by Dave Root, VividChristianity.com, last modified on 07/16/2024.

As you read this section, keep in mind that the New Testament is not merely a history book, it's meant to change us to become more and more like Jesus. When we read any passages in the New Testament, our goal should be to discern what God wants us to believe and do so that we can be obedient to Him.


(This information comes from chapter 4 in the free PDF of my book called Divine Healing Absolutely Is for Today.)

In the passages below, notice that Jesus said that we are in the world but not of the world.

For example, I'm a citizen of America with all the related rights and responsibilities. If I receive a summons to serve on a jury at a trial, then I would do my civic duty. I vote in the elections that our heavenly King tells me to vote in (see my article called How to Discern God's Guidance), and I vote for the people whom He tells me to vote for. I'm not concerned about who wins any election or what might be happening in the world unless our King tells me to take action on a certain issue. If the Lord tells us to get involved in a specific way concerning politics or other earthly matters, then taking those actions would be proper and appropriate. But if He does not tell us to get involved in an earthly issue, then it might not be proper or appropriate to take any action, no matter how small, based on our own feelings and motives.

It's all about having the proper perspective. As ambassadors for our King (2 Corinthians 5:20, below), our job is to obey what He tells us to do, in His written instructions (the New Testament) and His spoken instructions. He knows the outcome of every election and every world event, and He has planned out everything accordingly. He's in control, so we don't need to be concerned about what is happening in our own countries or in the world. It's very important to learn how to discern His guidance because only He knows how to steer us down the best path for the best outcome (see my article above).

For example, if you go to a foreign country on vacation, you're just visiting for a limited time. Therefore, you're not concerned about who the leaders are, who wins any election, or other concerns that the people of that country might have. We need to maintain the perspective that we're from another kingdom and we're visiting the earth for a limited time. But we're not just here on vacation; we're here as ambassadors, which means that we have a job to do here.

God knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:9-10), which means He knows the entire future of the world and He has planned everything out from before the universe was created (1 Corinthians 2:6-8, Ephesians 1:4-5, 1 Peter 1:20). He knows the outcome of every world event in advance, and He has made plans accordingly. Ideally, we would not be worried, fearful, anxious, or angry about events in our lives, our countries, or the world (e.g., Matthew 14:25-32, 17:5-7, 28:8-10, Luke 5:9-10, 8:22-25, 49-50, 12:4, 6-7, 11-12, 22-32, 21:12-15, John 14:27). We're not likely to live up to this ideal, but we should strive for it. Sometimes these events will impact us, but as we continually listen to and obey our heavenly King, He will guide us on the path that leads to the best outcome (see my article above).

As the following passages show, we need to maintain the perspective that we're in the world but not of the world just as Jesus was:

If you [the disciples] were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. (John 15:19 NKJV)

Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. (John 17:11-23 NKJV)

Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here." (John 18:36 NKJV)

As the following passages show, we need to maintain the perspective that we are citizens of heaven right now and members of God's household right now, and we're here on earth with jobs to do as Christ's ambassadors. Therefore, we must set our hearts and minds on things above, not on earthly things:

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:20)

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household (Ephesians 2:19)

We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:20)

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6)

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (Colossians 3:1-2)

As the following passages show, we must not conform to or be polluted by the ways and thinking of this world, but instead we must be transformed in our minds to have the proper perspective (God's perspective). We're told that if we're friendly with (or love) the things of the world (i.e., if we take on the interests, fears, and concerns of the world as our own), having the world's values and worldly priorities, then we are spiritual adulterers and adulteresses against God, aligning ourselves with His enemies. We're told to keep our minds governed by the Spirit and not by fleshly, worldly thinking because when our minds are in the realm of our flesh nature or worldly nature then we cannot please God. We need to consider ourselves as being crucified to the world, and the world as being crucified to us:

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2 NKJV)
["Living according to the lifestyle of "the present evil Age" (Gal 1:4; cf. Eph 1:21) must now be put aside. Then Paul commanded, But be transformed (pres. passive imper., "keep on being transformed") by the renewing of your mind. The Greek verb translated "transformed" (metamorphousthe) is seen in the English word "metamorphosis," a total change from inside out (cf. 2Co 3:18). The key to this change is the "mind" (noos), the control center of one's attitudes, thoughts, feelings, and actions (cf. Eph 4:22-23). As one's mind keeps on being made new by the spiritual input of God's Word, prayer, and Christian fellowship, his lifestyle keeps on being transformed." (The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Walvoord and Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary, Romans 12:1-2).]

