The Present Evil Age

The Scripture clearly says the present age that we are livnig in is an evil age. Christians need to be delivered from the present evil age. In fact it is the will of God that all God's people be delivered from this evil age.

Paul's greeting to the Churches in Galatia opens up the whole revelation of this truth:

"Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen" (Gal. 1:3, 4, NKJV, emphasis added).

Here are some statesments of truth:

1. The word "age" translated in the original Greek is "aion" which means "a specific time period". It also means "the world" which also will be in existence only for a specific time period.

2. Jesus Christ gave Himself for our sins on the Cross.

3. To be delivered from the present evil age is the first provision of the cross that every Christian needs to apply to his life.

4. It is the will of God the Father that we are delivered from this present evil age.

A reason why we need to be delivered from this present evil age

Jesus, in explaining the parabel of the tares to His disciples, indicated that the present age is not going to last forever:

"The enemy who sowed them (seeds of tares) is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age" (Matt. 13:39, 40, emphasis added).

In the parable of the dragnet Jesus said:

"So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire" (Matt. 13:49, 50, emphasis added).

In both the parables Jesus' focus was at the end of this age. We should thank God that this evil age is coming to an end. Because, it is going to be an evil age as long as it continues. If we are delivered from this evil age then we can look forward to the next Age in glory with Christ!

Why this age is an evil age?

Paul said, "But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them" (2 Cor. 4:3, 4, emphasis added).

The god of this age is Satan and he has blinded the minds of the people so that they would not believe the gospel. As long as Satan is the God of this age it is an evil age. That is the reason why he doesn't want this age to end. Because when this age ends he will cease to be a god! As long as this age continues he will be the god of this age. Likewise Satan's followers who love this age don't want this evil age to end.

Pattern experiences for Christians

1. Fallen Christians

The writer of Hebrews said, "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame" (Hebrews 6:4 - 6, NKJV, emphasis added).

Here are some statements of truth:

1. There are five successive experiences for all Spirit baptized Christians - they have been enlightened, they have tasted the heavenly gift which is salvation (eternal life in Christ), they have became partakers of the Holy Spirit, they have tasted the good Word of God and the power of the next age.

2. Through the baptism in the Holy Spirit we get a taste of the power of the next age - the Kingdom Age.

3. Those who are enlightened will realize that there is another age coming in which what is now supernatural will become natural.

4. A purpose of God in permitting Christians to taste the coming age is that they might lose their taste for this evil age.

2. Unfruitful Christians

Jesus in explaining the parable of the Sower to His disciples said:

"Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world (age) and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful" (Matt. 13:22, emphasis added).

The above provides more reasons why Christians need to be delivered from this evil age. Their love for this evil age choked the Word of God and so they cannot swallow what God has to offer them.

How to be delivered from this evil age?

Christians can be delivered from this evil age by the renewal of their mind:

Paul said, "And do not be conformed to this world (age), but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:2, NKJV).

Without the transformation power of the renewed mind it is impossible to understand the will of God. Any Christian who conforms to this evil age will not understand the perfect will of God. It is impossible for us to renew our mind by our won effort.

Romans 12:1 tells us what to do:

".... by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service".

When you have presented your body to God it does not belong to you any more. It belongs to God and He will renew your mind and deliver you from this evil age and will then enable you to do His will!

True Christians are set apart to do God's will. They are no longer like those so-called Christians who comform to this evil age. They have been delivered from it. They are not to be of the same "mould" with them. They have been transformed not so much by a set of religious rules - don't do this, don't do that; don't touch that, don't eat that and don't wear that and so on. All this outward conformity to a set of rules really does not change a person inwardly. It is merely legalism; it is an external substitute for the inward transformation. God does not change people by rules - Satan does! God changes them in their thinking - by renewing the way they think. We have to be changed in the way we think - our values, our standards, our motives and our reactions. True Christians have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16)! When you think differently you will live differently; when you think like Christ you will live like Christ!

One of the ways to test whether you are renewed in the mind or not is by watching your own reaction to unfavourable circumstances. It is not so much your action that gives you away - it is your reaction!

Consequences of failing to be delivered from the present evil age

Paul made a very sad statement about one of his trusted co-workers who had been with him many years and shared much hardship and labor with him:

"Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world (age) has departed for Thessalonica" (2 Tim. 4:10).

Demas has forsaken Paul because he loved the present evil age. No once can love this present evil age and be a faithful servant of Christ at the same time. No one can serve both - Christ and the god of this age (Satan).

The resutls of deliverance from this evil age

Paul urged Christians in Philippi to follow his example and not those who walked differently because they loved this evil age:

"For many walk, of whom I have told you ofter, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame - who set their mind on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Phil. 3:18 - 20, NKJV, emphasis added).

Here are some statements of truth:

1. These people (so-called Christians) were not the enemies of Christ, but the enemies of the Cross of Christ. In fact they liked Jesus and His blessings - He saved them, He delivered them from their sicknesses and diseases and set them free from the bondage of sins. What they didn't like at all was the Cross and this affected the way they lived. They hated the Cross because it came between them and their will to love the world.

2. The end of those who set their mind on earthly things - things this evil age offered, is destruction.

3. True Christians' citizenship is in heaven and they eagerly wait for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. In other words true Christians are looking forward to the day when Christ comes to take them out of this evil age. Therefore, any Christian who hates the Cross of Jesus Christ is not qualified to have citizenship in heaven. It is possible to be very religious and still rejects the Cross. In fact the Cross is an offense to those who follow religious laws legalistically.

The writer of Hebrews said, "For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come" (Hebrews 13:14).

Our present home on earth is passing away and we are seeking our eternal heavenly home. If you are at home at this evil age you are not seeking "the one to come".

Anticipation of the Lord's Return

True Christians who are delivered from this present evil age have the unexplainabl excitement in anticipation of the Lord's Return.

The writer of Hebrews said, "Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation" (Hebrews 9:28, emphasis added).

Paul said, "Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing" (2 Tim. 4:8, emphasis added).

Two importand statements of truth have been revealed by the above two passages of Scripture:
1. Jesus will come again and grant complete salvation to Christians who are eagerly waiting for Him. You are saved when Jesus becomes your Lord and Savior but your salvation is not complete yet. If you are at home at this evil age you cannot be eagerly waiting for Jesus - it is impossible.

2. When He comes again Jesus will give a crown of righteousness to any Christian who has loved His appearing. A Christian who loves this evil age will not love His appearing and consequently will not receive a crown of righteousness.

Conclusion

Paul said, "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable" (1 Cor. 15:19, NKJV).

If our hope in Christ is during our life in this evil age and not followed by the resurrection of the dead and future glory in the next eternal Age, then we, of all people, would be most pitiable. We have overcome Satan and have been delivered from this evil age, but without hope in Christ in the next Age! Surely this is the most pitiable situation!