Christians Are Out Of This World

Matthew 7:21-23 (KJV-BRG) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

What Jesus said in Matthew 7 is something that every Christian should heed

How do we keep from being one whom the Lord professes, “I never knew you”?

We have to live a Holy Life separated from this World…

How do we do that?

1 John 2:15-17 (KJV) 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. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Let’s look at Vs. 15

15 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.

The Word of God is clear,

We live in this world, but we are not of this world

John 17:14-19 (KJV) I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

This world is still controlled by Satan. – He is the God of This world

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (KJV) But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

1 John 4:3 (KJV) And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

The spirit of this world is controlled by the antichrist.

The god of this world,

the spirit of antichrist uses philosophy and vain deceit to sway your mind

Colossians 2:8 (KJV) Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

2:8 spoil. “Spoil”—that is, “rob,” or “lead captive.”

2:8 philosophy (from a combination of two Greek words, meaning “love of wisdom”)

in the Bible, and here God warns us against it.

Acts 17:18 describes the two major philosophical schools of thought,

both of which opposed Paul as he preached Christ.

Acts 17:18 (KJV) Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.

Paul may have been thinking mainly of the Epicureans and Stoics when he wrote this warning,

but he simply said to beware of all philosophy.

The love of human wisdom characterizes every system of philosophy;

they all follow the tradition of men and the elements of the world.

Instead, men should love Christ, who is made true wisdom unto us

1 Corinthians 1:30 (KJV) But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

Any philosophy centered in men or so-called “gods,” rather than in the true God of creation, is bound to be false and harmful.

1 Corinthians 1:20 (KJV) Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

1 Corinthians 3:19 (KJV) For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.