Things of the World

The apostle John, in his first letter to the early Christian Church at large is, as my own third volume in the "Faith" series (originally the "Getting to know you" series) seeks to show, defending "... the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints." (Jude 1:3). However, he also exhorts his readers, and one of those exhortations reads: "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world." (I John 2:15).

We must be wary of the world's "things," because although we are "in the world," we are not "of the world" (John 17:11, 14). The command is that we are not to love the world or its things, not that we should remain blissfully ignorant of them. We are to be "wise as serpents, and harmless as doves" (Matthew 10:16).

 

There are big things of the world like "kingdoms" and "nations" (Matthew 4:8; Luke 12:30), as well as cares and riches (Mark 4:19), that can sap our focus and drain our loyalties. And there are "elemental spirits" and "regulations," (Galatians 4:3; Colossians 2:20) that can twist our thinking and "make a prey" of us (Colossians 2:8).

 

We are warned that friendship with the worldly lifestyle and that which espouses the "things" of the world leads us to "enmity with God" (James 4:4). That is because such people embrace the "spirit of the world" and not "the spirit which is from God" (1 Corinthians 2:12). Those people speak about the things of the world, and the world listens to them (1 John 4:5).

 

God's people may be "low and despised" and "weak" — even "foolish" in the eyes of the world (I Corinthians 1:27-28). Of course, since the great Creator God has chosen us out of the world (John 15:19), it should not surprise us that the world "has hated", and continues to hate, those who belong to the Lord Jesus (John 17:14). Hence, the ungodly passions that drive the ungodly behavior of the world, "the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world". (I John 2:16).

 

Those passions and the people who embrace them will "pass away." But "he who does the will of God abides for ever." (I John 2:17).

The spiritual man

It has been claimed by some that, at least in "the west", we are living in the most "spiritual" age in the history of mankind. That may well be so - but "spiritual", I would suggest, can be a very vague word! For example, the Cambridge Dictionary defines it as: "relating to deep feelings and beliefs, especially (not solely!) to religious beliefs."

In the Second (New) Testament, the word rendered "spiritual" is the Greek word pneumatikos, from which theologians have coined the term "pneumatology," the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. Thus, from a Biblical perspective, a "spiritual" person is one who is not only born again spiritually through faith in Christ and the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit, but also tries diligently to follow the leading of the indwelling Spirit and to understand and obey the precepts of the Bible inspired by Him.

A spiritual person will have "the mind of Christ" (I Corinthians 2:16), able to judge all things by spiritual standards and Biblical revelation. He or she will "walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." knowing that "to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace." (Romans 8:4, 6). As such, spiritual believers prayerfully make decisions seeking God's will, they are "led by the Spirit of God" (Romans 8:14). And since they "walk by the Spirit," they "do not gratify the desires of the flesh." (Galatians 5:16).

 

They will often and repeatedly be "filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18) for Christian service. Furthermore, they will manifest "the fruit of the Spirit" in their lives and personalities — that is, "love,[expressed in] joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;" (Galatians 5:22-23).

 

Yet while "The spiritual man" is thereby able to discern and evaluate all things by such divine standards, he will find himself often misunderstood by unsaved relatives and acquaintances, for " The unspiritual man does not receive the gifts of the Spirit of God, ...... because they are spiritually discerned." (I Corinthians 2:14).

 

However, "he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life." (Galatians 6:8). 

The "Light" Equation

Leading a Bible Study, this week, in the congregation where I was minister more than 50 years ago, and using an illustration from my teaching career that involved a reference to quantum physics (!), has possibly influenced the topic for this week's blog post!

Light, which can be in either wave, or particle, form is the most constant, clearly observable, and all-pervasive material experience in our universe. It also appears regularly, in the Biblical text, which is rich with metaphors and similes! 

In John's first letter, he makes the simple, but profound, statement that "God is light" (1:5). In his account of the Gospel record, John also makes a number pof references to light. God's life is the light of men (John 1:4).

God's light is not conquered by darkness (John 1:5).

God's light attracts men who love truth (John 3:21).

Jesus is the "light of the world" (John 8:12).

 

John's emphasis in his epistle is focused on the application of the "light" in our lives. Since God is light (see also I Timothy 6:16), we can never be a participant in the life of God apart from the light of God (I John 1:6). If we claim fellowship with God, we must "walk in the light, as He is in the light" (I John 1:7). Since God is the "true light" (I John 2:8), we are not part of His family if we despise those He loves (I John 2:9).

 

It is equally obvious that since Almighty God is "holy" (Psalm 99:9) and "righteous" (Daniel 9:14), the light that we are to "shine" (Matthew 5:16) must be a "like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day". (Proverbs 4:18).

 

Our breastplate of righteousness (Ephesians 6:14) should blind the ungodly with the brilliance of our lifestyle of holiness — so much so that even if we are spoken against by those who hate God, they will be forced to glorify God because of our good works (I Peter 2:12).

 

Because the God of our salvation is "the light of the world" (John 9:5) and we have been made "the children of light" (Ephesians 5:8), that we "may declare the wonderful deeds of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." (I Peter 2:9).

