The sinful tendency to conform to the world, to be contrasted with the biblical command to maintain contact with the world while avoiding becoming like the world. Believers are called to live in the world, while not being of the world. This attitude is supremely exemplified in the ministry of Jesus Christ.
The paradox of God's love for a sinful world
God's people are called to be separate from the world, yet a source of blessing to it
The example of Abraham
Genesis 12:1–3 The life of Abraham illustrates the important biblical balance, called to separation from his native environment to be a blessing to the nations. See also Genesis 15:7, Genesis 18:18; Galatians 3:8
Then the LORD said to Abram, “Leave your country, your kindred, and your father’s household, and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.”
The example of others
Genesis 41:56–57 Joseph; Daniel 2:48–49 Daniel and his friends
Conformity to the pagan standards of the OT world disparaged
Leviticus 18:28 with respect to sexual perversion; 1 Samuel 8:5; 1 Kings 21:7; 1 Kings 11:7–8 with respect to idolatry; Isaiah 13:19 with respect to pride; Isaiah 31:1; Zechariah 4:6
God's concern for the nations of the world
Isaiah 49:6 See also Jonah 4:11; Revelation 22:2
He says: “It is not enough for You to be My Servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the protected ones of Israel. I will also make You a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.”
Jesus Christ is a model of the required balance of being in the world but not of it
He was in the world
John 3:16–17 See also John 9:5, John 16:28
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.
He was not of the world
John 8:23 See also Luke 4:5–8 parallel Matthew 4:8–10; John 17:14, John 18:36; 1 John 3:1
Then He told them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.
He was a friend of the disreputable
Matthew 11:19 See also Mark 2:16; Luke 7:44–48
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is vindicated by her actions.”
He was concerned for outsiders
John 10:16 See also Matthew 28:19; Mark 7:24–30 parallel Matthew 15:21–28; Acts 1:8
I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them in as well, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd.
Believers are called to live in the world, while not being of it
They have been chosen out of the world
John 15:19 See also John 17:14, John 17:16; 2 Corinthians 6:17
If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.
They must avoid conformity with the world
Romans 12:2 See also 1 Thessalonians 4:3–5; 2 Timothy 4:10; Titus 2:12; James 1:27; 1 Peter 1:14–16, 1 Peter 4:3–4; 1 John 2:15, 1 John 5:4
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
They must maintain contact with the world
1 Corinthians 5:9–10 See also John 17:11
I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people. I was not including the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world.
They must do good in the world
Galatians 6:10 See also Titus 2:14
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.