As followers of Christ, believers are called to live according to a different standard, one that is rooted in heavenly values rather than earthly desires. According to Romans 12:2, this means being transformed by the renewing of their minds, rather than conforming to the patterns of the world. Jesus Himself taught that His disciples are not of this world, just as He is not of this world, as seen in John 15:19 and John 18:36. The apostle John also warned against loving the world, as stated in 1 John 2:15, and Jesus prayed that His followers would be in the world but not of it, as expressed in John 17:14. This distinctive identity shapes the Christian's perspective and behavior.
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Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world; if it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is not of this realm.”
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
I have given them Your word and the world has hated them; for they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world. The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever.
Then He told them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.
You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
We know that we are of God, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one.
But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself, will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body.
If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first. If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.