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The first chapter of Love Not The World (and remember that this book was a compilation of different messages given by Watchman Nee through the years) serves as an introduction to the New Testament (NT) concept of "world". There were these basic points, liberally supported by Scriptural citations:
1. In John's Gospel there was the loss of hope of Messianic military conquest of the "world," but a new hope that Jesus' death and resurrection would draw men away from the "world." 2. The NT key word for "world" was the Greek "kosmos," which meant either 'a harmonious arrangement' or 'an adornment,' and consisted of three different elements: a. The material earth or universe, b. The inhabitants of that world, or the whole of men alienated to God and hostile to Christ, c. Worldly affairs, such as goods, riches, pleasures, advantages, endowments. John liked the word "kosmos," accounting for almost half of all of the NT uses of the word. 3. The "world" is an orderly arrangement with harmonious functioning, a planned system. 4. Two key features of this system are: it's hostile to God, and there is a mind behind it. 5. Satan, the "world" system's mind and ruler, has been judged by Jesus and is to eventually be "cast out." But Satan is preparing the "world" for the conquest of his antichrist. 6. The "world" came into being after the fall of Adam and Eve, and is Satan's domain; the "world" will be supplanted by Jesus' Kingdom when He returns. 7. All of our society, business and functioning on earth is in the "kosmos." The "world" uses seductively the tools and technology of man, and actively seeks us out, even at the Church. 8. Finally, there are two questions one must ask when moving, living and encountering in the "world": a. How does this affect my relationship with God and Jesus Christ? b. Is this of God, or is it of the "world"? That is the one conflict of the universe.
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1John 2:15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. In this hard-hitting and controversial book, the great Chinese writer and preacher Watchman Nee states that there is a Satanic power behind every worldly thing and that the natural tendency of every worldly system such as politics, education, literature, science, art and music is to move away from God and Towards Satan. How can the Christian live and work in these systems, but not be "of the world"?
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AuthorWatchman Nee became a Christian in mainland China in 1920 at the age of seventeen and began writing in the same year. Throughout the nearly thirty years of his ministry, Watchman Nee was clearly manifested as a unique gift from the Lord to His Body for His move in this age. In 1952 he was imprisoned for his faith; he remained in prison until his death in 1972. His words remain an abundant source of spiritual revelation and supply to Christians throughout the world. Archives
November 2013
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Love Not The World
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