"The World, The Flesh, And The Devil."

by CECIL BELTON | Category: The World, The Flesh, And The Devil. | Apr 1936

"THE WORLD."

The Greek word in the New Testament that is most frequently translated "world" is (kosmos), literally, "order." It appears to have a very comprehensive signification. It may mean

(a)The material world as an ordered whole, "The world was made by Him."

(b)The whole race of mankind, "God so loved the world."

(c)The God-antagonistic principle of corrupting-evil operating in the present "order" of things, see 1 John 2. 15, 17; 5. 19.

"The world" may bear any one of these meanings, or it may embrace more than one. The context must determine the idea presented in each instance. "The world" usually denotes that order of things which obtains in the world and is bad and opposed to God; but not invariably so for "the world was made by Him "-that is, the material world.

Another word that in several instances is translated" world" is "aion" (age). This is indicated in the R.V. margin, which gives the precise meaning of aion.

In reference to the present period, it brings before the believer the "world " as manifested by traits peculiar to the time, e.g., "Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world (age)" (2 Timothy 4. 10).

There is yet another word that is fairly often translated "world" - that is (oikoumene) which means "inhabited earth " This, also, is indicated in the margin of the R.V. as, e.g., "The Deceiver of the whole world (inhabited earth)" (Revelation 12. 9).

In John 1. 10 two things are said of the world in relation to the Word. It "was made by Him," and, it "knew Him not." At the beginning there had been instituted a divinely good and perfect "order" responsive to the will of the One who

had caused all things to be, and therefore a joy and pleasure to its Maker. When, however, He appeared on the scene, what a woeful change had taken place! All had altered in its attitude towards its Great Creator. It was not the world as He had made it that failed so lamentably in its recognition of His presence ; but another " order " of things, corrupt, evil, devilish, and altogether irresponsive to the Divine claims. Satan, that terrible being, had usurped authority, and with a fearful instrument-Sin, had perverted, distorted, and corrupted the original" order "and installed a new. This was the "world" into which the Word came. An "order" that was 'as much antagonistic to God as was the Adversary himself. An "order" that the Evil one had set up as his own domain. That this was recognised by the Most High, the words of the Lord and of the Holy Spirit show. "The Prince of this world." "The whole world lieth in the Evil one."

The designation "The Prince of this world ", shows us that Satan has not only usurped authority over the world; but he has also succeeded in thoroughly influencing and directing the whole manner of life of mankind (see Ephesians 2. 1-3). Then, further, 2 Corinthians 4. 3, 4, sets him forth as one who has successfully diverted to himself the homage and honour that is due to God alone; at the same time keeping his subjects in ignorance of this. This scripture, together with Revelation 12. 9, reveal the method by which he has attained this position, so exalted and so dreadful in its effects upon the destiny of God's most highly gifted creature of earth-Man. The method is deception. He is the Arch-deceiver. He blinds the minds of men to divine and eternal realities, and with deceitful promises of satisfaction, alluring them with passing pleasures that his dominion and service afford-" the pleasures of sin," which are but for "a season."

What wonder, then, that the world, under such dominion, "knew Him not." There was no affinity between it and Him. It was characterised by darkness and death; He by light and life. It by falsehood and injustice; He by truth and righteousness. It by hatred and oppression; He by love and mercy. The world, both by word and deed declared itself to be "not of the Father" (1 John 2. 16). The Lord, by all He said and did insistently proclaimed Himself to be of the Father (John 8. 26-29). He could in the truest sense say, "I am not of the world"; and consequently He could declare, "Me it hateth" (John 7. 7; and 17. 14-16).

This was the world that He so graciously honoured by His presence-a world only deserving of judgement at His hands. Yet "God sent not His Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through Him."

