Understanding the Difference: Christians and Non-Christians in God's Eyes

ACTS 26:18-20 ACTS 25:23-25

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: KJV) (Colossians 1:12 13

What commonality do Christians have with non-Christians pertaining to God? Both have God as their creator (Acts 17:24-32 Cf Matt 5:43-48) Only Christians have God as their heavenly Father (Heb 12:4-9) Jesus said we are not of this world (Jn 17:14-16) One of the reasons Jesus died was to deliver us from the world

Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: (Galatians 1:4 KJV)

How Can We Be At Home Among The Ungodly.

How Can We Be At Home Among The Ungodly. There Is A Difference Between Christians and Those of the World Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. (James 4:4 KJV) We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. (1 John 5:18 19 KJV)

How Can We Be At Home Among The Ungodly. That Difference Should Be Abundantly Clear It is not that we will never be around people of the world (1 Cor 5:9-12) (Lk 19:1-10)

How Can We Be At Home Among The Ungodly. What Should Our Mindset Be?

Psa. 119:115 Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God. Prov. 14:7 Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge. Jer. 15:17 I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of thy hand: for thou hast filled me with indignation.

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, (2 Corinthians 6:14 17 KJV)

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. (Ephesians 5:11 KJV) Abstain from every form of evil. 5:22 NKJV) (1 Thessalonians

How Can We Be At Home Among The Ungodly. Based on these verses, how can we conclude that a Godly minded person could or should be at home with those who are not? Godly- [ eusebos], pertaining to being devoted to a proper expression of religious beliefs devout, pious, religious (Strongs) ungodly- [ asebes] to live in a manner contrary to proper religious beliefs and practice, to live in an ungodly manner, godlessness (Louw & Nida). We must be extremely careful how we define godly and ungodly

And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: (2 Peter 2:3 9 KJV)

Which sometime were disobedient, when once the long- suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 3:20 21 KJV) By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. (Hebrews 11:7 KJV)

How Can We Be At Home Among The Ungodly. Cornelius A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. (Acts 10:2 KJV) In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power. (2 Thessalonians 1:8 9 KJV) We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. (1 John 4:6 KJV)

How Can We Be At Home Among The Ungodly. One who will not turn their life to God If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. (1 Timothy 6:3 5 KJV)

How Can We Be At Home Among The Ungodly. We should refuse to conform to ungodly behavior I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. (Romans 12:1 3 KJ) Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. (1 Corinthians 15:33 KJV)

How Can We Be At Home Among The Ungodly. People Of The World Should Not Feel At Home Around Us Either An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked. (Proverbs 29:27 KJV) How did people who refused to be converted feel about Jesus? (Jn 3:19-21) Jesus expects the same for us (Jn 15:18-19) If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. (John 15:18 19 KJV) How can we live as Christ did, if the people who despised our Lord are comfortable with us?

How Can We Be At Home Among The Ungodly. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, (2 Corinthians 6:17)

How Can We Be At Home Among The Ungodly. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. (Psalms 1:1 KJV)

How Can We Be At Home Among The Ungodly. Do not enter the path of the wicked, And do not walk in the way of evil. (Proverbs 4:14 NKJV)