Hated by the World
John 15:21-22
[21] But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. [22] If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.
The group Open Doors USA figures that 360 million Christians last year lived in countries where persecution was “significant.” Roughly 5,600 Christians were murdered, more than 6,000 were detained or imprisoned, and another 4,000-plus were kidnapped. In addition, more than 5,000 churches and other religious facilities were destroyed.
(See email)
We are not there yet, but it’s coming. Our beliefs are opposites of the world. There will be pressure to yield. And as soon as we yield on one thing we will yield on them all.
——————-
Reminder: We’ve been walking through the book of John (the beloved disciple). This is his recording of Jesus’ life. We’ve reached the point in time right before the crucifixion where Jesus is giving his farewell discourse (final instructions) to his closest disciples. “He started the story in a vineyard and moved the story to the throne room and now the battlefield” . He’s pouring in all the wisdom and truth he can provide before He goes to the Cross, then is resurrected and ultimately ascends to the Father. We’re nearing the end and Jesus is giving some really tough lessons. It’s very applicable for us today. We are not in the shoes of the disciples, but we are followers and the truth is that the more we live for Jesus the more we are in conflict with the world. You should be able to see that in the news and in your own lives. It is accelerating and the conflict is worsening.
- Who is the world?
- What dominates the world?
- Why does the world hate us (Christians)?
- What should we do (Christians)?
John 15:18-27 – John 16:1-4
[18] “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. [19] If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. [20] Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. [21] But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. [22] If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. [23] Whoever hates me hates my Father also. [24] If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. [25] But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’
[26] “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. [27] And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.
John 16:1-4
[1] “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. [2] They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. [3] And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. [4] But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.
- Who is the world?
- What dominates the world?
- Why does the world hate us (Christians)
- What should we do (Christians)?
Who is the world?
V19 – Not followers of Christ
19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
V21 – They don’t know God
21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.
What (who) dominates the world?
Sin & Satan
1 John 5:19
[19] We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
Ephesians 2:1-3
[1] And you were dead in the trespasses and sins [2] in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—[3] among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
prince … spirit. This refers to Satan as he dominates his human subjects, here called sons of disobedience, a Hebrew-inspired phrase like “sons of this world” in contrast to “sons of light” (Luke 16:8). They belong to the family of those who rebel against the holy and true God.
Think ….spiritual realm (invisible to us) power of the air. Ever since Genesis 3 and the fall a dark spiritual cloud has covered mankind and the earth.
Colossians 1:13
[13] He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
Luke 4:5-6
[5] And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, [6] and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will.
John 12:31
[31] Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.
Romans 8:19-23
[19] For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. [20] For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope [21] that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. [22] For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. [23] And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
- So the earth groans because of sin and mankind longs for redemption.
But isn’t God all powerful, and Jesus a Savior and we victors? Yes…..but for reasons we don’t fully know God allowed this to work this way. We know that the fall corrupted man and the earth and we know that in the end Jesus wins, but for a season God is allowing this….my thought is so he can save as many as who would follow Him. If he had ended it all a thousand years ago we’d be nonexistent.
What we do know is that Satan is limited in ways and his time is short.
Job 1:12
[12] And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
Romans 16:20
[20] The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Why does the world hate us (Christians)
Am I just paranoid? Do they really hate us?
John 15:22-25
[22] If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. [23] Whoever hates me hates my Father also. [24] If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. [25] But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’
Why? Because we are reminders of Jesus (hopefully)
I’m not saying that everyone in the world wants to kill or persecute us today. I’m saying that sin and righteousness can’t coexist, that love and hate can’t coexist, that “I’ll just do what I want” and justice can’t coexist.
It is funny to me (and sad) that seemingly the largest complaint today about Christianity is that we want to shove our beliefs down everyone’s throat when it really feels the opposite (that the world is so intolerant of us that they are wanting to make us believe like them). I guess to an extent we are called to that….. shouting out our beliefs. There’s not much doubt that the Great Commission tells us to “go and tell the world” but we also see in scripture where Jesus tells the disciples to shake the dust off your feet and move on and where Paul goes to a city, preaches the Gospel and if they reject him, moves on to the next place. So remember it’s not us who saves, nor is it us who are the final judges, our call is to live Godly lives and be a witness and leave the rest to the Holy Spirit….which leads to our final point.
What should we do (Christians)?
We don’t bow down – see Daniel or Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, or Paul or Jesus Himself
We don’t change the message –
1 John 4:2-3
[2] By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, [3] and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.
We don’t need to fear nor despair –
John 16:33
[33] I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
We stay faithful and let the Holy Spirit lead –
John 15:26-27
[26] “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. [27] And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.
John 16:1-4
[1] “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. [2] They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. [3] And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. [4] But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.
“The world . . . would not hate angels for being angelic; but it does hate men for being Christians. It grudges them their new character; it is tormented by their peace; it is infuriated by their joy.” – William Temple
So what? Is it worth it?
5/18 Health Update: Today, Dad is being discharged from the hospital to receive hospice care at home. Over the past few days, he has asked us to pray with him often. He expressed many times through prayer his desire to go home to be with Jesus. His family is very sad because we…all wanted more time, but we know he has very little at this point. In prayer, he said two nights ago, “I’m thankful for all the people who’ve prayed for me over the years. I’m thankful for my family, that loves me. I’m thankful for the time God has given me, but I’m ready to see Jesus. I can’t wait to see Jesus. Send me home.”
5/19
Timothy J. Keller, husband, father, grandfather, mentor, friend, pastor, and scholar died this morning at home. Dad waited until he was alone with Mom. She kissed him on the forehead and he breathed his last breath. We take comfort in some of his last words…“There is no downside for me leaving, not in the slightest.”
