Worldliness (2)

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The sinful tendency to conform to the world, to be contrasted with the biblical command to maintain contact with the world while avoiding becoming like the world. Believers are called to live in the world, while not being of the world. This attitude is supremely exemplified in the ministry of Jesus Christ.

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The paradox of God’s love for a sinful world

Jn 3:16; 1 Jn 2:15–16

God’s people are called to be separate from the world, yet a source of blessing to it

The example of Abraham

Ge 12:1–3 The life of Abraham illustrates the important biblical balance, called to separation from his native environment to be a blessing to the nations.
See also Ge 15:7; Ge 18:18; Ga 3:8

The example of others

Ge 41:56–57 Joseph; Da 2:48–49 Daniel and his friends

Conformity to the pagan standards of the OT world disparaged

Le 18:28 with respect to sexual perversion

With respect to concepts of leadership:

1 Sa 8:5; 1 Ki 21:7
1 Ki 11:7–8 with respect to idolatry; Is 13:19 with respect to pride

With respect to self-reliance:

Is 31:1; Zec 4:6

God’s concern for the nations of the world

Isaiah 49:6 ESV
he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”
See also Jon 4:11; Re 22:2

Jesus Christ is a model of the required balance of being in the world but not of it

He was in the world

John 3:16–17 ESV
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
See also Jn 9:5; Jn 16:28

He was not of the world

John 8:23 ESV
He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.
See also Lk 4:5–8; Jn 17:14; Jn 18:36; 1 Jn 3:1

He was a friend of the disreputable

Matthew 11:19 ESV
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”
See also Mk 2:16; Lk 7:44–48

He was concerned for outsiders

John 10:16 ESV
And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
See also Mt 28:19; Mk 7:24–30; Ac 1:8

Believers are called to live in the world, while not being of it

They have been chosen out of the world

John 15:19 ESV
If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
See also Jn 17:14; Jn 17:16; 2 Co 6:17

They must avoid conformity with the world

Romans 12:2 ESV
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
See also 1 Th 4:3–5; 2 Ti 4:10; Tt 2:12; Jas 1:27; 1 Pe 1:14–16; 1 Pe 4:3–4; 1 Jn 2:15; 1 Jn 5:4

They must maintain contact with the world

1 Corinthians 5:9–10 ESV
I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.
See also Jn 17:11

They must do good in the world

Galatians 6:10 ESV
So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
See also Tt 2:14
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