To be “of the world,” is to be judgment. Solemn truth The Lord Jesus, in the prospect of “what death He should die,” said, “NOW is the judgment of this world.” (John 12) The statement by the apostle John, that “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness,” (or the wicked one,)” is a bold and blessed one for those who are “of God;” but an awful one as regards “the whole world.” The world representatively by its “princes,” or great ones, “crucified the Lord of glory,” and is consequently under the judgment of God for that heinous act.
And yet in love to this very world, God “gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God.” (John 3.) But, then, every one who thus believes “is delivered from this present evil world,” and thenceforth is not of the world, even as Jesus is not of the world. They are in the world, and pass through it as those who are sent into it, but they are not of it.
It matters not, then, as regards the standing of a soul before God, what its character is, if it be “of the world.” One may be amiable, moral, benevolent, active, and intelligent in all matters affecting the good of his fellow-creatures, and even devout in the services and charities of religion; but if he be “of the world,” he is under its judgment, from which there is no escape but b” faith in the Son of God. The soul that believes God’s record concerning His Son, the Saviour of the world, is not only delivered from “the wrath to come,” but he is no longer “of the world.” He is “born again,” “born of God,” has a new life; Christ that life, is not a citizen of the world, but has His citizenship in heaven. His hope, His aims, His end, and His eternal portion, are not of the world which fadeth away, but are “of God,” established to Him in Christ, the Son of His love.