Today we will discuss why we need to be separate from the world as a Christian. We live in this world but the Bible commands us to separate ourselves from this world. God wants us to be different because if we are mixed with the world, we will never understand God’s ways.
If we are not separated from the world, we will never be able to live a sacred life because the rituals of the world will keep us in bondage. Separating here means keeping ourselves away from worldly activities.
When we keep ourselves away from the world, we can live a holy life. God wants us to be as pure as Him because He is holy. When we obey God, we cannot live like the world. When we do not live like the world, we can honor God, and God is pleased with it.
On the other hand, even though we will be different from the world, the love of Jesus Christ should be conveyed to the world. We can convey the love of God to the world by living our lives and by loving our enemies and forgiving the criminals.
When we keep ourselves away from the world, we face various difficult situations. During this time, the devil brings a lot of temptations to our lives so that we can be victims of his trap. The devil wants us to mix with the world and live like the world. And if we become a victim of his temptation, our spiritual life will be destroyed.
Being separated from the world will bring tests to our faith; if we remain faithful, we will get the reward. The more we are separated from the world, the more we can come closer to God. We need to remember that God’s reward is eternal.
Let us look at the Bible scriptures below about being set apart from the world.
What Does It Mean to Be Set Apart in the Bible?
“Ye shall be holy unto me: for I the Lord am holy, have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine”
— Leviticus 20:26
“Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, acceptable, perfect, will of God”
— Romans 12:2
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light”
— 1 Peter 2:9
“Wherefore come out from among them, be ye separate, saith the Lord, touch not the unclean thing; I will receive you”
— 2 Corinthians 6:17
“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 15:19
“That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lustsAnd be renewed in the spirit of your mindAnd that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness true holiness”
— Ephesians 4:22-24
“For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ”
— Galatians 1:10
“Ye adulterers 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
Key Bible Verses on Holiness and Separation from the World
“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversationBecause it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy”
— 1 Peter 1:15-16
“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God”
— 2 Corinthians 7:1
“Follow peace with all men, holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord”
— Hebrews 12:14
“For I am the Lord your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth”
— Leviticus 11:44
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in himFor all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the worldAnd the world passeth away, the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever”
— 1 John 2:15-17
“For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness”
— 1 Thessalonians 4:7
“Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them”
— Ephesians 5:11
“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth”
— Colossians 3:2
“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect”
— Matthew 5:48
How Can Christians Live in the World but Not of It?
“I have given them thy word; the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the worldI pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evilThey are not of the world, even as I am not of the world”
— John 17:14-16
“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 serviceAnd be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, acceptable, perfect, will of God”
— Romans 12:1-2
“That ye may be blameless harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world”
— Philippians 2:15
“Ye are of God, little children, have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world”
— 1 John 4:4
“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, to be trodden under foot of menYe are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hidNeither do men light a candle, put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; it giveth light unto all that are in the houseLet your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, glorify your Father which is in heaven”
— Matthew 5:13-16
“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of GodSet your affection on things above, not on things on the earth”
— Colossians 3:1-2
“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, ye shall not fulfil the lust of the fleshFor the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, the Spirit against the flesh: these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would”
— Galatians 5:16-17
“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith”
— 1 John 5:4
The Challenges and Rewards of Being Set Apart as a Believer
“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heavenBlessed are ye, when men shall revile you, persecute you, shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sakeRejoice, be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you”
— Matthew 5:10-12
“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto youBut rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joyIf ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified”
— 1 Peter 4:12-14
“Yea, all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution”
— 2 Timothy 3:12
“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him”
— James 1:12
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us”
— Romans 8:18
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it”
— 1 Corinthians 10:13
“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by dayFor our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding eternal weight of gloryWhile we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal”
— 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
“To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, am set down with my Father in his throne”
— Revelation 3:21
“For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise”
— Hebrews 10:36