Charles Spurgeon Commentary John 17:16

"They are not of the world even as I am not of the world." — John 17:16 (ASV)

They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

Many, today, say that we should blend the church with the community, and that it is a great shame to have any division between them. Many good people are outside the church; therefore, try to make the church as much like the world as you possibly can! That is a foolish trick of the devil, which the wise servants of God will answer by saying, "To whom we give place by subjection, no, not for an hour." There must always be a broad line of demarcation between the Church of Christ and the world, and it will be an evil day when that line is abolished. The sons of God took to themselves wives of the daughters of men, but that kind of union brought harm with it, and it will always do so.

They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

"They are of another race: they are swayed by other motives, they have another life; they have another destiny; 'They are not of the world.'" Is that true of you, dear hearer? We are reading out of God's Book, remember. This is the description of Christ's people; does it describe you? "They are not of the world: they are not worldly, they are other-worldly; their thoughts and hearts are set upon the world to come."