Key Idea: To live faithfully for Christ in a world opposed to Christ, we must be in the world but not of the world, for the purpose of witnessing to the world.
- We must be in the world
- Verse 15 – “I do not ask you to take them out of the world”
- Verse 18 – “so I have sent them into the world”
- But not of the world
- Verses 14 and 16 – “they are not of the world”
- For the purpose of witnessing to the world
- Verse 18 – “so I have sent them into the world”
- Verse 21, “so that the world may believe that you have sent me”
I. We must be in the world… (Verses 14-15)
To be “in the world” means we live in a culture that hates us and with the devil who opposes us.
A. The reality of being in the world: Suffering the hatred of the culture because we believe and live the Word
1. The reality of persecution: The world hates us
John 15:19–20 — 19 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. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
2. The reason for persecution: We believe, proclaim, and live out the Word
Examples of why the world should hate us:
- We should expect the world to hate us because we believe the gospel to be true, and we unashamedly proclaim it.
- We should expect the world to hate us because we believe we alone have truth, as found in the Bible.
- We should expect the hate us because of our views on sexuality, gender, and sexual expression
Examples of why the world shouldn’t hate us:
- We should be worried if the world hates us, not because of Gospel, but because of how we proclaim or defend the gospel SINFULLY.
- We should be worried if the world hates us, not for our views of sexuality and gender, but because of how we treat those who hold different views.
- We should be worried if the world hates us not for our allegiance to our Savior, but because of our allegiance to ideologies that are not truly and completely biblical.
- The response to persecution: Rather than annoyance, anxiety, anger or being afraid, we should lament, love, and be a light
B. The danger of being in the world: Succumbing to the lies of Satan because we don’t believe and live the Word
- Satan’s mission is evil
Ephesians 4:26–27 — 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil.
- Satan’s method is deception
Ephesians 6:11 — 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
John 8:44 — 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
- Beware of your source of truth
- Beware of Satan’s subtle lies, along with his obvious ones
- Beware of sharing the world’s truth with others
II. …but not of the world… (Verses 16-19)
Sanctified– May 16th
III. …for the purpose of witnessing to the world (Verses 20-23)
Unified for witness – May 23rd
