The New Testament Believer’s Relationship with the World

[Pastor Scott Markle]

(In another thread that is no longer a valid thread discussion, a comment was made which motivated me to do the following Bible study.)

The New Testament Believer’s Relationship with the World
(Part 1)

1.  We are the spiritual light of the world; and we are to shine forth that light before the world, doing “all things without murmurings and disputings,” in order that we “may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke,” in the midst of this spiritually crooked and perverse world, and in order that “they may see our good works, and glorify our Father which is in heaven.”

Matthew 5:13-16 – “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Philippians 2:14-16 – “Do all things without murmurings and disputings: that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.”

1 Peter 2:11-12 – “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

2.  We are to go “into all the world” and to “preach the gospel” unto every lost soul.

Mark 16:15 – “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

Matthew 28:19-20 – “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

John 17:18 – “As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.”

3.  Satan, “the god of this world,” is ever working to blind the minds of the lost from receiving “the light of the glorious gospel of Christ” that we are to preach unto them.

Matthew 13:19 – “When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart.  This is he which received seed by the way side.”

Mark 4:15 – “And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.”

Luke 8:12 – “Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.”

2 Corinthians 4:3-5 – “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 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.  For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.”

4.  We are not to become entangle with the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, or the lusts and pleasures of this life, because such entanglement will choke the wisdom of God’s Word from our hearts and cause us not to bring forth fruit unto perfection, but cause us to err from the faith and pierce ourselves through with many spiritual sorrows.

Matthew 13:22 – “He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.”

Mark 4:18-19 – “And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.”

Luke 8:14 – “And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.”

2 Timothy 2:4 – “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”

1 Timothy 6:9-10 – “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

2 Timothy 4:10a – “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world.”

Matthew 6:24 -- “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

5.  We are not to pursue after the gain of this world, but are to lose our lives for the Lord’s sake and for the gospel’s sake.

Matthew 16:25-26 – “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?  Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Mark 8:35-37 – “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.  For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?  Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Luke 9:24-25 – “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.  For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?”

6.  We possess the indwelling Holy Spirit of God, “even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive,” because it does not perceive Him or know Him.

John 14:16-20 – “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.  I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.  Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.  At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.”

1 John 4:4 – “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”

7.  We possess the indwelling Holy Spirit, who “will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” through us.

John 16:7-11 – “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.  And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.”

8.  We are not to be surprised or think it strange when the world hates us, since it hated our Lord before us, and since we are not of the world, but have been chosen out of the world by our Lord.

John 15:18-19 – “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”

John 17:14-16 – “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.  I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.  They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”

1 Peter 4:12-14 – “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.  If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.”

1 John 3:1 – “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.”

1 John 3:13 – “Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.”

Edited April 24, 2016 by Pastor Scott Markle

[Pastor Scott Markle]

The New Testament Believer’s Relationship with the World
(Part 2)

 

9.  We are not to be interested in the peace that the world gives, which is shallow and short-lived, but in the peace that our Lord gives, in order that our hearts might not be troubled or afraid.

John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

10.  We shall have tribulation in the world; but we should nevertheless “be of good cheer,” because our Lord has “overcome the world.”

John 16:33 – “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.  In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

11.  We need the power of God to keep us from the evil of the world.

John 17:15 – “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.”

12.  We need to be “made perfect in one” through our fellowship with God the Father and God the Son, in order that the world may know and believe that the Lord Jesus Christ was sent from the Father, and in order that the world may know that the Father loves believers as His dear children, just as He love God the Son.

John 17:20-23 – “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.  And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.”

13.  We are spiritually to turn the world upside down.

Acts 17:6 – “And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also.”

14.  We should have our faith in the Lord to be recognized and “spoken of throughout the whole world.”

Romans 1:8 – “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.”

15.  In order to be living sacrifices, “holy, acceptable unto God,” we must not be “conformed to this world,” but must be “transformed by the renewing of [our] mind.”

Romans 12:1-2 – “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Ephesians 4:17-24 – “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.  But ye have not so learned Christ; if so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

Ephesians 5:11-12 – “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.  For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.”

16.  We are not to be interested in the wisdom of this world, but to be interested in “the foolishness of preaching,” because it has pleased the Lord our God to reach the world through “the foolishness of preaching.”

