Galatians 1: 1-5
Not only are believers delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of God’s dear Son, but the sacrifice of Christ which made this deliverance possible also delivers God’s children from this present evil world (v. 5).
This is a very important truth in our day when so many who profess to be God’s children are so deeply involved in “this present evil world”. Instead of recognizing the world as an enemy, they treat it as a friend. Instead of repudiating the ways of the world, they foolishly claim that they can use those worldly ways to win the lost to Christ or to enjoy a godly walk.
But what does God’s Word say? What is God’s will for His children – every one of them? Look again at verse 4. One of the reasons Christ gave Himself for our sins was to deliver us from this present evil world; and furthermore God says that this is His will for us – ALL OF US!
Frequently we hear from believers who are deeply troubled about the worldliness in their own church. So often they ask, “Is something wrong with me? When I express concern about the increasing worldliness of our group, I am considered a trouble maker; I am accused of being unwilling to change; I am told that the old ways just don’t work with this modern generation; I am commanded to wake up and realize that the new ways really work and produce sensational results.”
No, there isn’t something wrong with a believer who warns that the world is an enemy – not a friend. The problem lies not with a faithful minority but with a compromising majority. The Word of God is very clear on this matter. Too many who claim to be evangelical because they do not deny the major doctrines of the Christian faith, are ignoring the strong warning God gives in I John 2: 15-17 to those who love the world.
Worldliness never produces benefits for the believer; it is always costly! In II Timothy 4:10 we read of Demas who had the great privilege to be a companion of the Apostle Paul, one of Christ’s greatest ministers. But he lost that priceless fellowship because “he loved this present world”.
Fellow believer, there is no question but that the world has many attractive programs to offer whether it be music, worship, or even evangelism. However, to enjoy God’s best and God’s rest, we must accept Christ’s deliverance from the world rather than to be deceived and contaminated by it.
