Practice of the Christian Life
The Christian and the world
Sin entered the world through the fall [268]. Satan is the prince of this world [269] holding it through the power of death [270]. Unbelieving humanity lives under his power and thus is slave to sin [271].
The sinful nature is linked to the world through flesh, which having fallen is unable to please God [272] and cannot enter the Kingdom of God [273].
The world is powerful and spreads its corrupting influence [274] through the cravings of sinful people, the lust of their eyes, their boasting about what they have and do [275]. That is why Christ came to the earth in the likeness of sinful humanity and became a sin offering, crucifying the sinful nature [276]. Thus, as the misdeeds of the body were put to death [277], God’s child no longer lives controlled by his sinful nature [278].
Any confidence in the flesh is forbidden [279]. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God; they are His enemies [280]. The believer has been crucified to the world and is still living in the world [281] but he no longer belongs to the world [282]. He separates from the world [283], keeping himself from being polluted from the world [284] and purifying his heart from it [285]. He uses the things of the world although he is not engrossed in them [286], he no longer drinks from its fountain [287], since his citizenship is in heaven [288].
Toutefois, à l'exemple de Christ, Dieu nous envoie dans le monde, pour y porter la bonne nouvelle de Son amour et donner notre vie [289].