And here is part 2. If you did not listen to yesterdays study, please go one video back, these two belong together!

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1 John 2:15-17, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”

Yesterday, we meditated on the world, the things of the world, and why we shouldn’t love the world. To better understand this, I am taking a short side trip to John’s Gospel, where Jesus gives us a much deeper explanation. In one of Jesus’ last recorded prayers he said: “I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.” (John 17:14-18).

What does it mean to be not OF the world, but sent into the world?

WE WERE CHOSEN OUT OF THE WORLD
After becoming part of God’s family, we no longer belong to the world. We have been specifically chosen out of the world (John 15:19) to do God's bidding. Jesus chose his Bride, the Church, to be HOLY. This means to be separate, called out for God’s specific purpose. We can expect the world to hate us and persecute us because of this; but take heart Jesus has already overcome the world. (John 16:33)

WE WERE SENT INTO THE WORLD AS JESUS WAS
After being chosen out of the world and given a heavenly citizenship, we have been sent back into the world as representatives of Jesus, or as Paul states it “ambassadors.” “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” 1 Cor 5:17-20

As any earthy ambassador, our job is the represent our country (God’s Kingdom), to the country where we have been sent (the world).

WE ARE NOT TO CONFORM OR LOVE THE WORLD
The job of an ambassador is not to adapt the values and culture of their assignment, rather to promote the culture and values of their home country. In the same way, Scripture specifically tells us not to conform and/or love the world. Why is this important?
1. To be able to test and approve what the will of God is. (Rom 12:2)
2. Because the love of the Father would not be in us. (1 John 2:15)
3. We could lose our soul. (Matt 16:26)
4. Friendship with the world means hatred toward God. (James 4:4)
5. The world is temporary, God is eternal. (1 John 2:17)

WE ARE TO OVERCOME THE WORLD
God’s Word teaches us that we are to overcome the world. Thus means that we are not to be influenced by the world or the world system. 1 John 5:4,5 tells us that "everyone born of God" and "who believes that Jesus is the Son of God" overcomes the world. Often overcoming the world is very difficult. How does Scripture tell us this is accomplished?
1. With Jesus' Help - We have the help of Jesus because he has already overcome the world. (John 16:33)
2. By Living in the Spirit - Gal 5:16-26 describes how the Holy Spirit aids us in overcoming the sin of the world.
3. By the Grace of God - Titus 2:12 tells us that the grace of God teaches us to say "no" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age.
4. By Fixing our Eyes on Jesus - We are to fix our eyes on what is heavenly because the world and its passions are temporary (2 Cor 4:18)

APPLICATION
Reflect on Paul’s analogy of us being an ambassador of heaven. Research a little on the role of an ambassador, and ask God how you can be a better representative of His Kingdom in the unique situations where God has placed you.