love of the Father. The two cannot go together. We are not to be conformed to this world (Romans 12:2). We should be divorced from the sentiments of this present evil system. Our sphere of activity should be focalized in Christ. Our attitudes must be shaped by the Word of Cod. I John 3:1 describes the world's thinking toward those who believe in Christ. It does not know us because it did not know Him. While they may recognize us in name they cannot understand nor appreciate our new goals and desires. The disapproval of the world extends also to hatred (I John 3:13). The Holy Spirit says that should not surprise us. We see from Scrip ture that when the true righteous ness of Abel, God's child, was re vealed, the unrighteousness of Cain came to light (Hebrews 11:4; I John 3:12). This is why Judas hated Je sus, and why it hates anyone who will stand for Cod's truth today. Our Lord said this would be so as He prayed, "I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, even as I am not of the world" (John 17:14). The church of Christ and the world are two distinct and oppo site communities. The false teach ers who oppose the Saviour have their origin in and of the world. Since this is the source of their knowledge they are limited to false doctrines and heresies. They neith er know us nor understand our language. Bible truths are foreign to the world (I Corinthians 15.47). There is also the world of ma terialism in I John. This refers to the sum total of temporal posses sions that are possible to man (I John 3:17). This is in contrast Page 29
(I Timothy 2:3-4). There is no such thing as "a limited atonement." We are to pray for all mankind. God loves all of mankind. Christ is the Saviour of the world. Let us never lose sight of the universal efficacy of the Gospel of Christ. He can meet the needs of every sinner (John 1:29; Romans 5:6; 5:10; I Timothy 2:6; Hebrews 2:9; I Peter 3:18). Neither race, color, nor ancestry excludes any man from being loved by God. Christ at Calvary was the supreme demon stration of that love. Though the Christian is a part of this world he is distinct and sep arate from it in the strict sense of the word. Our place was expressed in the words of Christ when He said, "Ye are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14). The need for di vine illumination is everywhere. What a dark place this world would be without Christians shedding forth the glorious Gospel light. All lighthouses are in dark and dan gerous places. Why do you think you are here? You are in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation (Philippians 2:15; II Peter 1:9). Then there is the world of mor als (I John 2:15). We are not to love this world's evil system and goals. There is an unholy trinity composed of the world, the flesh, and the devil. What a comment to read "The whole world lieth in wickedness" or "the wicked one." The spirit of Satan denies that Jesus is the Christ. There are the hosts of unbelieving men and women, many of whom are religious, intel lectual, and refined in culture. If a person goes on loving this world's system 3 s a practice of life then he obviously cannot love Cod. Love of the world is incompatible with
Made with FlippingBook HTML5