They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
There are only two classes in the world, those who are of God and obedient to Jesus Christ and those who are of the world and are children of disobedience. Those who are obedient seek Him to do His will and work for the salvation of their own souls and the souls of all associated with them who name the name of Christ. Those who are of God are little children who have overcome the worldly ones, because the One who is in them is greater than the one who is in the world.
Those who are of the world speak of the world and from the world because they are one with it in spirit, aims, and principles of working, and the world hears and readily accepts them because they belong to it. The world is their master, the fear and love of God have no controlling power in them, and they are deluded as they chase after its delusive, flattering mirage. This includes professed Christians who live in close fellowship with the world, feed on its praise and flattery and human appreciation, are swayed by its voice, and depend on its favors for strength and success, so that they are alienated from Christ and unable to discern between one who serves God and one who serves the world.
Dress and conversation reveal what people treasure, so when professed believers display worldly principles in both they show that they belong to the world rather than living as pilgrims and strangers and temporary residents and outsiders on earth. The verse identifies false prophets and teachers as belonging to the world, so their teaching reflects the world and wins the approval of the world by appealing to carnal desires with pleasing messages rather than right teaching, and by drawing attention to themselves instead of exalting Christ. In contrast, God's people are distinct from the world and for that reason may be hated or misunderstood by it.
As a warning against Spiritualism, worldly teaching and its ready acceptance by the world are signs of error in contrast with hearing God's words, since Spiritualism appeals to people who accept that the dead are conscious and go immediately to heaven and leaves them vulnerable to deceptive claims presented as messages from deceased loved ones. The false ideas and sentiments about God prevailing today are of the world and belong to the world and are worldly in spirit and character. Watching unto prayer with walking and working in constant dependence on God, with Christ formed in the heart as the hope of glory to enlighten, sanctify, and strengthen, preserves from these false representations of God. The teaching of the apostles is not to be set aside or spoken against, and those who teach present truth must understand the Scriptures so as to give their right interpretation, exalting the principles of truth and revealing its spirit in life and character, with God working with those who speak of the life and miracles of His Son.
There are only two classes in the world, those who are of God and obedient to Jesus Christ and those who are of the world and are children of disobedience. Those who are obedient seek Him to do His will and work for the salvation of their own souls and the souls of all associated with them who name the name of Christ. Those who are of God are little children who have overcome the worldly ones, because the One who is in them is greater than the one who is in the world.
Those who are of the world speak of the world and from the world because they are one with it in spirit, aims, and principles of working, and the world hears and readily accepts them because they belong to it. The world is their master, the fear and love of God have no controlling power in them, and they are deluded as they chase after its delusive, flattering mirage. This includes professed Christians who live in close fellowship with the world, feed on its praise and flattery and human appreciation, are swayed by its voice, and depend on its favors for strength and success, so that they are alienated from Christ and unable to discern between one who serves God and one who serves the world.
Dress and conversation reveal what people treasure, so when professed believers display worldly principles in both they show that they belong to the world rather than living as pilgrims and strangers and temporary residents and outsiders on earth. The verse identifies false prophets and teachers as belonging to the world, so their teaching reflects the world and wins the approval of the world by appealing to carnal desires with pleasing messages rather than right teaching, and by drawing attention to themselves instead of exalting Christ. In contrast, God's people are distinct from the world and for that reason may be hated or misunderstood by it.
As a warning against Spiritualism, worldly teaching and its ready acceptance by the world are signs of error in contrast with hearing God's words, since Spiritualism appeals to people who accept that the dead are conscious and go immediately to heaven and leaves them vulnerable to deceptive claims presented as messages from deceased loved ones. The false ideas and sentiments about God prevailing today are of the world and belong to the world and are worldly in spirit and character. Watching unto prayer with walking and working in constant dependence on God, with Christ formed in the heart as the hope of glory to enlighten, sanctify, and strengthen, preserves from these false representations of God. The teaching of the apostles is not to be set aside or spoken against, and those who teach present truth must understand the Scriptures so as to give their right interpretation, exalting the principles of truth and revealing its spirit in life and character, with God working with those who speak of the life and miracles of His Son.