IF/THEN Week 3: If The World Hates You

IF/THEN

Week 3: If The World Hates You

Prayer: “Father, thank You for the encouragement and hope we find in Your Word. As we go out into the world, help us to remember that we belong to You and that our true identity is found in Christ. Give us the strength to stand firm in our faith, even when we face rejection, persecution, and difficulty.”

Introduction

Tonight we’re officially halfway through our 4 week series, IF/THEN.

For those who haven’t been here, or those of us who can’t even remember what we did yesterday, let alone a week ago…

This is a series about the practical and logical way that Jesus shares the profound truths of the kingdom with us.

He often uses an IF/THEN statement to make things clear and concise for His disciples.

So far, we’ve covered these incredible truths from the gospel of John;

- IF you know Jesus, THEN you know life.

- IF you love Jesus, THEN you will obey and listen to His commands.

Today, we’ve got a whopper of truth from John 15 about the reality of adversity and hardship.

This passage is especially relevant for those of us in the “Western world,” where we’ve experienced relative ease and safety in our faith, but things are getting progressively more difficult.

That’s not to say that you haven’t experienced genuine persecution, loss, and harassment for your faith.

It’s just to say that there are places in the world where it is downright dangerous to publicly exercise your faith, to gather together in worship, or even to own a bible…And we’re seeing that more and more here in the “west” as well.

Today’s message is undoubtedly challenging, but it’s also wrapped in the hope of Christ.

It’s one where we recognize this truth; IF you know Jesus, THEN you know life.

IF you have Jesus, THEN you have more than enough.

We know this and experience it when we face adversity and hardship, and we realize that Jesus is right there with us.

So when Jesus warns, “IF the world hates you, (THEN) keep in mind that it hated me first…” we are not shocked or saddened.

We know the truth and that the gospel's message is offensive to the powers and principalities of the world.

We know that things will probably get worse before they get better… We also know that Jesus has already won and is eventually returning to establish His kingdom forever.

After all, “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

John 3:17 ESV

17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Main Teaching

Let's read through our passage together before we get too far ahead of ourselves.

I want you to listen to Christ's IF/THEN statements and all the fantastic truths He shares in just eight verses.

John 15:18–25 ESV

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.’

The Rejection of Jesus

The Rejection of Jesus is a central theme in the passage we just read, and this is a reality that every believer must come to terms with as they follow Christ.

Jesus Himself experienced rejection from the very people He came to save, and He warned His followers that they would face the same opposition… But WHY would anyone want to reject someone who had come to save them?

In John 15:18, Jesus said, "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first."

The world's hatred for Jesus is rooted in its opposition to God and His ways.

Jesus came as the embodiment of God's love, truth, and righteousness, and His very presence exposed the darkness and sinfulness of the world.

As a result, those who were unwilling to repent and turn to God found it easier to reject Jesus and His message than to confront their sin and need for a Savior.

This rejection was not only directed at Jesus but also His Father. In verse 23, Jesus said, "Whoever hates me hates my Father as well."

The rejection of Jesus is ultimately a rejection of God Himself, as it is a refusal to submit to His authority and accept His offer of salvation.

In addition, Jesus was rejected because He did not fit the expectations of the people of His time.

Many sought a political Messiah to overthrow the Roman oppressors and establish an earthly kingdom.

Jesus, however, came as a humble servant, offering a spiritual kingdom that transcended temporal power and politics.

His message of love, forgiveness, and self-sacrifice was not what the people wanted to hear, so they rejected Him as their Messiah.

They wanted something different than what God, the Father, had given.

Despite the pain and difficulty that rejection can bring, we must remember that in the case of Jesus, it was ultimately a fulfillment of Scripture and part of God's redemptive plan.

In verse 25, Jesus said, "But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: 'They hated me without reason.'"

Jesus' rejection did not surprise Him or the Father; it was a necessary part of His mission to save the world.

The prophets of the Old Testament had foretold the suffering and rejection of the Messiah, and Jesus' experience of these things confirmed that He was indeed the One sent by God to redeem humanity.

God used it all for His ultimate purpose and plan.

As we reflect on the rejection of Jesus, we must remember that our own experiences of rejection are not without purpose or meaning.

