19 Saints Not of the World

Saints Not of the World The world and the Church are essentially and eternally distinct — and they ought to be distinguishable. The Church ought not to mix with the world — but to bear a practical testimony against it, that its works and ways are evil. All through our Lord’s prayer, he keeps up the distinction, and twice over he asserts of his disciples, "They are not of the world — even as I am not of the world" (John 17:16). The Lord Jesus Was Not of the World. He did not descend from Adam by natural and ordinary generation — or else his nature would have been polluted, and he would have been implicated in the guilt of the first transgression. The Holy Spirit descended on purpose to form his Humanity in the Virgin’s womb; and by his influence and operation, it was preserved pure from all stain of sin, and all spot of corruption. His human nature was perfectly holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners. His life and conduct were righteous, perfectly righteous; every emotion, sensation, thought, word, and deed — were in strict accordance with the requirements of God’s holy law, so that his Father was pleased with him in all things. His end and aim, which he kept constantly in view, and which he reached in every action — was God’s glory. His birth being supernatural,
his person being perfectly holy,
his conduct being strictly righteous,
and his aim being always God’s glory —
he was clearly not of the world! This being the case — the world hated him — hated him, though he ever sought its benefit! The world manifested its hatred in the most bitter and cruel way. But he will subdue and transform it, and claim it at length; for he sympathizes with God, who created it for his glory still . . .
claims it as his own,
commands its obedience,
threatens it for its sins,
invites it to his throne of grace,
beseeches it to be reconciled
— and is yet hated by it!

O Savior, you are infinitely superior to the world, eternally distinct from the world — but a friend and benefactor to the world!

Believers Are Not of the World: "They are not of the world — even as I am not of the world." They are born from above, and have another spiritual nature in them. They possess a nature far superior to that of the world — which unfits them for its pleasures and pursuits, and qualifies them for the enjoyments and employments of the better world.

They are delivered from the thraldom of the world, by virtue of their union with Christ — and are raised above its wealth and its joys. They are sent to testify unto the world — that its ways and works are evil, and continually witness against it. They are citizens of another country, even a Heavenly one, and look forward to the time when they shall take up their freedom!

They will not be conquered by the world — but overcome it by faith.

They will not be judged with it — but with Christ will sit in judgment on it.

They will not be punished like it — neither in the present nor in the future state.

True believers are not of the world!

Look at the world’s state, condemned — at theirs, justified!

Look at its condition, wretched — and theirs, happy!

Look at its character, enemies to God — and theirs, the friends of God!

Look at its course, sin — and theirs, holiness!

Look at its god, Satan, the most degraded, depraved, and despicable being in existence — and theirs, Jehovah, the high and lofty one, the holy and happy one, the great and glorious one!

Look at its end, destruction — and theirs, salvation. The world is darkness — they are light. The world is corrupt — they are purified. The world is in chains — they are free.

We are not of the world, even as Christ is not of the world!

If we are poor — let us not, then, envy the world. A saint in rags — is preferable to a sinner in robes! A believer in a hovel — is happier than a worldling in a palace! A Christian at the worst — is far better off than a worldling at the best!

Whatever we have, we have with God’s blessing!

Whatever the world has, it has with God’s curse!

We are training for greatness and grandeur! The world is preparing for shame and everlasting contempt!

Let us not be worldly, if wealthy. The world is no model for a Christian. We should not dress so expensively, nor furnish our homes so extravagantly, nor live so luxuriously as the world does! But as strangers and pilgrims in the world, we should abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.

Let us not be dejected — if we are stripped of what we now have. We are not of the world — we do not have our portion here. We need but little of this world’s goods, and our Heavenly Father will see to it that we have enough. He will not allow us to lose anything that is essential to our holiness or happiness. As our lives are insured by our Heavenly Father — so all our needs are anticipated, and provided for. Lose what we may — we shall never lose . . .
our God,
the title deed of our glorious inheritance, or
our place at the marriage supper of the Lamb!

Let us never court the world’s friendship. We should be civil, courteous, and obliging — we should be ready to do it all the good we can; but too close an intimacy is injurious. "Don’t you know that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?" We must therefore be devoted to God, walk with God, and be on terms of the closest intimacy with God. But if we would — we must . . .
keep distinct from the world,
beware of the spirit of the world, and
declare by our whole bearing that we are not of the world.

Let us not be troubled much about the world. As we are . . .
chosen out of it,
redeemed from it, and
shall soon leave it — we should not allow ourselves to be very much affected by any of its affairs. The world’s politics, pleasures, and pursuits — should be looked upon by us with the eye of a foreigner — for we are strangers and pilgrims on the earth, as all our fathers were. We arrived in the world but yesterday — and we leave tomorrow; let us not, therefore, mix up with the world, or be much taken up with its schemes and cares, its speculations or its prospects.

Let us always keep up our distinction from the world. Not in a spirit of pride or self-righteousness, as if conscious of some supposed superiority in ourselves. But in a meek, lowly, and loving spirit — let us avoid all that is really evil, and abstain from what has the appearance of evil.

Let us always appear on the Lord’s side, assisting the Lord’s cause, and helping forward the Lord’s work.

Gracious Savior, we bless you that we are not of the world, even as you are not of the world. Help, O help us, by your grace and Spirit — to walk in the world as you did, and to treat the world as you did; and so either be the means of its conversion, or leave it without excuse.

Heavenly Father, as You have chosen us out of the world — give us grace to live above the world, and enable us to glorify You in the world! Make us like your beloved Son, who was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners. Oh, to live in this world as strangers and pilgrims — as those whose treasure is above — and whose hearts are there also!