As for me, God forbid that I should boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world died long ago, and the world's interest in me is also long dead. It doesn't make any difference now whether we've been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we really have been changed into new and different people. May God's mercy and peace be upon all those who live by this principle. They are the new people of God. - Galatians 6:14-16
That's one of the hard things that we struggle with. Satan knows that if he can just get us to align ourselves with the world it'll be much easier to lead us in to sin. But like God's word says, "Because of that cross, my interest in this world died long ago, and the world's interest in me is also long dead". Another translation says it this way: "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." I think that might be a more accurate description. Not only does the world now have no interest in you (and likewise you should have no interest in the world), but when you accept Jesus into your heart - that sin and death, that alignment, was crucified to you.
Jesus replied, "The truth is, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life from heaven." - John 3:5-6
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses could not save us, because of our sinful nature. But God put into effect a different plan to save us. He sent his own son in a human body like ours, except that ours are sinful. God destroyed sins control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the requirement of the law would be fully accomplished for us who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the spirit. - Romans 8:1-4
Also, 1 Peter 1:22-23.
It all comes down to the fact that you are either God's or your Satan's. There is no halfway. You can't be a Christian and be friends with the world. And you can't worship the things of this life and follow Christ. When Satan comes knocking trying to get us to return to the old things of this world; we need to remember "the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world". We also need to remember that Satan HATES you because you belong to God, so don't ever believe what he says. His lies always contain a little truth, but in the end they'll bring about your destruction – he always has and always will.
"When the world hates you, remember it hated me (Jesus) before it hated you. The world would love you if you belong to it, but you don't. I chose you to come out of the world, and so it hates you." - John 15:18-19
You are on a totally different level now - you have the Holy Spirit in your life! There is nothing left in the world for us, and now the world hates us because of Christ.
Do not love the world or the things that belong to the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the father is not in him. Because everything that belongs to the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one's lifestyle - is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one he does God's will remains forever. - John 2:15
We need to remember to "be in the world but not of the world". Ask God to keep you focused on what really matters. Remember Matthew 5:16. Peace from God the Father.