They are an opportunity for us to identify with our Savior, to grow in our faith, and to bear witness to the truth of the gospel.

We can take comfort in that Jesus understands our pain and has promised to be with us amid our trials.

In John 16:33, He said, "In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

The Rejection of His Disciples

Our faith in Jesus will often lead to rejection and persecution from the world.

This is a reality that Jesus Himself warned His disciples about, as seen in John 15:18-25.

Jesus tells His disciples that the world will hate them because they have been chosen out of the world and no longer belong to it.

This rejection is not only a consequence of following Jesus but also a confirmation of our identity as His disciples.

Because we identify with Jesus, we can also expect to be treated like Him.

So, on some level, we rejoice in the rejection we experience because of what it says about our position and relationship with Christ.

Not to mention, but Jesus even says that those who experience rejection for His name’s sake are “blessed.”

Matthew 5:11–12 ESV

11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

You’ll notice in this passage that it’s not just Jesus but also the prophets.

It’s all of us who choose to follow God in this life… We will experience opposition from the world.

As Jesus said, “IF the world hates you, (THEN) remember that it hated me first…” Remember that the pain you may experience now is nothing compared to the glory you will feel in eternity.

There is encouragement in knowing that you are His and that He will never leave you nor forsake you.”

The Encouragement of Belonging to Jesus

There is a profound encouragement found in belonging to Jesus.

This encouragement is rooted in the reality that Jesus Himself has chosen us out of the world to be His own.

This is where the idea of being “Not of this World” comes from.

In verse 19, Jesus says, "As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world."

Our identity is not found in the world's acceptance or approval but in the love and acceptance of our Savior.

We trust that God has chosen us and is working through our lives. As C.S. Lewis wrote, "The more we let God take us over, the more truly ourselves we become - because He made us. He invented us.

He invented all the different people you and I intended to be.

When I turn to Christ and give myself up to His personality, I begin to have a real personality of my own" (Mere Christianity).

Belonging to Jesus means we are part of a greater purpose and mission.

As His followers, we are called to share in His work of proclaiming the good news of salvation and extending His love and grace to others. (cf. Matthew 28:18-20)

This mission is not without its challenges, but it’s a privilege to be used by God to bring hope and healing to a broken world.

As we face opposition and persecution, we can take heart in the knowledge that we are not alone but are part of a larger community of believers striving to live out their faith amid a hostile world.

1 Peter 5:8–9 ESV

8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

Our suffering, pain, and rejection are not unique in the sense that we are the only ones to experience them.

Our specific situations are unique, but we hear from Peter that there are believers worldwide who are experiencing adversity as well.

In John 14:18, Jesus promises His disciples, "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you."

This promise is not only for the original disciples but extends to all who trust Jesus. We are not alone… YOU are not alone.

We can be confident that Jesus is with us, providing the strength, wisdom, and encouragement to persevere.

Not only that, but He is also preparing a “room” for you and me in eternity.

In John 14:2-3, Jesus tells His disciples, "In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, that where I am you may be also."

This promise of an eternal home with Jesus is a source of great comfort and encouragement, especially when facing rejection and persecution.

Our hope is not in the fleeting pleasures and accolades of this world but in the eternal joy and peace that awaits us in the presence of our Savior.

And that’s some of the best news you’ll ever hear.

Conclusion

If you follow Christ, the question isn’t, “Will I have trouble?” The question is, “When will I have trouble, and what will I do about it?”

We can expect adversity, rejection, and even persecution because He told us, “IF the world hates you, (THEN) keep in mind that it hated me first…” It’s not about you and I, it’s about Him.

It’s about your position and proximity to Him. It’s because you belong to Him.

And so we have hope.

We trust that we are His and that no weapon formed against us shall prevail. (cf. Isaiah 54:17)

This is the clear and concise logic of a good Father with blessings and goodness for His kids.

So believe it today and this week.

No matter what happens, trust His word and His promise for you… “As it is, you do not belong to the world.”

As followers of Jesus, we can expect to face rejection and persecution from the world just like He experienced.

We can find joy and peace in knowing that we belong to Him and are chosen by Him even amid difficulty.

We identify with Christ amid rejection and adversity, knowing that we have a high priest who’s experienced all the harshness of life and prevailed.

Let’s pray together.