Standing Firm When the World Opposes

John 15:18-16:4

Introduction

Good morning, GNU Students. I want to begin with a question that might make us uncomfortable: When was the last time your faith cost you something? When was the last time following Jesus put you at odds with the world around you?

Today's passage from John 15:18 through 16:4 contains some of Jesus' most sobering words to His disciples—and to us. These are words spoken in the upper room, just hours before His arrest and crucifixion. Jesus knows what's coming, not just for Himself, but for His followers throughout history. And in His love, He prepares them—and us—for the reality of following Him in a world that rejected Him.

Let me read our text, beginning in…

John 15:18 NIV

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.

These aren't easy words to hear. We'd rather hear about peace, prosperity, and popularity. But Jesus loves us too much to leave us unprepared for the reality of discipleship. Today, we'll discover three profound truths that will equip us to stand firm when the world opposes our faith.

1. The Reality: The World Will Hate You (John 15:18-21)

Jesus begins with a conditional statement that's really a certainty: "If the world hates you..." But in the Greek, this is a first-class condition—it assumes the reality. Jesus is essentially saying, "Since the world hates you—and it does—remember that it hated me first."

This isn't a possibility; it's a promise. And before we think this is just ancient history, let me share something striking. According to Open Doors International, over 365 million Christians worldwide face high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith today. That's one in seven Christians globally. The hatred Jesus predicted isn't confined to the first century.

But why this hatred? Jesus gives us the answer in verse 19:

John 15:19 NIV

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.

The Greek word for "world" here is kosmos, and it doesn't mean the physical earth or the people God loves. It means the world system that stands in opposition to God—the kingdom of darkness that operates under Satan's influence. When we become Christians, we experience a profound transfer of citizenship. We're called out of one kingdom and into another. We become, as Peter says, "aliens and strangers" in this world.

Think about it this way:

When you truly follow Christ, you become a walking contradiction to the world's values.

The world says, "Look out for number one." Jesus says, "Whoever wants to be first must be last and servant of all."

The world says, "Get revenge." Jesus says, "Love your enemies." The world says, "Accumulate wealth." Jesus says, "Store up treasures in heaven."

The world says, "Truth is relative." Jesus says, "I am the Truth."

Is it any wonder the world finds us troublesome? Our very existence is a living rebuke to the world's way of life. Like light exposes darkness, our lives—when lived according to Christ's teachings—expose the emptiness of the world's pursuits.

Jesus reinforces this in verse 20, reminding them of what He said earlier:

John 15:20 NIV

Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.

Let me pause here and address something crucial. Some of you might be thinking, "But pastor, I don't experience any persecution. People at work like me. My neighbors are friendly. Nobody gives me a hard time about my faith."

Can I challenge you with a question? It's the same question that some of the commentaries pose: "Has the world become more Christian, or have Christians become more worldly?"

If we never experience any opposition, if our faith never puts us at odds with the world's values, if following Jesus never costs us anything—we need to honestly examine whether we're truly living as disciples or if we've simply blended in so well that the world can't tell the difference.

In verse 21, Jesus reveals the root cause:

John 15:21 NIV

They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me.

The world's hatred isn't really about us—it's about Jesus. They don't know God, and therefore they reject His Son. And when we bear His name, when we carry His presence, we inherit that same opposition.

2. The Responsibility: Their Guilt Is Without Excuse (John 15:22-25)

Now Jesus shifts to talk about the weight of responsibility that comes with revelation. Verse 22:

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.

This is profound theology. Jesus isn't saying people would be sinless without Him—Romans makes clear that all have sinned. Rather, He's saying that His coming brought a unique level of accountability. When God's full revelation appears in Christ, rejection of that revelation becomes the ultimate sin.

Think of it like this: If someone sins in ignorance, there's one level of guilt. But if someone sins against clear knowledge, against demonstrated truth, against love incarnate—that's another level entirely. The Jews had not just heard Jesus' words; they had seen His miracles. Verse 24 emphasizes this:

John 15:24 NIV

If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father.

The Greek perfect tense used here—memisēkasin—indicates a settled, permanent attitude of hatred. This wasn't a momentary rejection; it was a deliberate, sustained choice to oppose God despite overwhelming evidence.

And remarkably, Jesus says in verse 25 that even this fulfills Scripture:

John 15:25 NIV

But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’

Jesus quotes from Psalms 35 and 69, showing that even the world's irrational hatred operates within God's sovereign plan.

This truth carries a sobering application for our generation. We live in an age of unprecedented access to God's truth. We have Bibles in countless translations, sermons at our fingertips, Christian resources beyond measure. With great light comes great responsibility. Those who reject Christ today do so against overwhelming evidence of God's love and truth.

But here's what's remarkable: Even in speaking of those who hate Him, Jesus' purpose is redemptive. He's preparing His disciples not for revenge, but for witness. Which brings us to our third truth.

3. The Resource: The Spirit Will Testify Through You (John 15:26-16:4)

Just when the picture seems darkest, Jesus introduces the game-changer:

John 15:26 NIV

“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.

The Greek word Parakletos—translated as Advocate, Counselor, or Comforter—literally means "one called alongside." When the world opposes us, we're not alone. The Holy Spirit stands with us, in us, and speaks through us.

Notice the beautiful Trinitarian theology here. The Spirit proceeds from the Father, is sent by the Son, and testifies about Christ. The entire Godhead is involved in empowering our witness in a hostile world.

But then Jesus adds something crucial in verse 27:

John 15:27 NIV

And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.

Did you catch that? The Spirit testifies, AND you testify. It's not either-or; it's both-and. The Holy Spirit has no audible voice apart from us. We become His mouthpiece. Our words carry His power. Our testimony becomes the vehicle for His conviction.

