Sunday, February 5, 2012

No Part of the World

Dear Anon,
Sorry it took a while to finish your question. Perhaps I can complete that today.
You said your question is in regard to John17:14, and who Jesus was speaking of. You also ask if Jesus was speaking to the anointed, and if so, in what way would Jesus' words impact un-anointed?

John17:14 reads:
 "I have given your word to them, but the world has hated them, because they are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world."

First we should use the rest of what Jesus said, in order to understand what these things mean.
"I have given your word to them"
If you go back up to verses 6-8:

6 “I have made your name manifest to the men you gave me out of the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have observed your word. 7 They have now come to know that all the things you gave me are from you; 8 because **the sayings that you gave me I have given to them**".

Notice that Jesus is explaining, that it was **Jehovah's "sayings"** of Truth that Jesus gave his anointed ones. He describes these ones as already belonging to Jehovah. Because Jesus viewed them as belonging to his Father, he gave his Father's words to them. In this way, they came to know Jehovah fully.

These sayings were not merely the scriptures, as recorded in Hebrew and Aramaic. Those sayings were what Jesus learned directly by means of God's Holy Spirit. Until Jesus paid the ransom, these ones could not receive the teachings of Holy Spirit directly themselves (John14:2b)...
John16:7:
 "Nevertheless, I am telling YOU the truth, It is for YOUR benefit I am going away. For if I do not go away, the helper will by no means come to YOU; but if I do go my way, I will send him to YOU.
In time, these ones would also receive education by Holy Spirit."

As we see in John17:9,10... Jehovah would give these ones to Jesus, that he might finish their education and training by means of that spirit (1Pet.5:10), and become their life giving father (John17:3; Isa.9:6; John3:16,17). By means of the progressive Truth that Jesus would give, these ones would become "sanctified" (John17:17). This was the goal of their education.
Titus 3:4-6
 "However, when the kindness and the love for man on the part of our Savior, God, was manifested, 5 owing to no works in righteousness that we had performed, but according to his mercy he saved us through the bath that brought us to life and through the making of us new by holy spirit. 6 This [spirit] he poured out richly upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior"
"sanctify", "bath", "making of us new"...by means of that spirit and truth (John4:24)

Why did Jesus CONTRAST those who knew Jehovah's "sayings", with the "world"?

Because the "sayings" and teachings of the "world" are from the Devil (Rev.12:9; 1John4:1,4,5,6; 1John2:15,16; 1John3:1). Those things are full of deception. Instead of sanctification, cleansing, and healthful for everlasting life...
they are demonic, corrupt, filthy, and deadly (James3:15). Those things think in fleshly terms, focused on the gaining of power and things that can be seen with the eyes. Of these things, the anointed are to be no part of.
Although that might seem obvious, the Greek scriptures are full of examples of yes, even anointed ones in the Congregation, who were overcome with corrupting pride (1Cor.4:8,9,10,11,12,13,14). They went out from the body of Christ (1John2:19). They were blinded when they made themselves a part of the world (2Cor.4:4). Confident in their own righteousness, they forgot the course of Christ (1Pet.2:21). They did not even recognize their fall (Rev.2:5; 8:10).

Those who truly remain in the word of Christ, and continue to be taught by spirit, will remain chaste and separate from the teachings of the "world" (1Cor.11:2; Rev.14:4,5). Jesus enjoyed a far greater glory than this world can offer, and he wished that sanctification for his brothers as well. That glory is not one that can be measured or recognized by this world's standards (John15:19).

"but the world has hated them, because they are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world"

Yes, the unseen ruler of this world hates the anointed vessels of Truth (Rev.12:10,13,15,17). These ones can not be bought with any of this world's enticements (Matt.4:8,9,10). Satan will see to it, that just as Christ was treated, so too will these ones be treated inhospitably, or worse (John16:2,33).
There is no blending of truth and lies (2Cor.6:14,15,16,17,18)...the spiritual glory of humility and worldly glory (1Peter5:6)...walking by spirit and walking by sight (2Cor.5:7)...giving your life for others (John15:13) and dominating others for your own interests (1Cor.10:24; Jer.23:1).

John17:22:
 "Also, I have given them the glory that you have given me, in order that they may be one just as we are one."

The love and knowledge of truth shared between Jehovah, His Son, and those who belong to them, is a bond that unifies them. It is no part of Satan's world.

1John3:19,23,24:
19 By this we shall know that we originate with the truth, and we shall assure our hearts before him 23 Indeed, this is his commandment, that we have faith in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and be loving one another, just as he gave us commandment. 24 Moreover, he who observes his commandments remains in union with him, and he in union with such one; and by this we gain the knowledge that he is remaining **in union with us, owing to the spirit which he gave us** (the spirit of the truth John16:13).

Regarding others who are not anointed...see verses 18 and 21
 18 Just as you sent me forth into the world, **I also sent them forth into the world**.
 21 in order that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in union with me and I am in union with you, that they also may be in union with us, in order that **the world may believe that you sent me forth**.

From this we see that those who are in the world, can receive these ones who are sent forth (Matt.10:40; John13:20). By observing the fine teachings (fine fruit from fine trees Matt.12:33,35; John7:17) from God, these can come to believe that Jesus was sent forth from God. ( pearl-finetrees.blogspot.com )

With that faith, they also can receive the sayings of God, learn truth, and come to love and trust in Jehovah's care.

