The Character of Christ's People

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John 17:16

They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

We shall take our text and look at it.

I. DOCTRINALLY. It is not so much that they are not of the world, as that they are "not of the world, even as Christ was not of the world." This is an important distinction, for there are people who are not of the world, and yet they are not Christians. Amongst these I would mention sentimentalists. Their spirits are so refined, that they cannot attend to ordinary business. They live in the air of romance; would like continually to live in a cottage near a wood, or to inhabit some quiet cave, where they could read "Zimmerman on Solitude" for ever. I heard of one young lady, who thought herself so spiritually-minded that she could not work. A wise minister said to her, "That is quite amusing! very well, you are so spiritually-minded that you shall not eat unless you do." These people are "not of the world," truly; but the world does not want them, and the world would not miss them much, if they were gone. There are others, too, so like monks, who are not of the world. They are so awfully good, that they cannot live with us sinful creatures; or if they condescend to do so, they must be distinguished from us in many ways. They could not be expected to wear worldly coats and waistcoats. They must wear nondescript dresses, that none may confound them with ordinary men. We have also in our Protestant Churches certain men who think themselves so eminently sanctified that it would be wrong to indulge in anything like sensible pronunciation. Such persons are, however, reminded, that it is not being "not of the world," so much as being "not of the world, even as Christ was not of the world."

1. Christ was not of the world in nature.

(1) In one point of view His nature was Divine; and as Divine, it was perfect and spotless, and therefore He could not descend to things of earthliness. In another sense He was human; and His human nature was begotten of the Holy Ghost, and therefore was so pure that in it rested nothing that was worldly. We are are all born with worldliness in our hearts. But Christ was not so. His nature was essentially different from that of every one else, although He sat down and talked with men. He stood side by side with a Pharisee; but every one could see He was not of his world. He sat by a Samaritan woman, but who fails to see that He was not of her world? He ate with Publicans and sinners; but you could see that He was not of their world. Nay, not even John, though he partook very much of his Lord's spirit, was exactly of Christ's world: for even he said, "Let us call down fire from heaven," &c.

(2) In some sense, the Christian is not of the world in nature. Many persons think that the difference between a Christian and a worldling is, that one goes to chapel another does not; one of them takes the sacrament, the other does not, &c. But, that does not make a Christian. The distinction is internal. A Christian is a twice-born man; in his veins runs the blood of the royal family of the universe.

2. In office —

(1) Christ's office had nothing to do with worldly things. To Him it might be said, "Art Thou a king, then?" Yes, but My kingdom is not of this world. "Art Thou a priest?" Yes; but My priesthood is not one which shall be discontinued, as that of others has been. "Art Thou a teacher?" Yes; but My doctrine cometh down from heaven. He had no aim which was in the least carnal. He did not seek applause, His own fame, His own honour.

(2) Believer! what is thy office? Thou art a king and priest unto God, &c. Whether yours be the office of minister, or deacon, or church member, ye are not of this world.

3. In character. Look at Jesus' character; how different from every other man's — pure, perfect, spotless, even such should be the life of the believer.

II. EXPERIMENTALLY. Every Christian will feel that he is not of the world.

1. When he gets into very deep trouble. You have had at times deep sorrows. Did you break under them? If you did, methinks you are no Christian; but if there was a rising up, it was a testing moment, and it proved that you were "not of the world," because you could master affliction.

2. When he is prosperous. Some of God's people have been more tried by prosperity than by adversity. Do you feel that these comforts are nothing but the leaves of the tree, and not the fruit, and that you can not live upon mere leaves? Or do you say, "Now, soul, take thine ease," &c.

3. When he is in solitude and in company.

III. PRACTICALLY.

1. Thou who art of the world, whose maxims, habits, feelings, are worldly, listen to this. It is God's solemn truth. Thou art none of His. With all your profession thou art "in the gall of bitterness."

2. You who are children of God. Have we not often been too much like the world?

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