Today, focus is upon how the preposition “of” is used throughout the Bible to address commitment, exclusive dedication to GOD, and origins for ones belief and understanding. The “Yahoo! Answers” writer using ID “Camille” (Level 7 with 179,888 points, a member since March 18, 2009) posted the following:
How can believers be in the world, but not of the world?
THE GOLDEN ARROW: 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. 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. (1st John 2: 15-17, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: How Can Christians Believe? (08/12/2014); The Sin of Pride? (08/13/2014); Illusion? (04/25/2013); Not of Legal Age? (04/26/2013); Science and the Laws of Nature? (03/23/2013); How To Love GOD? (03/24/2013); Double Standard? (10/12/2012); Family and Romance (10/13/2012)
“Camille”, here are a few points that have helped many Christian believers in their reading of Scriptures that speak of “the world”:
(1.) One of the great challenges when reading the Bible is that a single word or expression may appear that has several different meanings. For example, “law” may be (1) “the covenant of GOD with Moses and those that left Egypt”, (2) appetite and other inborn impulses or tendencies, (3) outcomes and verdicts in judgment, (4) the conditions and terms for a legal agreement. Within a single verse, passage, or paragraph, multiple uses of the same word may appear as in Romans 7.
(2.) “The world” is both a sphere of life (we say, environment; a situation where created beings and living creatures may exist); and “the world” is an organized set of ideas and practices (we say, a belief system) used for human survival.
(3.) GOD has created all the known spheres of life such as the earth, heaven, the sea, and the universe (hell is not a sphere of life), while mankind has created “the world.” In the same way divinity has provided devices and tools for living such as definition for “good and bad”, “right and wrong”, “true and false” or “real and unreal”, the world also provides fixed patterns, limits, principles, and values that determine human communication, exchange, material objects, mortality, and staying alive.
There is far more to be said, correctly understood, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (4.) Throughout the holy writings read in English, where the word “of” appears one may say “from”. Thus, “the gift of God” may be read “the gift from God,” “the son of Adam” may be read “son from the male and female creation,” and “son of GOD” may be read “son from the fullness of GODhead.” Believers are to operate “in the world” (within the material, social and other frameworks for human order), yet, are not to operate as creations, offspring and products having no origin that acknowledges divinity.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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