When I think of any difference between those anointed and those not, I think of the differing baptisms. Maybe considering them will help to answer your question.

Those who are anointed are baptized directly by Christ, by emersion in Holy Spirit (Mark1:8)... Having it  "Poured out" upon them (Acts2:33). This includes being baptized by "fire" (Matt.3:11) and involves also a future baptism into Jesus' death (Rom.6:3).

This baptism of holy spirit, is contrasted with the spirit of the world...

John14:16,17,20,21,23,24,26,27:
16 and I will request the Father and he will give YOU another helper to be with YOU forever, 17 the spirit of the truth, which the world cannot receive, because it neither beholds it nor knows it. YOU know it, because it remains with YOU and is in YOU.  20 In that day YOU will know that I am in union with my Father and YOU are in union with me and I am in union with YOU. 21 He that has my commandments and observes them, that one is he who loves me. In turn he that loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and will plainly show myself to him. 23 In answer Jesus said to him: “If anyone loves me, he will observe my word, and my Father will love him, and we shall come to him and make our abode with him. 24 He that does not love me does not observe my words; and the word that YOU are hearing is not mine, but belongs to the Father who sent me. 26 But the helper, the holy spirit, which the Father will send in my name, that one will teach YOU all things and bring back to YOUR minds all the things I told YOU. 27 I leave YOU peace, I give YOU my peace. I do not give it to YOU the way that the world gives it. Do not let YOUR hearts be troubled nor let them shrink for fear.”


What of those not anointed? We see they receive a different baptism...one in literal water. This is a physical baptism. It has a different significance...
1Pet.3:21 :
 "That which corresponds to this (Noah's Ark- verse 20) is also now saving YOU, namely, baptism, (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the request made to God for a good conscience,) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ."

Notice that water baptism affords an un-anointed person protection at the end of our system of things.
Note that this baptism in literal water does not "wash away" "the filth of the flesh" (uncircumcised). Those baptized in water, do not receive the "circumcision of the heart" Rom.2:29. But water baptism does enable them to have a relationship with God, in that He will guide them to make choices according to His commands and His will, by means of "water" [living water of truth (John4:10) conveyed by God's faithful priests (Mal.2:7; John7:38-39; Rev.22:17)]. The anointed have slightly different expectations put upon them....

1Thess.4:7,8:
 "For God called us, not with allowance for uncleanness, but in connection with sanctification. 8 So, then, the man that shows disregard is disregarding, not man, but God, who puts his holy spirit in YOU."
Isa.52:11
"Turn away, turn away, get out of there, touch nothing unclean; get out from the midst of her, keep yourselves clean, YOU who are carrying the utensils of Jehovah."
2Tim2:20
 "Now in a large house there are vessels not only of gold and silver but also of wood and earthenware, and some for an honorable purpose but others for a purpose lacking honor."

This is not to say that un-anointed lack honor or are the vessels of wood or earthenware (2Cor.4:7)...but that there are gold, silver, wood and clay...each designated by Jehovah for various purposes. This is up to Jehovah, and not up to the vessels themselves (Isa.45:9; Romans9:21).

So to answer your question, all those who seek godly devotion, should strive to be taught by means of the sayings of truth, and to live by them to the best of our ability of conscience.
This would mean a progressive leaving behind the deceptions of the "world" and the deceptive desires of it's father, Satan (Eph.4:22).
But for us of the anointed, we must "become perfect" as our "heavenly Father is perfect" (Matt.5:48), "perfecting holiness in God's fear" (2Cor.7:1). This does not mean the commonly held definition of "perfection", but means a bringing to full maturity according to the person of Christ. (Eph.4:13; 1John2:5,6)

The Bible is true. It is God's Word. But we cannot obey it, unless we understand it. Understanding is the only way to truly obey God's Word. Our being "no part of the world" must be the way that Jesus himself was no part of the world (John17:16). That meant, that he was no part of the corruption of the religious leaders of God's people. HE WAS SPEAKING TO THEM, when he said; "You are of this world, I am not of this world" (John8:23). Were those Jews a part of the secular world? No. They kept separate from that world. They were a part of the oppressive religious system polluted by man-made doctrines and traditions. John1:9-11 reads; "9 The true light that gives light to everyone was COMING INTO THE WORLD. 10 He was IN THE WORLD, and though the world was made through him, THE WORLD DID NOT RECOGNIZE HIM. 11 HE CAME TO THAT WHICH WAS HIS OWN BUT HIS OWN DID NOT RECEIVE HIM."
Can you see that the "world" into which Jesus came, was his own people???
He was not recognized as the Logos, by the Jews.
How could the rest of the world (China, Africa, America) "not recognize" who Jesus was, when they never saw him, and he never went to them?
Jesus confirms the identity of the "world" into which he was sent (John17:18; Matt.10:16-17)...
"Jesus answered, 'I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.' " (Matt.15:24).
When Jesus tells the faithful, that like him, they are no part of the world;
if we wish to imitate him,
we must properly understand, what that "world" really is.
It is the "lost"... the wayward among God's own people!

I am soon to release an article, about what the scriptures mean when they speak of the anointed becoming "perfect" (Heb.12:23).

For more information on this subject:
http://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/2016/01/symbolic-death-by-means-of-world.html

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