The Word, the World, and the Believer
The purity, humility, and holiness of Christ antagonized the Jewish leaders and brought out their hatred, resentment, and the evil of pride, which, when acted upon, brings about murder and the worst in mankind—we truly are at enmity with God.
Christ’s life of self-denial and sinless devotion to the Father was reproof to proud mankind. Man stands in total contrast to God.
The mature believer recognizes the repulsive character of the sin nature of fallen man. When the Holy Spirit restores the unbeliever by faith in Christ, the contrast appears as a bright light against the darkness. The believer resisting temptation (by the power of the Holy Spirit) stirs the wrath of Satan and his demonic forces.
The pure principles of truth shine like a beacon in the dark places of the soul, but enmity between the forces of good and evil will remain until sin is removed from existence.
The offense of the cross shall not cease to offend forever and ever those who reject the redemption God offers through the cross of His Son. Believers will suffer persecution because we are at enmity with Satan. On the other hand, unbelievers are at enmity with God. What a striking contrast. Genesis 3:15 shall continue until the end of time—”all things.”
Sin is malignant.
Believers must understand that even though the barrier between them and God was removed by Christ at the cross, Satan vehemently seeks to break down the barrier God’s Word provides against sin, evil, and Satan (2 Corinthians 4:4).
In the regenerate heart, there is hatred for sin and the world. In the unregenerate soul, there is love of sin and a disposition to cherish and justify it.
Conformity to the world is sometimes subtle familiarization and accustomed association with sin that deceives even the believer. When there is more exposure to the world than to the Word, the believer’s conformity is non-conforming to the Word.
Notice that only one letter, the letter L, separates the Word and the world. Interesting, to say the least.
Satan is known in Scripture as the tempter. He is the wisest of created spirits, as was his original position before his great fall. As such, Satan subtly functions most successfully through those with education, wealth, talent, and looks—those who are admired, honored, and idolized by society. Talent, culture, and gifted people are gifts of God for the advancement of humanity. However, when these same gifts replace the God that gave them, they become a snare.
Good manners, good looks, honesty, integrity, and nice smiles are not necessarily reflections of a Christian, but just as likely a deception of Satan to deceive believers. They can be powerful tools (talents) for good and evil. That is why we are warned in 1 John 4:1 to test the spirits to see if they are of God.
Satan is the greatest counterfeiter of all, and if we are not grounded in Bible doctrine, it is nearly impossible to separate truth from untruth, the genuine from the impostor. It is the sophisticated, the educated, the refined, the wealthy, the self-righteous, and the successful, charming people who cause far more evil damage to the church and men’s souls than the uncultured and uneducated combined.
King Solomon obtained great wisdom through God’s truths and much prayer, praise, and meditation. But every time he turned from God to the world, he succumbed to temptation. Then his wonderful genius and power made him a very effective agent of the adversary, Satan.
At any given moment of consciousness, we are either ambassadors for Christ or agents of Satan. There is no middle ground, no gray area (please see Ephesians 6:11–12; 1 Peter 5:8). Never forget: Satan assailed Christ with his fiercest wrath and subtlest temptation, but Christ had the power to resist through the Word and the Holy Spirit.
As believers, we have the very same power source to stand against Satan and resist temptation.
With that in mind, certain questions become relevant:
- What do I do with this incredible power—utilize it or ignore it?
- What are my idols?