This is why Jesus can move into chapter 16 with such sobering warnings yet without despair. Yes, verse 2 says,

John 16:2 NIV

They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God.

Church history bears this out. Saul of Tarsus thought he was serving God when he persecuted Christians. The Spanish Inquisition believed they were purifying the faith. Even today, religious extremists of various stripes persecute believers while thinking they serve God.

But Jesus tells them this in advance (verse 1)

John 16:1 NIV

“All this I have told you so that you will not fall away.

The Greek word skandalizō means to be tripped up, to stumble and fall. Jesus knows that unexpected suffering can shipwreck faith, but anticipated trials can actually strengthen it.

Application: How Then Shall We Live?

So what does this mean for us today, in our context, in our culture? Let me offer four practical applications:

First, expect opposition, don't be surprised by it.

First Peter 4:12 echoes Jesus' teaching:

1 Peter 4:12 NIV

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

When your coworkers mock your faith, when family members reject you for following Jesus, when standing for biblical truth costs you socially or professionally—don't be shocked. Jesus warned us this would happen. You're experiencing what millions of believers throughout history have faced. You're in good company.

Second, examine your life for compromise.

If you never experience any pushback for your faith, ask yourself why. Have you so accommodated to the world's values that there's no distinction? Have you hidden your light under a bushel? Have you remained silent when you should have spoken?

I'm not advocating for being needlessly offensive. But if we're living authentic Christian lives, there will be friction. Salt stings wounds. Light exposes darkness. Truth confronts lies. If there's no friction, perhaps we've lost our saltiness.

Third, remember the true source of opposition.

When people reject you for your faith, remember it's not really about you. They're rejecting Christ. This helps us respond with compassion rather than offense. These aren't our enemies; they're prisoners of the enemy. They don't know the Father. They're acting out of ignorance, even when they think they're enlightened.

This perspective enables us to follow Jesus' command to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. They're not the real enemy; they're victims of the real enemy.

Fourth, rely on the Holy Spirit's power.

You are not alone in your witness. The Holy Spirit—the very Spirit of God—dwells within you. When you speak of Christ, He empowers your words. When you testify of Jesus, He carries that testimony to hearts. When you face opposition, He strengthens you.

But remember, His power flows through our obedience. We must testify. We must speak. We must live out our faith visibly. The Spirit works through surrendered vessels, not secret agents.

Illustration: The Cost and the Crown

Let me share a story that brings this home. In 2015, twenty-one Egyptian Christians were marched onto a beach in Libya by ISIS militants. They were given one last chance to deny Christ and convert to Islam. Not one of them did. The last words of many were "Lord Jesus Christ."

Their testimony literally cost them everything. But here's what happened next: Their martyrdom was broadcast around the world. Their faith in the face of death led many to Christ, including some in the very communities that had persecuted Christians. The Orthodox Church recognized them as martyrs and saints. Their witness continues to inspire millions.

Now, most of us won't face that level of persecution. But every day, we face choices: Will we speak up for Christ or remain silent? Will we stand for biblical truth or compromise for comfort? Will we identify with Jesus or blend in with the world?

The Promise in the Persecution

As we close, I want you to notice something beautiful. Right in the middle of this sobering passage about hatred and persecution, Jesus drops this promise about the Holy Spirit. The greater the opposition, the greater the provision. The darker the night, the brighter the light shines.

Paul discovered this truth and wrote in…

2 Corinthians 12:10 NIV

That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

The world's hatred isn't the end of the story—it's the context for the Spirit's powerful testimony through us. Persecution isn't defeat—it's often the seedbed of revival. The blood of martyrs has always been the seed of the church.

Conclusion: Choose Your Side

GNU Students, we stand at a crossroads in our culture. The divide between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of this world grows clearer every day. The middle ground is disappearing. Lukewarm Christianity is being exposed for what it is—no Christianity at all.

Jesus has been breathtakingly honest with us. Following Him will cost us. The world will hate us. We will face opposition. But He's also promised us His Spirit. He's promised us His presence. He's promised that our testimony, empowered by the Spirit, will bear fruit.

So I ask you today: Which kingdom will you choose? Will you try to keep one foot in the world and one foot in the church? Will you attempt to serve two masters? Or will you fully identify with Christ, come what may?

Remember the words of

Romans 8:17 NIV

Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

The suffering is temporary. The glory is eternal. The world's hatred is fleeting. God's love is forever. The persecution is light and momentary. The reward is an eternal weight of glory.

Call to Action

As we prepare to close, let me challenge you with three commitments:

Commit to visible faith. Stop hiding your light. Let your coworkers know you're a Christian. Let your neighbors see your faith. Not in an obnoxious way, but in a genuine, loving, unashamed way.

Commit to verbal witness. The Spirit testifies through our testimony. Open your mouth for Christ this week. Share what He's done for you. Tell someone about Jesus. Remember, we are the Spirit's voice in this world.

Commit to enduring love. When opposition comes—and it will—respond with love. When you're mocked, bless. When you're persecuted, pray for your persecutors. When you're rejected, remember they're rejecting Christ, not you, and they need the very Gospel they're opposing.

Church, the night is dark, but we carry the light. The world may hate us, but we have good news for the world. We may face opposition, but we have the Holy Spirit. We may suffer for a season, but glory awaits.

Therefore, let us hold fast to our confession. Let us not be ashamed of the Gospel. Let us stand firm when the world opposes, knowing that He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world.

May God grant us courage to live as true disciples, wisdom to respond with love, and power through His Spirit to be faithful witnesses, until that day when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Let us pray.