We are not from the world. ​(15:19)
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When we trusted Christ, we entered into a new spiritual position. We are “in Christ” and “out of the world.” Of course, we are in the world physically, but not of the world spiritually. We no longer desire the treasures and pleasures of sin in this world, now that we are "partakers of the heavenly calling" (Heb. 3:1). This does not mean that we are cut off from reality or insulated from the needs of the world so that we are “heavenly minded but are no earthly good." This does not mean that we see earthly things from heaven’s viewpoint.

The world system functions on the principle of conformity. A person who goes along with fads and fashions and accepts the world’s values will “get along.” But the Christian will not be “conformed to this world” (Rom. 12:2). The believer is a “new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17) and no longer desires to live the “old life” (1 Peter 4:1–4). We are the light of the world and the salt of the earth, but a dark world does not want light, and a decaying world does not want salt! (Matt. 5:13–16) In other words, the believer is not merely “out of step”; he is out of place! (Compare Jn 17:14, 16; 1 Jn 4:5.)

The Spirit as Comforter Encourages the Church (15:18—16:4)

First, we must understand what Jesus means by “the world,” as it is used in at least three different ways in Scripture. It can refer to the created world (“the world was made by him”—John 1:10), the world of humanity (“For God so loved the world”—John 3:16), or to society apart from God and against God. Sometimes we add the phrase “the world system” to convey this special meaning.

For instance, if you are listening to the radio news, you may hear the announcer say, "And now the news from the world of sports!" Of course, “the world of sports” is not a special country or planet where everybody who is somehow connected with sports lives.

The sports world is the set of all organizations, people, plans, activities, philosophies, etc. that are part of sports. Some of these things are visible and some are invisible, but they are all organized around one thing: sports.

The “world” from a Christian perspective includes all the people, systems, organizations, activities, philosophies, values, etc. that are of society apart from God. Some of these things may be very cultural or corrupt, but all have their roots in the heart and mind of sinful man and promote what he wants to enjoy and accomplish. Christians should not love the world (1 John 2:15-17) or be conformed to it (Rom. 12:1-2).

Jesus does not hide the serious and even dangerous situation that awaits His disciples in the world. Observe the advance of the world's opposition: hatred (John 15:18-19), persecution (John 15:20), excommunication, and finally death (John 16:2). You can trace these stages of resistance all the way through the book of Acts.

Why does the world system, and the “religious world” in particular, hate the Christian, the one who believes on Jesus Christ and desires to follow Him? Jesus had several reasons.