The Three Worlds We Engage

Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father (Galatians 1:3-4).

As new creations in Christ Jesus, we’re engaged in three different worlds at the same time. The first one is what our theme scripture calls “this present evil world.” Jesus Christ gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from “this present evil world.” It’s a world of evil, because it’s being dominated from another world.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 calls Satan the god of this world; this present evil world. The Greek word is “aion,” meaning this age, this present system. He became the god of this world as a result of Adam’s high treason against God in the Garden of Eden. Adam forfeited his authority over the earth to Satan, because he (Adam) disobeyed God. Sadly, the unregenerate man lives today, under Satan’s dominion and servitude in this world.

Ephesians 6:12 gives us some further insight. It says, “…we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” This shows there’s another world of darkness in this world; it’s called the kingdom of darkness. This present evil world has a spiritual kingdom of darkness that’s dominating it. This kingdom of darkness harbours all the spiritual forces of evil that contend with men in the world.

But thanks be unto God! Colossians 1:13 informs us that God “…hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.” Thus, in Christ Jesus, we’ve been delivered from the powers of this present evil world, and transferred into the kingdom of God’s dear Son. We live in, and operate from that kingdom NOW.

This should help you further understand what Jesus meant when He said, you’re in the world, but not of this world, because we belong to another realm. We’re only in this world to dominate it, and rule over the powers of darkness, in the same way that Jesus dominated the world in the days of His earth walk. Hallelujah!

Following Adam’s disobedience, the Bible says death came upon all men: “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12).

Death was associated with sin, so when Adam committed high treason back in the Garden of Eden by obeying Satan, death began to work in every man. Satan gained liberty to afflict men with sickness, disease, destruction and ultimately death, at his will.

But when Jesus came, things changed. Men and women who were all their lifetime subject to bondage because of the fear of death were liberated through the victory of Jesus Christ over death and the grave (Hebrews 2:14-15). Jesus went right into hell—Satan’s domain— paralyzed Satan and his cohorts, and obtained the keys of death and hell! He dealt with the problem of death when He triumphantly rose from the dead and ushered man into a new life.

Today, anyone who’s born again needs not fear death, for death has been defeated by Jesus. No wonder the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 15:54-57, “…Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

He’s given us victory over death and the grave. Today, Satan can no longer take anybody’s life at will because he doesn’t have the power of death anymore. Christ has given us life to live to the full. In His presence is fullness of joy and at His right hand are pleasures evermore: “The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)” (John 10:10 AMPC).

Until you become conscious of your righteousness, it will not work for you, even as a young believer.

To be righteousness-conscious means to be aware that you have been justified, cleansed, and accepted before God, no matter what mistakes you made before. It means you no longer see yourself through the eyes of your past but through the righteousness of Christ.

Guilt and fear lose their power when you’re righteousness-conscious. This is what Paul meant when he said, “Awake to righteousness.”

Wake up to who you are! You’re not a sinner saved by grace; you’re a new creature in Christ Jesus. Old things have passed away, and all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17), including your mindset and confidence.

This awareness transforms your fellowship with God and gives you the mentality of dominion in life, even in school and among your friends.

Don’t say, “I’m just an ordinary person, trying to please God!” No, you’re not ordinary; you’re the righteousness of God. Think, talk, and live righteousness, and you’ll produce fruits of righteousness.