Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those
who live according to the pattern we gave you. For, as I have often told
you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the
cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach,
and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our
citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord
Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under
his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his
glorious body.
Philippians 3:17-21
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used
to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the
kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our
sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were
by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who
is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in
transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up
with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of
his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:1-7
"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged
to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the
world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.
John 15:18-19
I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not
of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take
them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are
not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your
word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.
For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
John 17:14-19
Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would
fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another
place."
John 18:36
Challenge Questions:
Do you look more like a citizen of heaven, or of the world?
The nitty-gritty:
But because of his great love for us,
God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive
with Christ even when we were dead in
transgressions...