Come Out From Among Them
(from Word Studies for Apostolics)
He called us out of darkness into His marvelous Light!
The Greek word “aion” = our English word, “eon.”
The Greek word “kosmos” = our English word “cosmos.”
“Eon” means; a long period of time. (or for Biblical purposes; “the time or age of a system).
“Cosmos” means; The whole physical world (and its environs).
According to certain word studies of the Bible, Satan is never called the god of the “kosmos,” or the god of the physical world. He is only called the god of the “aion,” or the god of the age. When we examine these two words, we can see that there is a clear distinction between them. These two Greek words that are often translated “world” in the KJV have two very different meanings:
“Aion,” as previously stated, literally means a period of time or the spirit of the age.
“Kosmos” means the physical world. Kosmos can be used to identify the earth, universe or arrangement of stars.
When we obey Acts 2:38 and experience the New Birth, we are born into God’s kingdom. We leave the world (aion –ie, the spirit of the age), but we don’t leave the world (kosmos). God takes us out of the world system (aion) that is in rebellion against God, but He commands us to remain a light to the world (aion).
We leave the world system, but not the world in which we live. This may help us understand how to draw a distinction between separation and outreach. We live separate lives from those still in the world (aion), but we never quit reaching out to them.
This present world mentality (aion) is based on a system that is at war with God. It is not talking about the physical earth (komos).
Satan may be the god of this world (or aion), but not the god of this earth (komos). This does not mean that Satan is a god, it means that he is worshipped by the world (those living in the present spirit of the age) as a god.
Most of the world does not knowingly worship Satan, they are deceived. Look at 2 Corinthians 4:4 “whose minds the god of this world (aion) has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” As long as a person loves the world (aion), they will remain blind.
Knowing this difference (between “aion” and “kosmos”) makes the definition of “Worldly” or “of the world” much clearer. Being “worldly” (or of the world) does NOT mean “of the Kosmos” or the physical world BUT of the “aion” –the spirit of the age—a godless and rebellious MENTALITY that persists here and now.
“The earth is the Lord’s and fullness thereof.” That’s the word “cosmos.” While satan is called the god of this world (aion).
Satan is desperately trying to blind the world (aion) from seeing that the system he thrives in is already defeated. God is on the inside leading people out–via the gospel. We are the conduits of God’s grace and the lights beaconing in the dark to that “aion” that the lost dwell in.
We are soldiers behind enemy lines equipped to obtain the promise that the gates of hell can’t prevail against the church. The truth is that Jesus triumphed over the devil and sin on the cross. God is and always has been in control. We are in the world “kosmos”, but not in the world system “aion”. In the world—but not of it.
Once one sees the usage of “aion” and “kosmos” it becomes much clearer as to the meaning that Jesus intended when he said in John, “Love not the world (aion), neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world (aion), the love of the Father is not in him.”
We are not to love the rebellious and ungodly attitude of this present age nor love the things that are in rebellion and are of sinful nature of this age–because one cannot love “rebellion” and love the Father (to which they are in rebellion). The “things” of the world (aion) are the methods and actions that the rebellious use in their rebellion against God. SO separation is a must—it’s the world’s way or God’s way.
For all that is in the world (aion), 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.
Come out from among them……….
Surely one has little problem understanding (in the light of this principle):
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
—Second Corinthians (6: 14-17)
Moses found it much harder to get the people mentally out of Egypt than he did to get them physically out of Egypt. That is also the reason why holiness is first an attitude (a divine mentality) then a physical separation. Getting people out of “aion” is the first step into getting them physically out of sinful contact with rebellion.
Sometimes we use the terminology, “a worldly Christian.” But that’s really a misnomer when you think about it. To talk about a worldly Christian makes about as much sense as talking about a heavenly devil. When you see a person who claims to know God and yet their lifestyle resembles the world more than it resembles the lifestyle of a believer, then you have a reason to question whether of not that person has had a real experience with God–or has returned to the MENTALITY of the Aion.
Paul said that “Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica.” Religious people, even experienced religious people, can be infected with this love of the present world.
James said, “You adulterers and adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?” When people love the world, they take the love that belongs to God, and give it to something else. They commit spiritual adultery. The first commandment in 1 John is, “Children, do not love the world.” The last commandment is found in the last verse, and it is the same: “My children,” he said, “beware of idolatry.”
— jlg —