavenly kingdom. The Holy Spirit is clear that the two paths do not intersect.
Our Lord, throughout the NT, has much to say about the world and our relationship with it. In Matthew 13:22-23, when explaining the parable of the sower, we see another contrasting statement. In v.22, He says, “And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.” In v.23, He says, “And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.” The contrast is simple: it’s the difference between being fruitful and unfruitful. If the seed falls on the right heart, it will grow and bear fruit.
In Romans 12:2, Paul says, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” In this passage, the world is the Greek word (αἰών), and its meaning is ('in whatever age, past, present, or future'. It’s the system of practices associated with secular society, without reference to God's demands or requirements.)
John, in the book 1 John, focuses extensively on how God’s people are to see their place and their relationship to the world. In 1 John 2:15, he writes, “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” The Greek word for world is (κόσμος) The meaning of the word (κόσμος) is the world system and the world’s standards. The world system and the world’s standards are defined as (the people constituting the world whose values, beliefs, and morals are in distinction and rebellion to God’s.) I know for many this is a hard teaching, not because it’s difficult to understand, but because it's difficult to take to heart. It’s one of the hard-to-accept teachings in the NT scriptures. I know of people who have said they don’t want to know about such teachings. That’s beyond sad, and even beyond scary.
We may ask why God has taught His people to hate the world. Simply put, the world is hostile towards God. Why is the world hostile to God? It’s because of the fallen state of the world and its corruption. The prince of darkness rules the world. “We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” John writes in 1 John 5:19, “We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” Evil is why the world is in such chaos. It’s why so many people do the work of their father, the devil. It does not have to be this way, but too many humans have chosen darkness over light. Evil over good, even calling that which is evil, good, and good evil. Look around and listen, we don’t live in a unique time. Yes, we live in a much more modern time, but spiritually, humankind today still faces the same choice between righteousness and unrighteousness—the choice of God’s way or their own.
I have learned that many believers don’t understand the spiritual battle we’re in or how to discern its tactics. Examine the NT scriptures and count how many times the language of warfare appears. You’ll find the writers of scripture were very aware of the war raging for people's souls. It’s why Paul can say in Ephesians 6:12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” In the very next verse, he tells the Christians in Ephesus to, “…take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.” Then, in the next verse, Paul begins the list of the various pieces of the armor that faithful soldiers of God take up. He applies a spiritual distinction to each part of the full armor. He’s not making a suggestion; he’s telling us exactly how, with the armor on, with prayer, and perseverance, the Lord will shield us from the fiery darts of the devil.
Every day, my wife and I pray for God’s people that we will stand firm in the faith, even in the face of persecution, even death. I pray that all believers are/will walk in the Spirit. To understand what it means to be a child of the Most High God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Most Christians who struggle with their faith are deceived by what actually causes the struggle. I believe the real struggle is the war between their spirit and the Spirit of God. Between striving to live a righteous life and their desire to be of the world. The truth is, most people are in the world, and some believers don’t like the idea of being hated for their beliefs. The idea of having enemies because of their faith in Jesus is not something they’re willing to risk. I pray they will remember what Jesus suffered on their behalf. He didn’t take a risk; He took death on a cross for their sins. Making a way of reconciliation to God by His blood and through His body. As a man, He gave everything, making a way of salvation for all who will have faith and be loyal to Him until death.
Jesus is the only way to get out of this life alive!
It is important to note that this lesson could have been more than 100 pages. That’s how much there is on this topic in scripture. I pray and hope God will bless you with a hunger and thirst for righteousness, and you will study the things in this writing. Don’t ever take someone else's word, especially when eternity is the reward.
May God bless you!
In John 15:18, Jesus told his disciples, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it hated you.” Repeated many times over, in scripture, the world is in opposition to God.
In James 4:4, James writes, “You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
John 15:19 “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.”
Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.