John 17:16-17 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Jesus' prayer to God, recorded in John 17, should be a constant source of comfort to believers. For peace and assurance are found in knowing the Father heard and is answering His Son's prayer. It is also comforting to understand according to the truth of God's word in scripture and through the gospel, what is our place, purpose and duty and who is our enemy in the present cosmic conflict between good and evil.

Jesus Christ is God's Word (of truth) incarnate: "In the beginning was the word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God." John 1:1-2. Moreover, scripture, the divinely inspired word of God (See 2 Timothy 3:16), is the true testimony of God regarding Christ Jesus. Just so, it thoroughly furnishes believers with examples, explanations and instructions regarding true godly values and ethics that apply to every challenge we face. In this regard, the Spirit of Christ is the Word of truth in us (See Romans 8:9-17) who provides believers with spiritual sensibility to love, recognize and embrace truth. Whereas, holy scripture, God's written word, supplies details as to why and how God's truth is to govern attitude and behavior. Together, the Word of truth and God's written word equip believers with desire for and knowledge of truth pertaining to all godly values and with examples and explanations of truth that teach us appropriate behavior. Inasmuch as believers "are not of the world," it logically follows we are to stand apart from the fallen values and ungodly behaviors that define worldly cultures and societies, and to instead align our affections, attitudes and behaviors with the God of truth. In this regard our purpose is to uphold the truth of God while engaged in a spiritual warfare against the "Prince of the air." "For 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]." (Ephesians 6:12) Warfare against spiritual wickedness requires we cherish the truth of God and use it to oppose every evil design and each wicked assault.

Embracing God's truth sets believers apart from unbelievers by hope as confident expectation of eternal life through the finished work of Christ Jesus. It sets us apart from the world by allowing us to know why we are here and what God expects of us. In this present world the truth of God's righteousness, grace and mercy unbreakably binds us effectually and morally to Christ Jesus, who is The Truth; and, it binds us to Him gloriously in the resurrection.

The reality of this truth is Christ's finished work at Calvary makes us one with Jesus who is one with God, so that spiritually we are all one in the true and living God. True spiritual unity through and in Christ allows us to know our duty to God is to be ethically aligned with him by faith and good works according to the word of truth.