1 Corinthians 1:20-21 – “Where is the wise?  Where is the scribe?  Where is the disputer of this world?  hhath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?  For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”

17.  We are not to be concerned with being the wise, powerful, or popular of this world, because the Lord our God has chosen “the foolish things of the world to confound the wise,” and “the weak things of the world to confound” the mighty, and the base and despised things of the world to bring down the popular.

1 Corinthians 1:26-29 – “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in his presence.”

1 Corinthians 3:18-20 – “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.  For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.  For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.  And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.”

James 2:5 – “Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?”

18.  We are not to believe or speak forth among ourselves “the wisdom of this world,” which is rooted in “the spirit of the world,” but to believe and speak forth among ourselves “the wisdom of God,” which is revealed by “the Spirit of God.”

1 Corinthians 2:6-13 – “Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: but we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.  But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.  For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him?  Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”

1 John 4:1-6 – “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 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.  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.  They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.  We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us.  Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.”

19.  We are not to seek altogether to separate ourselves from the immoral of this world, or else we would need to depart completely out of this world.

1 Corinthians 5:9-10 – “I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.”

20.  Because we live in this world, we must use the things of this world; but we must not abuse the things of this world by setting our love and affection upon them through “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life,” because the things of this world shall all pass away.

1 Corinthians 7:31 – “And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.”

1 John 2:15-17 – “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 pride 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.”

Matthew 6:19-21 – “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Colossians 3:1-3 – “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.”

1 Timothy 6:6-8 – “But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.”

1 Timothy 6:17-19 – “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.”

James 4:4 – “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?  Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.  Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?”

Edited April 24, 2016 by Pastor Scott Markle

[Pastor Scott Markle]

The New Testament Believer’s Relationship with the World
(Part 3)

 

21.  We are not to be “unequally yoked together” with the unbelievers of this world; but we are to “come out from among them,” and to be separate, and to “touch not the unclean” things of this world, in order that we may walk in daily fellowship with God our heavenly Father.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 – “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?  And what communion hath light with darkness?  And what concord hath Christ with Belial?  Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?  For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

James 1:27 – “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”

22.  God our heavenly Father chastens our sinfulness in this life, in order that “we should not be condemned with the world” in the life to come.

1 Corinthians 11:32 – “But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.”

23.  We are to sorrow over our daily sinfulness, not with “the sorrow of the world” that “worketh death,” but with “godly sorrow” that “worketh repentance to salvation.”

2 Corinthians 7:9-11 – “Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.  For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.  For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.”

24.  Through faith in Christ we believers have been spiritually crucified unto this present evil world, and this present evil world has been spiritually crucified unto us believers, such that we have been spiritually delivered from this present evil world.

Galatians 1:3-5 – “Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

Galatians 6:14 – “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”

2 Peter 1:3-4 – “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

25.  Before we were saved, when we were the spiritual children of disobedience and darkness, we “walked according to the course of this world” and “according to the prince of the power of the air” (Satan himself), behaving “in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind;” but now as believers we are spiritual “light in the Lord, and are to “walk as children of light,” living “soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.”

Ephesians 2:1-3 – “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”

Ephesians 5:8-10 – “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.”

Ephesians 5:15-17 – “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.  Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”

Titus 2:11-12 – “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.”

26.  We are to walk in Christ, being “rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith,” and are to beware that we not allow anyone to spoil us spiritually “through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments [foundational principles] of the world, and not after Christ.”

Colossians 2:6-8 – “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.  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.”

1 John 4:1 – “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”

2 John 1:7-8 – “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.  Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.”

27.  We believers need to overcome the world; and we are able to do so through a daily walk of faith in our Lord.

1 John 5:4-5 – “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”

[Alan]

Pastor Markle,

Thank you very much for the above three-part study on the believers relationship with the world. The study is very concise, it  clearly states the facts that this present world is evil, preverse, condemned by God, is at emnity with God, full of lusts and other evils, fleshly philosophy and corrupt doctrines, and that, even though we must live in it, we must not be partakes of its evil deeds.

The above three-part sudy was a blessing and encouragment to my heart. As I was studying it the Lord put the following song, "This World is not my Home," on my heart. I do hope that the following song that I am attaching will compliment the lesson.

Sung by the Cleveland Baptist Church.

Brethren,

This is an excellent study and exposition of the world and our relationship with it. It is a study that needs to be heeded, practiced, and shows clearly how we need to take up our cross and follow Christ.

Brethren, Pastor Markle clearly shows that, "This world is not our home, we are just passing through."

Alan