Scripture Reference: 1 Peter 1:13-2:3

Breaking With the World – Continued

Christ’s work for us was no afterthought on God’s part.

“He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you . . .”

The Redeemer was destined to die for us before the creation of the world. But at the end of the times, that is, at the end of the dispensation of law, He appeared from heaven to rescue us from our former way of life.

Peter adds these considerations to impress us even more deeply with the importance of making a clean break with the world system for which Christ died to deliver us from. We are in the world but not of it. It’s a true statement that we must not isolate ourselves from unregenerate men, but rather carry the gospel to them. Yet in our dealings and relationships with them, we must never share in or condone their sins; we are not meant to be enablers. We are to show by our lives that there is a better way to live and we do it by showing that we are children of an Almighty, yet loving God. The moment we become like the world, our testimony is weakened. There is no incentive for worldlings to be converted if they cannot see a difference, a change for the better in our lives.

Lincoln also commented in his lectures:

“In these last times—the world’s moral history was closed at the cross of Christ. It has shown itself fully and got to its end before God.” ²

Loyalty to the Lord Jesus is further demonstrated by what Peter tells us concerning the origin of our belief:

“[We] who through Him [Christ Jesus] believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”

In other words, it is through Jesus we have come to believe in God. He is the One who has revealed the Father’s heart to us. As the late W. T. P. Wolston, medical doctor and preacher said:

“It is not by creation nor providence nor law that man knows God, but by Christ.” ³

The Father indicated His complete satisfaction with Christ’s redeeming work by raising Him out from among the dead ones and honoring Him with the place of highest glory in heaven. The result of all this is that our faith and hope are in God. It is in Him, not in the present evil world system, that we live and move and have our being.

To Be Continued

² Lincoln, Lectures, p. 30, 33.
³ W. T. P. Wolston, Simon Peter: His Life and Letters, p. 270.
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
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