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27)

You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship [philia] with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. (James 4:4)
["In James 4:4, philia involves the adopting of the interests of the world to be one's own" (The Complete Word Study Dictionary of the Old and New Testaments, Dr. Spiros Zodhiates, philia).
"Instead of the customary "my brothers," James bristled with you adulterous people. Again he asked a pointed question: Don't you know that friendship (philia) with the world (cf. "world" in Jas 1:27) is hatred toward God? Then he added, Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes (lit., "is constituted") an enemy of God." (The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Walvoord and Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary, James 4:4).]

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life - comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. (1 John 2:15-17)
["The world competes for the love of Christians and one cannot both love it and the Father at the same time. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. As James also had told his Christian readers, "Friendship with the world is hatred toward God" (Jas 4:4)." (The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Walvoord and Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary, 1 John 2:15).]

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. (Romans 8:5-9)

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18)

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also...No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. (Matthew 6:21, 24)

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (Galatians 6:14)

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. (Galatians 1:10)

Then he said to them all: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? (Luke 9:23-25)

Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: "If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters - yes, even their own life - such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple...those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples." (Luke 14:25-27, 33)
["To emphasize that discipleship is difficult, Jesus said that one must hate his own family and even his own life in order to be His disciple. Literally hating one's family would have been a violation of the Law. Since Jesus on several occasions admonished others to fulfill the Law, He must not have meant here that one should literally hate his family. The stress here is on the priority of love (cf. Mat 10:37). One's loyalty to Jesus must come before his loyalty to his family or even to life itself. Indeed, those who did follow Jesus against their families' desires were probably thought of as hating their families." (The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Walvoord and Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary, Luke 14:25-27).]

Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. (John 12:25-26)

As the following passages show, we need to offer ourselves completely to God, considering ourselves as His servants for carrying out His plans and purposes. We were bought at the price of Jesus' blood, so we need to humble ourselves and consider our lives as worth nothing to us, and run the race that God has marked out for each of us, fixing our eyes on Jesus:

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship. (Romans 12:1)

You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. (Romans 6:18-22)

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. (Romans 12:3)

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. (James 4:10)

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6-7)
["The command humble yourselves (tapeinothete) could be translated "allow yourselves to be humbled."" (The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Walvoord and Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary, 1 Peter 5:6-7).]

If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. (Romans 14:8)

And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. (2 Corinthians 5:15)

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession - to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14)

Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. (Acts 20:28)

And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. (Revelation 5:9)

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ - the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. (Philippians 3:7-9)

Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: "If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters - yes, even their own life - such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won't you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, 'This person began to build and wasn't able to finish.' Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won't he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples." (Luke 14:25-33)
["forsake all: The essence of discipleship is to place all things in God's hands. Jesus wants the crowds to understand this. Following Jesus is not a trivial matter. It is not how little you can give to God, but how much God deserves. cannot be My disciple: One is not really being a disciple if one is not fully devoted to God" (Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Commentary, Luke 14:33).
"says good-bye to all his property, "all his own belongings" (neuter plural participle used as substantive) as named in Luk 14:26. This verse gives the principle in the two parables of the rash builder and of the rash king. The minor details do not matter. The spirit of self-sacrifice is the point" (Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament, Luke 14:33).
"Forsaketh...Bids good-by to. Rev., renounceth. See on Luk 9:61. "In that forsaketh lies the key to the whole passage" (Trench). Christian discipleship is founded in self-renunciation." (Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament, Luke 14:33).]

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (Galatians 6:14)

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace. (Acts 20:24)

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. (1 Corinthians 9:24-25)

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

As the following passages show, we're repeatedly told not to be afraid, not to worry, not to let our hearts be troubled, and to be slow to become angry. God knows the outcome of everything that will happen in our lives and in the world, and He has planned everything out accordingly. We need to trust Him and follow His individual plan for our lives in order to have the best and safest outcome (see my article called How to Discern God's Guidance):

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" (Matthew 14:25-31)

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." (Matthew 28:8-10)

Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. (Mark 4:18-19)

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will fish for people." (Luke 5:8-10)

While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. "Your daughter is dead," he said. "Don't bother the teacher anymore." Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed." (Luke 8:49-50)

I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. (Luke 12:4-7)

Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you - you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them." (Luke 12:22-30)

Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:32)

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27)

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6-7)

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. (James 1:19-20)

All of the passages in this section describe certain perspectives and attitudes that God commands us to have. Are these your perspectives and attitudes? If not, then it's likely that you're elevating your own feelings and desires above God's commands, which is the cause of sin (see the Introduction).