Delivered From This Present Evil World
Paul wrote to the churches of Galatia that Christ “hath delivered us from this present evil world” (Galatians 1:4). He was not speaking to them of a future salvation, a home in heaven though that awaits every believer. Rather, the emphasis is on a deliverance that is both here and now. How are we to understand this truth?
Paul calls this present world an “evil” world. That is the primary characteristic of the current age in which we live. The Apostle John testifies “that the whole world lieth in wickedness” (I John 5:19). It is evil because sin dominates its inhabitants. Paul reminds us “There is none righteous, no not one” (Romans 3:10). It is evil because Satan, “the prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2), walks about freely “seeking whom he may devour” (I Peter 5:8). The fundamental truth, as Christ himself declared, is that “men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19). Yet Paul writes that Christ has delivered us from this world.
Paul wrote to the Colossian believers that God “hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son” (Colossians 1:13). The believer’s translation is a finished transaction. As a believer I am right now in the kingdom of Christ. Paul describes this further (to the brethren at Philippi) as being citizens of heaven even though presently on earth. “For our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:20).
The distinguishing feature of our translation is that believers are new creatures. Paul writes “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). God delivered us from this present evil world when we trusted Christ and were born again. As new creatures we are to live as citizens of a heavenly kingdom. We are no longer to be “conformed to this world” (Romans 12:1) with those who walk “in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through ignorance…because of the blindness of their heart” (Ephesians 4:17). Rather, we are to walk in newness of life and “put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Ephesians 4:24).
God has made the believer a new creature, one that loves righteousness and truth. He is not of this present world though he lives here. He is to think, walk, and love differently than those who are of this world because he has been delivered. This new life is the believer’s position, privilege, and purpose. Does your life testify that you have been delivered?
Randy Livingston serves as a chaplain for a local police department. He writes devotionals for his ministry which also appear at his blog, From the Chaplain. We republish this post by permission.
Photo a combination of Daniel Apodaca on Unsplash and Norbert Buduczki on Unsplash