Not Of The World

It is the Lord Jesus Christ who tells His followers that if we are men and women of faith then we are not of this world. In Jesus Christ you and I are already heavenly people according to His gift of grace in the new creation. This is another wonderful statement to thrill our hearts from the lips of the Master. Once we were of this world. We were born into it, tutored under its direction and followed its paths. Like Adam, the first man, we were of the earth, earthy.

Then and now

But something changed. Conversion is real. The transformation effected in our soul by God the Holy Ghost means we are no longer of this world. We are a spiritual people. We are called by Christ and born again to become partakers of His life. We are united to Christ. He is the true vine and we are the branches. We are one with Him and as He is not of this world, neither are His people. Though we remain yet for a little while in the world, we are not of the world.

You are different

Our divergence from this world and connection with heaven is the Saviour’s explanation for the disciples’ impending troubles. They would know like-persecution from the Jewish religious leaders as their Master had endured. While suffering is grievous it ought to comfort us that the world’s reaction to us reveals and expresses its true feelings towards our Saviour and our heavenly Father. Persecution is evidence of the difference the Lord has made in our lives. 

Different by design

We are reminded it is the Lord who chose and called His disciples out of this world. The Lord maintains His right freely to call whomsoever He will according to grace. No merit of man governs His choice, no flesh shall glory in His sight. If we are His it is because He first chose us to that privileged state and appointed us to our various roles and service. The ways and means of our lives are all according to the Saviour’s wisdom and goodness. 

Fore-armed

Warning of the trouble to come prepared the Lord’s disciples for what lay ahead. We know James was put to death early in the apostolic age. The other Apostles were scourged, beaten, mocked and imprisoned. The Lord’s followers should expect opposition and even persecution despite giving no cause for it. Christ’s church is not to be guilty of wrongdoing or bad behaviour. We endeavour to live peaceably with all men. Nevertheless, hostility comes for the sake of Christ’s name. 

Without excuse

It seems clear that particularly the Jews were in view here. The Apostles’ great offence was asserting that the Lord Jesus was the long-promised Messiah, come from the Father, whom the Jews claimed to worship. The coming into the world of the Son of God in flesh left these deceived men without any excuse for their unbelief. Christ, the Messiah, had appeared to them, sent from God. His message, miracles and works testified of Him, as did the prophets of old. The Jews’ rejection of God the Son betrayed their hatred and ignorance of God the Father. 

The revelation of Jesus Christ

The gospel of God’s grace and mercy as preached by Jesus Christ left these men with no cloke for their sin of unbelief. Today, the same gospel of grace, of forgiveness by the blood of Christ and imputation of divine righteousness likewise leaves men without excuse. Religious professors who still promote the will and works of the sinner in the process of salvation are similarly guilty as the Jews. Christ Himself has come and declared the truth to them. 

One gospel for the ages

When the Holy Ghost came at Pentecost the Apostles preached the same gospel of God’s grace by the person and work of Jesus Christ. They preached repentance, faith and the sovereign, fore-ordination of God in the work of salvation. The Apostles received this message from Christ, being with Him from the beginning of His ministry and had it confirmed to them by the Spirit of truth. The true church has the same apostolic message today and bears witness to the same Saviour and the same grace as did the Apostles then.

Amen.