So throughout the entire New Testament a sharp line is drawn between the Church and the world. There is no middle ground. The Lord recognizes no good natured “agreeing to disagree” so that the followers of the Lamb may adopt the world’s ways and travel along the world’s path. The gulf between the true Christian and the world is as great as that which separated the rich man and Lazarus. And, furthermore, it is the same gulf, that is, it is the gulf that divides the world of ransomed from the world of fallen men.
I well know, and feel deeply, how offensive such teaching as this must be to that great flock of worldlings which mills around the traditional sheepfold. I cannot hope to escape the charge of bigotry and intolerance that will undoubtedly be brought against me by the confused religionists who seek to make themselves sheep by association. But we may as well face the hard truth that men do not become Christians by associating with church people, nor by religious contact, nor by religious education; they become Christians only by an invasion of their nature by the Spirit of God in the New Birth. And when they do thus become Christians they are immediately members of a new race, “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people . . . which in times past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy” (1 Peter 2:9–10).
Verse
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into this wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9
Thought
The gulf between the true Christian and the world is as great as that which separated the rich man and Lazarus.
Prayer
Give us the life of Your Spirit, Father, for only by that will we be saved.