The world "knew Him not," because, as He said to the Father, "The world knew Thee not" (John 17. 25), "the only true God." "The world through its wisdom knew not God" (1 Corinthians 1. 21). The world around us abounds in wisdom and knowledge; but wisdom and knowledge which prove by their workings that they did not have their origin "from above." They do not bear the divine stamp, but the impress of the Adversary; for they are antagonistic to God and His Christ. Wisdom urges men to seek after knowledge, and directs and applies the knowledge gained. The wisdom of the world says, "Seek after knowledge. Search for the truth, but shut out of your minds the idea of God as the Great First Cause, for it will limit your enquiries." Then it applies the faulty knowledge thus obtained in yet further seducing men from their Maker; for " See! "it says, "All your accumulating knowledge goes to show that a personal God is non-existent." "That Old Serpent" long ago sowed the seed, the evil fruit of which abounds so plentifully in these last days, when he said, "Your eyes shall be opened. Ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil." So Man with all his "searching" cannot find out God, but is drawn farther and farther away from the true and heavenly wisdom and the knowledge manifested in and through the Incarnate Son of God Himself.

"All that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the vain-glory of life, is not of the Father, but

is of the world."1 John 2. 16.

Again, "the whole world lieth in the Evil One" 1 John 5. 19. We have seen that there is in Man a corrupt nature called "the flesh," which craves after the things that lead only to misery and death. Now we perceive that the Evil one has seen to it that it is provided with a fitting environment that responds to and gratifies t hose desires. Thus "the flesh" and "the world" work together to fulfil the dread purpose of the Evil one; who, in his bitter enmity against God, would work the destruction, if possible, of all that is His, or that He takes an interest in. Therefore Man, God's once-noblest creation of earth, in whom He takes especial interest, has the Devil's particular attention; so that he "hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn upon them."

Now, where do we stand who have known deliverance from the wrath that is coming upon this world and its god?

"I chose you OUT OF the world."

John 15. 19.

"The men whom Thou gayest Me OUT OF the world."

John 17. 6.

"0 Righteous Father, the world knew Thee not, but I knew Thee; and these knew that Thou didst send Me; and I made known unto them Thy Name."

John 17. 25, 26.

Through marvellous grace we find ourselves amongst those who have been "chosen out of the world," and who have been given to the Son as His especial treasure; and this not because we were in any wise worthier than others, for we were even as the rest " (Ephesians 2. 3). We are the special subjects of His prayer to the Father: the objects of His unquenchable love; occupying His thoughts, receiving His comfort, guidance, and intercession as expressed in John 17, when almost up to the very verge of that abyss of agony He was to descend into for our sakes.

"They are not of the world," He says. Being born from above, we have received a new nature, with desires, aspirations, ambitions, in keeping with our divine birth and heavenly destiny, and that is quite incompatible with "the world" and all that characterises it.

Not "of the world," yet in the world-" These are in the world." "I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil one." And what is the attitude of the world towards such? Can we expect any better treatment than that meted out to Him by that world which "knew Him not" ?-

"Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called children of God: and such we are. FOR THIS CAUSE THE WORLD KNOWETH US NOT, BECAUSE IT KNEW HIM NOT."

1 John 3. 1.

"The world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world."

John 17. 14.

"It hath hated Me before it hated you. ... because ye are not of the world .... therefore the world hateth you."

John 15. 18, 19.

The world in its Satanically-enveloped ignorance, "knew Him not." It would not recognise in Him the Son of the Blessed, and therefore denied Him all that was consistent with His dignity as such. He was just "a common carpenter's son." Had He only been content to live as Jesus the Carpenter, "the son of Joseph "-had He refrained from speaking those "things He had heard from the Father "-had He abstained from doing "the works" which the Father had given Him to do, He might have gone on in peace and quietness, unmolested and respected: but what would that have meant? The whole purpose for which He had entered the world would have been frustrated. He came to tell out the Father, and faithfully He did it, both by deed and word. Therefore the world, that hated God, hated Him for what it perceived in his works and words that convictingly declared God. If these things had any voice to the world, it was that He was right, and it was wrong. Wrong despite its wisdom, its knowledge, its culture, and its religion. His works tellingly proclaimed that He was from above, and all in the world was from beneath.

CECIL BELTON | Apr 1936
The World, The Flesh, And The Devil.