Ep. 21 - The Christian’s Understanding of the World
Episode Description
When the Bible speaks of the world, it means more than geography. Often it describes a system actively opposed to God -- marked by vanity, energized by the god of this world, and characterized by everything Paul catalogs in 2 Timothy 3. How should a Christian understand this system? And how should that understanding shape the way we live in it?
In this episode, Pastor Josh examines the Christian’s understanding of the world across four movements. First, the world’s nature: everything under the sun is vanity and passing away (Ecclesiastes 2:11, Psalm 39:5-6). Second, the world’s opposition: it is at enmity with God, blinded by the god of this world, and producing the perilous times of 2 Timothy 3. Third, the Christian’s response: not withdrawal, but love -- entering the system as Christ did, wielding the sword of the Spirit, transformed by the renewing of the mind, in the world but not of it. Fourth, the eternal contrast: the world passeth away and the lust thereof, but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever (1 John 2:17). The world is loud, flashy, and temporary. Christ is eternal, faithful, and unshakable.
Key Scriptures
Ecclesiastes 2:11 -- All Is Vanity and Vexation of Spirit
Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
Psalm 39:5-6 -- Every Man at His Best State Is Altogether Vanity
Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah. Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.
Psalm 49:10-12 -- Man Abideth Not
For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others. Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names. Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.
1 Corinthians 7:31 -- The Fashion of This World Passeth Away
And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
1 John 2:15-17 -- Love Not the World
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
Romans 12:2 -- Be Not Conformed to This World
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
James 4:4 -- Friendship with the World Is Enmity with God
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
1 John 5:19 -- The Whole World Lieth in Wickedness
And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
2 Corinthians 4:4 -- The God of This World
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
2 Corinthians 10:5 -- Taking Every Thought Captive
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.
Colossians 3:2 -- Set Your Affection on Things Above
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Jeremiah 9:23-24 -- Glory in Knowing the Lord
Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.
Proverbs 11:7 -- The Hope of the Wicked Perisheth
When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.
1 Corinthians 10:31 -- Do All to the Glory of God
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
Episode Outline
The World Defined -- Not just geography; a system opposed to God, marked by sin (1 John 5:19)
The World’s Nature -- Vanity, perishing, and passing away (Ecclesiastes 2:11, Psalm 39:5-6, 1 Corinthians 7:31)
Man’s Folly -- Heaping up riches and calling lands after his name; like the beasts that perish (Psalm 49:10-12)
The World’s Opposition -- Enmity with God, friendship with the world is enmity with God (James 4:4, 1 John 2:15-17)
The God of This World -- Blinding the minds of them that believe not (2 Corinthians 4:4, Ephesians 2:2)
The Christian’s Response -- Love, not withdrawal; entering the system as Christ did with the light of the gospel
Transformed by the Renewing of the Mind -- Romans 12:2 and taking every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5)
In the World but Not of It -- Using the world without abusing it; affections set above (Colossians 3:2)
The Eternal Contrast -- The world and its lusts pass away; he that doeth the will of God abideth forever (1 John 2:17)
Questions Discussed
When the Bible speaks of the world, what does it mean -- and how should a Christian think about it differently?
If the world is passing away, why are so many Christians tempted to live as if it will last forever?
What does it mean that the whole world lies in wickedness -- and who is the god of this world?
What is the Christian’s response to a system actively opposed to God?
What does it mean to be in the world but not of it?
Are your affections set on things above, or on the things of this world that are passing away?
What is the difference between the hope of the wicked when he dies and the blessed hope of the believer?
