"They are not of the world, as I am not of the world."

The believer is not of this world. He's something different altogether.

First, this is the best definition of who we are. We are new creations in old bodies. We look the same, talk with the same mouth, but different things come out of it. We have an obsession with Jesus Christ. This is not a show. The Spirit that dwells in us gives glory to God, and we are happiest in wild pursuit of Christ.

I asked the Lord to make me as passionate about Christ as I was about living for myself, and He's answering with authentic joy, because this is who we are designed to be. If any man is in Christ, he's a new creation, and old things have passed away. Everything is new [2 Cor 5:17]. We have a new purpose in life, which is winning souls [Prov 11:30]. We have new habits, tastes, and desires.

We ought to consider ourselves completely new, rather than holding onto the old. We're NO LONGER of the world, and we can't fit in. We must do old things in a new way. We drink wine but not to get drunk. We talk to people, but not for fornication and lust. Many think it strange that we don't passionately pursue evil. 1 Peter 4:3-4, "For there has already been enough time spent in doing what the pagans choose to do: carrying on in unrestrained behavior, evil desires, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and lawless idolatry. So they are surprised that you don’t plunge with them into the same flood of wild living—and they slander you."

Secondly, being not from the world, let us expect persecution. We're no longer of the world's religion - the silly stuff that tries to justify itself before God. We've entered the inheritance of sonship, and we are Christ focused, which is foolishness to the man without the Spirit [1 Corinthians 2:14]. We have an appetite for what pleases God, while everyone else is pleasing themselves. We've come over to His way.

Imagine Paul the persecutor now standing before royal courts testifying that he's seen Jesus and been commissioned by Him [Acts 26:16]. Everyone thinks he's mad, some are almost persuaded, but no man can receive the testimony without the Holy Spirit. Thus, Paul is hated by the religion that hates grace. True holiness is offensive. He's put to death by the religious and non religious alike. He's utterly rejected and abandoned, because he's not of this world.

Thirdly, let us fight. Not being of this world is no reason to keep quiet. We have God and truth. We're on a rescue mission. Proverbs 11:30, "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,

but he who wins souls is wise." We're on the right side, and more power is for us than against us! 2 Kings 6:16 Elisha said, “Don’t be afraid, for those who are with us outnumber those who are with them.”

Let's not use the TACTICS OF THIS WORLD to win men to Christ. They won't work [2 Timothy 2:24-25]. They're won by the valiant defense of the gospel, which meets spiritual needs determined by God, such as wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption [1 Corinthians 1:30]. He wants us glorying in the flesh no longer, but relying on Him to save sinners.