In Not Of
Christ teaches us to be separated from the world by living loyally under Him, obeying His will, and witnessing for Him.
Mary Wilder Tileston, through the words of James Montgomery, emphasizes the importance of Jesus interceding for believers in times of trial to prevent them from denying Him. She delves into the concept of Christians being in the world but not of it, called to live under Christ's rule amidst a society that rejects Him, and to boldly obey righteousness in the face of prevailing desires. Tileston stresses the significance of Christians living as soldiers and servants of Christ, bearing witness to Him through their actions and words by obediently following His will, thus glorifying God.
Text
I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
JOHN 17:15
IN the hour of trial,
Jesu, plead for me;
Lest by base denial
I depart from Thee.
JAMES MONTGOMERY
OUR Lord would have His people to be in the world, and yet to be separate from it. He would have them be separated, not by isolation from it, but by living loyally under Him as their King, where His claims are denied and His rule is rejected; by courageously living in obedience to righteousness where desire is too generally the impelling and formative power. To live in the world as Christ's soldiers and servants; to witness for Him by word and deed as we live in obedience to His will--this is the separation which Christ teaches, this is the separation that gives glory to God. Woe be to us if we fail in expressing by loyal obedience here our loyalty to Christ as our King! To fail here is to bear stamped on us the brand of a traitor's moral cowardice, and a brand of greater shame than it no mortal brow can bear.
GEORGE BODY
Sermon Outline
- Christ's Prayer for Protection
- Not to be taken out of the world, but kept from evil
- Separation from the world, not by isolation, but by living under Christ
Key Quotes
“OUR Lord would have His people to be in the world, and yet to be separate from it.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“To live in the world as Christ's soldiers and servants; to witness for Him by word and deed as we live in obedience to His will--this is the separation which Christ teaches, this is the separation that gives glory to God.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
Application Points
- We must live loyally under Christ as our King, obeying His will and witnessing for Him by word and deed.
- Failing to express loyalty to Christ results in moral cowardice and shame.
- We must be courageous in our obedience to righteousness, even in the face of rejection and denial.