(As part of a series entitled “Out of the Skillet and Into the Fire”)

John 17:16
“They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”

In the world, not of the world! Well, if ever there was an oxymoron contest, that statement must surely take the cake. If you didn’t know the Bible very well, one could think this is a contradiction. How is it possible for human beings to be in the world and not of the world at the same time? Answer: JESUS! As we like to say, that is the short answer. Some people will tell you that is all the answer we need and that we must take it on blind faith that Jesus is the answer. Well, you know what Jesus Himself said about the blind leading the blind. Jesus never demanded blind faith of His disciples or anyone else. As a matter of fact, Jesus encouraged people to ask questions! (See John 5:39 for one example.) Also, on the flip side, Jesus was not afraid to correct a misguided answer. (See Matthew 14:31 and several other interactions with Peter.)

More often than not, answers without knowledge or answers trusting in our own understanding of any subject will get us in trouble. I am reminded of one of the many scenes from The Book of Job in which Elihu, patiently and seemingly wisely, awaits his turn to speak regarding Job’s calamities. Job’s three friends, "miserable comforters are ye all" (see Job 16:2), in one of their misguided efforts to supposedly bring some measure of respite to Job have finished their long speeches. Elihu had rightly waited till all his elders had finished speaking then begins to enlighten them all, including Job, about how God works. You can read Elihu’s speech in Job chapters 32-37. At any rate, after Elihu finishes pontificating, it is God Himself who comes to Job’s defense:

Job 38:2 Context

1Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 2Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? 3Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. 4Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. 5Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?

Talking about a Psalm 37:25 moment, “I have never seen the righteous forsaken,…” Anyway, I’m getting carried away with all the other scriptures bombarding my mind as often happens.

Did you notice the highlighted and underline word, which I added after Job 38:2? Context.

Context is king when interpreting literature, especially Bible literature. I said it before and I'll say it many more times if I live. I can't stress the point of context enough. So, let's start with come out from amongst the world and be ye a separate people, which was a loose reference we made last week to 2 Corinthians 6:17. Here is the actual quote from that verse: "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,". So, what is the context of this verse in 2 Corinthians? Well, the first thing we need know is that the Apostle Paul did not simply make up this statement, he is quoting from the Torah (5 Books of Moses) or Old Testament, as we know it. Specifically, he has paraphrased the entire Book of Leviticus, especially chapter 20, plus Paul quotes Isaiah 52:11:

[11] Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord.

The second thing we need to know is who are these Corinthians and why has Paul written two letters to them. For right now, the third thing we need to know is that I have reached and slightly exceeded my self-imposed word limit for these articles. If the Lord tarries His return, we will pick back up here next time.