From the Biblical perspective a Christian is an object of choice or of divine favor, an elect person from a fallen and disobedient world. Even as the world symbolizes darkness the Christian is called a light – to show forth the truth of God.
Referring to a group of Christians Apostle Paul calls them a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own special people, called out of darkness into His marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9)
Before the advent of the new covenant which made the concept of election possible through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ we see that God had always worked with a few chosen people called out from world.
The children of Israel who were at the center of God’s old covenant were also referred to as a holy people chosen to be a treasured people from all nations in the earth.(Deuteronomy 14:2)
We can glean from this background that the concept of holiness and separation from the world are central to the theme of being chosen, and the one who has called us to be holy just as he was holy is Jesus Christ. This then must be our guiding light as we live out our lives as Christians.
Warning a group of Christians Apostle James says: “ Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4)
Why are we warned to be wary of the world? Because Satan is the prince of this present world and if we love this present world we would crave for the ungodly things of this world.
It should however be known that being called to be separated from the world doesn’t mean to cut off people but to be on guard against satanic influence of this world. Jesus says of Himself and Christians that they are in the world but not of the world. (John 17:16).
To be on guard, we must know what Satan represents in the course of the present world.
Ephesians 2:2-3.
2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.
Though chosen for a purpose the Christian must know what to do to make his election by God secured. What does he have to do to achieve this?
Reading and abiding with the strategic instructions given in 2 Peter 1: 5-10 would make ensure that the Christian can walk securely against every satanic influence presently posed by Satan.
