Scripture and You

The Christian's Unique Position In This Present World

By Dr. Paul M. Elliott
Christians are in a unique and challenging position. Like the saints named in the great "roll call of faith" in Hebrews chapter 11, we are "strangers and pilgrims on the earth" desiring "a better, that is, a heavenly country."

From the TeachingtheWord Bible Knowledgebase

Christians are in a unique and challenging position. Like the saints named in the great "roll call of faith" in Hebrews chapter 11, we are "strangers and pilgrims on the earth" desiring "a better, that is, a heavenly country."

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. (Hebrews 11:13-16)

As we live and walk in this present evil world, we are on display before both angels and unbelievers. Paul wrote of this: "For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men" (1 Corinthians 4:9). Peter spoke of the salvation and grace God has extended to His people, and the trials which we now endure, as "things the angels desire to look into" (1 Peter 1:12).

We are the temples of the living God in this present age both individually and as the church, the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19), yet we are so prone to defiling these temples. As we walk in this world we are to face this fact and see our sins as God sees them, constantly confessing them:

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us. (1 John 1:7-10)

We need to be changed in order to serve Christ in this present world and to be fit for the world to come. But it is not a matter of self-improvement: We do not need to be made better, we need to be made new. Christ has accomplished that for us. He is our great Redeemer - all-sufficient, abundant, effective, victorious - "able even to subdue all things to Himself" -

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing [literally, the renovation] of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:1-2)

For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself (Philippians 3:20-21).

As we see the world-system disintegrating around us, and much of the visible church in the grip of that system, the promises of the One who is on the throne of glory remain unaltered:

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. (Colossians 1:13-20)

Although it does not appear so to human eyes, on the authority of Scripture we know that He is subduing all things to Himself. He is in control of it all. And He will, at last, subdue even our sinful flesh as we cannot. Romans 8 speaks of all of this in the past tense - as an already-accomplished fact in God's eternal plan:

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:28-31)

Praise God, as the world around us is going crazy, as "strangers and pilgrims on the earth" we can stand together on these tremendous truths - the Word of God which lives and abides forever. The unbelieving world has no claim to these great promises. Only those who are in Christ do. The world will deceive us and fail us; only Christ will remain ever faithful, and His Word forever true.

Are you trusting in Christ for eternal life? Are these promises therefore yours? If you have not believed in Christ alone for your salvation, we urge you to do so without delay. We would be glad to send you resources that will help you in understanding the Gospel and living the life of a "stranger and pilgrim" in this present world as we await the world to come. You can contact us via this link.

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