Holiness in an Unholy World

          Highlights from the sixteenth chapter of The Pursuit of Holiness,
     by Jerry Bridges.

             

                                                  
                               "My prayer is not that you take them out of the world
                                but that you protect them from the evil one."
                                                                      John 17:15


          All believers must live their Christian lives in the context of an unholy
     world.  Some face extraordinary temptation as they live in the midst of a
     flagrantly sinful atmosphere.

          Unless the Christian is prepared for such evil assaults on his mind and
     heart, he will have great difficulty maintaining personal holiness.

          James said that part of true religion consists in keeping ourselves,
     "from being polluted by the world" (James 1:27), and Paul urged us to
     "come out from them and be separate" (2 Corinthians 6:17).

          It is clear from our Lord's prayer that He does not intend for us to with-
     draw from contact with the world of non-Christians (John 17:15).  Instead,
     He said we are to be "the salt of the earth" and "the light of the world"
     Matthew 5:13-14).

          Christians will live in the midst of an unholy world, and we are never
     told in scripture that it will be easy to live in a godless environment.  Instead,
     we are warned to expect ridicule and abuse.


                                        "In fact everyone who wants to live a godly
                                         life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted ... "
                                                                                2 Timothy 3:12


          Instead of withdrawing from contact with the world, we must strive to re-
      sist its influence.  To do this we must first of all resolve to live by the con-
      victions God has given us from His Word.

          But even though we resolve to live in the world by the convictions God has
     given us from His Word, and we openly identify ourselves with Christ, we are
     still often subjected to the pollution of unholy surroundings.

          The Bible is our best defense against this pollution.  David said, "How can
     a young man keep his way pure?  By living according to your word" (Psalm 119:9).
     The Bible will cleanse our minds of the defilement of the world if we meditate
     on its teachings.  It will also serve as a continual warning to us not to succumb to
     frequent temptations to indulge our eyes and thoughts in the immorality around us.

         We are to be salt and light to the world.  God alone knows how more corrupt the
     world would be without the restraining example , life, and prayers of the saints.
     As the "light of the world" we are the bearers of the good news of salvation.  Jesus
     Himself is the true light and just as it was said of John the Baptist, we are to be
     "a witness to testify concerning that light (John 1:7-9).

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          Above all, we must look to Jesus who, though He ate with tax collectors and
     sinners, was Himself "holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above
     the heavens" (Hebrews 7:26). 

          And we must claim His promise that "No temptation has seized you except
     what is common to man.  And God is faithful;  He will not let you be tempted be-
     yond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way
     out so that you can stand up under it" (1 Corinthians 10:13).