Hated By The World!

Introduction

Okay, let’s start today by kind of reviewing some things. The three lenses that we us to view our lives are?

—IN

—AROUND

—UP

Is there anything inherently wrong with any of the lenses?

—NO

So when we use the three lenses, what determines whether our use of the lenses is good or bad?

—The order in which we use them.

Yesterday we saw that in order to remain in Jesus’ love we were to keep His command. What is the command of Jesus?

—Love one another!

Good you got it! Yesterday, I had intended to end with verse 17, but we ran out of time—it says,

John 15:17 NIV

This is my command: Love each other.

The Consequence of Residing In Christ

You may remember that we have already talked about some of the consequences of residing (remaining) in Christ.

—You will bear much spiritual fruit.

John 15:5 NIV

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Another consequence that we’ve already talked about is:

—Your joy may be complete.

John 15:11 NIV

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

In our passage today, we have a “not so good” consequence. If you have your Bibles turn with me to John 15, and we’ll begin with verse 18

The World Will Hate You

John 15:18–19 NIV

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

One of the consequences of residing in Jesus is that the world hates us!

World Hates Us—Reason 1

Jesus said the reason the world will hate us is because it hated Him first.

World Hates Us—Reason 2

Because they feel guilty of sin!

John 15:22 NIV

If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.

World Hates Us—Reason 3

Ultimately they hate God the Father—they hate God!

John 15:23 NIV

Whoever hates me hates my Father as well.

Conclusion

The bottom line is that when we remain/abide/reside in Jesus there will be those in the world that will hate us. And usually it is people who are involved in sin and don’t want to see Jesus!

You may be wondering why I would share with you that if you follow Jesus, the world around you will “hate” you. It’s because I don’t want you to be caught off guard. Too many times when followers of Jesus are caught off guard, when people who are committed to their sin—hate those who stand against that sin.

John 3:20 NIV

Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.

Here’s the Key for us to remember!

KEY—In the grand scheme of things, living a life for Jesus has more rewards than the hated of evil men!

Here’s the second Key for us to remember—Tyler used this verse earlier today.

John 16:33 NIV

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

KEY—Yes, in this world we will have trouble. Whether you follow Jesus or not, you WILL have problems, because this world is rigged to work against us—for all of us! Both those who live their lives in opposition to Jesus and for those of us how live our lives serving Jesus—the world is rigged to work against us!

Don’t forget the “but” because, for the follower of Jesus, what comes after the “but” changes everything. Jesus says that the thing that changes everything is that He—Jesus—has overcome the world!

That means that through the power of the Holy Spirit working in your life, you too can over come the world.