8848 worldliness

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.

The paradox of God’s love for a sinful world

Jn 3:16; 1Jn 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; Gal 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

Lev 18:28 with respect to sexual perversion With respect to concepts of leadership: 1Sa 8:5; 1Ki 21:7
1Ki 11:7-8 with respect to idolatry; Isa 13:19 with respect to pride With respect to self-reliance: Isa 31:1; Zec 4:6

God’s concern for the nations of the world

Isa 49:6 See also Jnh 4:11; Rev 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 Jn 3:16-17 See also Jn 9:5; Jn 16:28

He was not of the world Jn 8:23 See also Lk 4:5-8 pp Mt 4:8-10; Jn 17:14; Jn 18:36; 1Jn 3:1

He was a friend of the disreputable Mt 11:19 See also Mk 2:16; Lk 7:44-48

He was concerned for outsiders Jn 10:16 See also Mt 28:19; Mk 7:24-30 pp Mt 15:21-28; Ac 1:8

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

They have been chosen out of the world Jn 15:19 See also Jn 17:14,16; 2Co 6:17

They must avoid conformity with the world Ro 12:2 See also 1Th 4:3-5; 2Ti 4:10; Tit 2:12; Jas 1:27; 1Pe 1:14-16; 1Pe 4:3-4; 1Jn 2:15; 1Jn 5:4

They must maintain contact with the world 1Co 5:9-10 See also Jn 17:11

They must do good in the world Gal 6:10 See also Tit 2:14

See also