World

March 8

World

kosmos

Depending upon a given context, world (kosmos, G2889) can mean several things: earth, human race, etc. In its some 188 occurrences, however, it usually speaks of the "world system" or "world order," that is, the values, pleasures, inclinations, philosophies, goals, drives, purposes, attitudes, and actions of society. This system is totally man-centered and is quite vivid in the humanistic and relativistic society of today.

Ponder this contrast: Jesus’ words were, "Not my will but thine be done"; man’s words are, "Not thy will, but mine be done." As Martyn Lloyd-Jones put it, "They think as the world thinks. They take their opinions ready-made from their favourite newspaper. Their very appearance is controlled by the world and its changing fashion."

This domination of the world over man is seen today in every area of life. The popular phrase, "I am my own person," is false and foolish, because every person is dominated by the world. For example, most people just "follow the trends," the trends of dress, hair style, morality, and countless other things. Most people think that these trends are isolated, that they are all unrelated and are without any meaning. On the contrary, they are not isolated; they are all part of an underlying philosophy-worldliness. Legalism teaches that worldliness is what we do or don’t do, such as playing cards, going to a movie theater, or women wearing pants. Worldliness, however, is not something we do, but rather it’s something we believe. Outward behavior will certainly be an outworking of this, but worldliness is an attitude, a mindset, a philosophy.

All men and women, even Christians, are in one way or another dominated by the world. Why? Because we’re human; we are sinful. Only the Spirit of God can give victory over this domination. How tragic it is when Christians are dominated by the world! That is the reason for commands such as 1Jn_2:15: "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."

Scriptures for Study: Read 1 John 4, noting the significance of the word world. In light of that, what promise is given to the believer in 1Jn_5:4?

 
 Top of page