Some Things We Should Know About the World

In Jesus’ high priestly prayer (John 17), there are a number of themes that rise in prominence. Foremost of these is Jesus’ concern for the glory of God, Himself included. He knows that if He is not glorified, men will steal glory from God for themselves. Therefore, to save them from God’s righteous wrath He redirects elect sinners away from the world and into His kingdom (Col 1:13).

The kingdom of God, which is the kingdom of heaven, is not of this world. The reason is that this world is the dominion of Satan (Acts 26:18), the adversary of God and of humanity. The whole world lies in the power of the evil one (1 Jn 5:19). The world system can be summed up in the simple statement, “The world is antichrist and antichristian.”

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is eternally begotten of God the Father (Ps 2:7; Jn 1:18; 3:16), that is, Yahweh the only true God (Jer 10:10; Jn 17:3). Hence, Jesus is not of this world (Jn 17:6). His glory is from heaven and from eternity (Jn 17:5). From everlasting to everlasting, He is God.

The world does not know Yahweh (Jn 17:25). It did not know Jesus, nor did it receive Him when He was enfleshed, having come into the world (Jn 1:14), sent by His Father (Jn 17:18, 21).

Jesus Christ is the Maker of heaven and earth (Col 1:15). He is the creator of the physical universe and all that is in it. In other words, the world had a beginning (Jn 17:5). It was very good back then (Gen 1:31), until the rebel demon, Lucifer, introduced his rival kingdom to Adam and Eve. They succumbed to temptation and all creation experienced “the Fall” (Gen 3).

God’s people, that is, Jesus’ disciples are also not of this world (Jn 17:16). Before creation, God the Father predestined some to adoption as sons (Eph 1:4–5). He gave these people to His Son and wrote their names in the Lamb’s book of life (Jn 17:2, 6, 9, 24; Rev 13:8; 17:8; 21:27). All of this He did in love for them. This group, albeit a remnant of all humanity (Jn 17:6), was chosen to receive the Spirit of adoption (Rom 8:15, 23). The Lord knows those who are His (2 Tim 2:19).

When Jesus prayed, he did not pray for the world (Jn 17:9), which remains under the righteous judgment of the just Judge of all the earth (Gen 18:25; Rom 1:18). Rather, He prayed for God’s chosen people who were about to be redeemed by Him at the cross of Calvary (Lk 1:68; Col 1:14). He accomplished our redemption, the purchase of His precious blood (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet 1:19), which bought back His church for a price (1 Cor 6:20; 7:23).

Upon His death, burial, and resurrection — having been witnessed by hundreds of His followers — He ascended into heaven to be enthroned in Majesty at the right hand of His Father (Lk 9:51; Jn 3:13; 6:62; Acts 1:9; Heb 1:3; 8:1), who glorified Him. Stated another way, Jesus left the world (Jn 14:2–3; 17:11). When He did that, He also left His disciples in the world (Jn 17:11).

The Father sent the Son on a mission into the world. In turn, the Father and the Son sent the Holy Spirit on a mission into the world (Jn 14:26; 15:26), to be the helper to Jesus’ disciples who He sent into the world to be His witnesses (Jn 17:18; Acts 1:8). His glory would be manifest in them (Jn 17:10).

Just as the world allied against Jesus, the world, today, stands in opposition to the indwelling Spirit of Christ (Jn 14:17; Rom 8:9, 11), in those who the Spirit caused to be born again (1 Pet 1:3). Hence, reprobate sinners hate God (Rom 1:30). They hate Jesus Christ (Jn 7:7); and they hate Jesus disciples (Jn 7:7; 15:18–25; 17:14).

God’s people have their identity from Him from eternity (Rev 13:8; 17:8; 21:27). The Christian is not of this world (Jn 17:14); but Jesus prayed not for them to be taken out of the world, but that they would serve the living God in the world (Heb 9:14), to bring glory to Christ, to whom they belong (Jn 17:15).

What Jesus did pray for was protection. He had kept and guarded His disciples during His earthly ministry; and now that He was leaving, the Father would keep Jesus’ disciples from the evil one (Jn 17:15). The Father answered the prayer of His Son and the Holy Spirit was sent to each one of God’s elect, redeemed people — His adopted children, Christ’s church, the Israel of God (Is 49:1–6; Gal 6:16).

Jesus prayed that the world would know some things He asked that the world would know the Father loved the people He chose and gave to His Son (Jn 17:23). Jesus also prayed for unity amongst His people (Jn 17:23). This was to prove to the world that unity is a reality amidst diversity and so much discord. There is so much variety in Christ’s church that when His people labor together, the world sees a peculiar people, eager to perform good works prepared beforehand for them to walk in (Eph 2:10; Titus 2:14; 1 Pet 2:9).

Seeing the body of Christ being perfected in unity, the world must conclude that the Father sent the Son. It is not given to the world to receive the Holy Spirit (Jn 14:17); but as many as received Christ, it was given to them to be called children of God, according to the will of God (Jn 1:12–13), who is willing and doing His good pleasure in working out our salvation from within us by His Spirit (Phil 2:12–13).

In summary, the world is hostile to the Christian. This world is not our home. We pass through during the brief days appointed for us and then we follow Jesus, our forerunner into glory (Heb 6:20), who has gone behind the veil of heaven to mediate for us by interceding for us (Heb 7:25).

In conclusion, this world and all that is in it is passing away (1 Cor 7:31; 1 Jn 2:17). It is being reserved for destruction by fire under the fierce wrath of God (2 Pet 3:7; Rev 19:15), who is patiently waiting for each elect soul to be gathered into Christ from every nation (Rev 5:9; 7:9). When the last of the elect, the final living stone, is added to Christ’s temple in the Spirit, then the end will come (Mt 24:14; Mk 16:15; Eph 2:20–22). The world, its ruler and wicked inhabitants will be sentenced to eternal punishment and be removed (Mt 25:41, 46; Jude 7; Rev 20:14–15). Let us all fear and tremble at God’s Word of promise to both the elect and the reprobate, for the end of each is sure.

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

January 26, 2025

John 17:6–19