If The World Hates You

Sermon TextJohn 15:18–16:4If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 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. 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. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 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. Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 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. But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: They hated me without a cause. 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. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning. I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. 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. And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you.Cross-referencesJohn 7:7The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil.2 Timothy 3:12Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,Matthew 5:11-12Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.Sermon NotesWho Does the World Hate?Jesus: The world hates Him because He testifies that its works are evil.Christians: Because we are chosen out of the world and follow a Master who was also persecuted.If you are not hated by the world, why?Conformity to the WorldFear of ManResidual Cultural ChristianityNot yet KnownHow does hatred from the world manifest?Direct (persecution/violence)Indirect (marginalization/social pressure)How should Christians respond to the hatred of the world?Keep Talking about Jesus (bearing witness through the Holy Spirit).Don't Fall Away (remembering that Jesus warned us these things would happen).