In Christ, No Longer of This World

"They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them." (1 John 4: 5)

We need to understand that one we receive Christ, we are no longer of this world:

"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God." (1 Corinthians 2: 12)

If we are no longer of this world, then we should not expecting anything in this world to suffice for our spirit, soul, and body:

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1 John 2: 15)

Now, we are called not to love the world, since we have the love of the Father in our lives, because we have received the Holy Spirit of Adoption (Romans 8: 15)

John does not say that we should not love the world because the world is evil (even though we cannot ignore that this earth is fallen, and a new earth is coming):

"For all that is in 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. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." (1 John 2: 16-17)

God wants us to enjoy Him richly and eternally, which we cannot find in this fallen, temporary, unsatisfying earth.

We are no longer of this world, and therefore we should fear nothing in this world, either:

"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." (1 John 5: 4)

In the previous chapter, John reminds us of our standing before God:

"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)

If we are in Christ, and we are as He is (not was), then we have indeed overcome the world (1 John 4: 4), and thus we can have this confidence, too:

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." (1 John 4: 18)