Fifth Sunday

My apology. This should, of course, have been posted last Sunday and, indeed, the link was was sent out to those on the mailing list at that time. No idea why I failed to publish it at that time. However, "better late than never" - although, as my SS teacher, some 70 years ago, would point out: "Better never late"!

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Yes, it's another "Fifth Sunday" - the second for this year. Two more to go! Indeed I read somewhere that every year has four such months, but the specific months vary. Perhaps some clever person can confirm/deny this claim!

As is now usual, I wish to share something about the persecuted church and, of course, promote one of my own books, remembering that all royalties from purchases are sent, directly, to Release International, in support of the persecuted church.

Many years ago, I realised that I could not meaningfully pray for all of the 50+ countries in the world where, to a greater or lesser extent, disciples of Jesus suffer persecution solely because of their faith in Him. The Lord directed me to pray for three specific countries. One of those was Pakistan, and in this post I am sharing a bulletin from Release International that arrived in my Inbox today (Friday), and that concerns that very country.

"One of Release International’s partners in Pakistan cares for, supports and disciples those who have come to faith in Christ from a Muslim background, particularly those who are isolated because of their faith.

Our partner organises gatherings where believers are able to encourage one another and build one another up in faith and community.

Pray for the head of our partner organisation, who has had surgery following a stroke earlier this year. He considers it a miracle that the surgery was able to take place. Pray for complete healing and restoration.

Pray for Christians from a Muslim background in Pakistan. Pray that they would continue to grow in their faith. In particular, pray for two brothers who were recently baptised. They had previously been tortured for professing faith in Christ.

Pray for those living in a safe house provided by our partner; for continued good and fruitful fellowship. Pray also for the provision of an additional safe house in the coming months."

If you wish to learn more about Pakistan, please follow this link:

https://releaseinternational.org/country/pakistan/?utm_source=Emails+from+Release+International&utm_campaign=9491abf2c3-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2026_05_28_08_22&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-9491abf2c3-381802718

"Great Words" was my first publication in a series that was to be known as "Getting to know you". However, I eventually realised that the succeeding books didn't really fit well under such a general heading, and so I changed it to the "Faith" series, as that word is the real common denominator.

The book started off, in Bellshill St. Andrew's Parish Church (now U.F.Church) as a summer sermon series of 6/7 words that I realised many in my congregation didn't fully understand. The story of how they became a book is shared in the Introduction! One of those who endorsed the book wrote: 

"Brian presents his work as the long-term fruit of preaching and broadcasting.  His aim is to give simple explanations of key Christian terms for the 'ordinary Joe' who has no formal theological training, but who would benefit from a clearer grasp of basic Christian concepts.  He maintains a preaching style throughout, and illustrates his explanations from his own rich experience and wide reading.  Throughout the work, he challenges the reader to respond to his writing.

Rev. Dr. George J. Mitchell

Former Lecturer in Old Testament Studies, the Bible Training Institute"

Leaving and Following.

In his account of the Gospel record, Dr Luke shares the incident in which the Lord Jesus, having resisted the temptations of the enemy; been rejected in Nazareth, where He had been raised; cast out a demon in Capernaum; healed the mother-in-law of Simon; and preached in the synagogue; was preaching at the shore of Lake Gennesaret. As the crowd pressed in on Him, He saw a couple of fishing boats drawn up on the beach while the fishermen were washing their nets. He got into one of them - that happened to belong to Simon - and asked him to put out a little way from the land. Then, having taught the people, He instructed Simon to "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” (Luke 5:4). Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at Your word I will let down the nets.” The catch that they now took was so great that even with the other boat helping, the boats began to sink under the weight of the fish.

Simon was completely overcome, and "fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” (v.8}. The Lord Jesus replied to Simon, and to James and John who were his partners: “Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men.”  And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him." (vs.10-11)

Perhaps we take too lightly the fact that the disciples "left everything and followed Him." This action involved at least two aspects, the leaving of their former life, and the realignment of their loyalty.

 

The Greek word translated as "leaving" is used in a variety of extreme situations, including the "putting away" of a spouse (I Corinthians 7:11-12; also "leave," v. 13), and even death. "And Jesus cried again with a loud voice and yielded up (same word) His spirit." (Matthew 27:50). This leaving implies a complete severing of a situation or relationship.

 

Furthermore, they "left everything". For Peter, James, John, and Andrew, this involved leaving a prosperous business; for Matthew, a prestigious position of wealth - in other words, their careers. Certainly each left their livelihood, security, training, possessions, relationships, hopes - everything! "So therefore, whoever of you does not renounce all that he has cannot be My disciple." (Luke 14:33).

 

Next, the disciples needed to restructure their lives and loyalties to those of Christ. The word "follow" implies a unity of purpose and direction. Jesus told the rich young ruler: "You lack one thing; go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow (same word) Me" (Mark 10:21).

 

The Lord Jesus issues the same call to discipleship to each of us. Peter asked Him the question which we frequently ask. “Lo, we have left everything and followed You. What then shall we have?” (Matthew 19:27). The Saviour answered, "every one who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for My Name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life." (v. 29).

How ready are you, am I, to leave everything and follow Him? That's a good question!