The World’s Hatred Toward God’s Chosen People
Unions create allies and enemies. In joining Satan’s rebellion against God, man established his own enmity with God. Sin is lawlessness (1 Jn 3:4); and because God is holy and righteous, He must judge sinners. Sinners do not appreciate being judged; hence, they resist God and attempt to avoid Him.
God is merciful; and He has mercy upon whoever He chooses to have mercy (Rom 9:15–16). In showing mercy to some, but not all, the tension between God and man is exacerbated. God is not obligated to be merciful to anyone; so those who are shown mercy have much gratitude. They are also inclined to express joy and allegiance to the merciful King not of this world.
In His farewell discourse with His disciples, Jesus prepared His closest followers for His not being physically with them anymore (Jn 14–16). Thus, He taught them about the Holy Spirit, who would be sent to them not many days later. In John 15:18–25, Jesus issued a warning to them regarding the world’s treatment of them. The warning remains for Jesus’ disciples in every age and every place.
The world hates God (Rom 1:30). It hates Jesus Christ (Jn 7:7); and it hates those who have been chosen to be objects of His mercy and grace (Jn 15:18–25). The reason for the world’s hatred toward God is that they do not know Him (Jn 15:21). Man’s fall into sin has left him ignorant of his Maker. God has not hidden himself; but through both general and special revelation, God has made himself known.
Man is blinded by the devil (2 Cor 4:4); and he is hardened toward God by the deceitfulness of sin (Heb 3:13). It takes an act of God to remove a man’s heart of stone and replace it with a heart of flesh (Ezek 36:26). Otherwise, the man simply hates God without a cause (Jn 15:25).
God chose to reveal Himself through an unlikely nation, the people of Israel, when they, too, struggled to know the God who had covenanted with them. Yahweh sent them prophets to teach them His ways. Instead of receiving the prophets; they killed them. Then, when Yahweh sent His one and only Son, the Jews killed him, too. He came to His own; but they did not receive Him who was most apt to reveal the Father to them.
The kingdom of this world and the kingdom of God have two kings in conflict. Jesus referred to Satan as the ruler of this world (Jn 12:30; 14:31; 16:11). His dominion is this world and His domain is darkness (Acts 26:18; Col 1:13). The sons of Adam love the darkness of this world (Jn 3:19); and the world loves those in allegiance with it (Jn 15:19). The basis for the world’s hatred and persecution of Christians is the election of God (Jn 15:19).
People of the world hate the doctrine of election. They judge God for being unfair that he would choose a people for Himself (Dt 7:6; 14:2; Ps 33:12; 89:19; 100:3; Rom 11:5–6; Eph 1:4–5). God chose His Son to be the Savior and to rule over all (Lk 9:35). The world hates that election. Jesus assures His disciples that He chose them out of the world (Jn 15:16, 19). The world hates that election, too.
People want to be like gods (Gen 3:5). They want to be in control of their own destiny. They want to choose who will save them and how. They will democratically elect or reject Jesus’ rule and reign. God sits in the heavens and laughs. Puny man pretends to be god. When this folly is exposed by preachers and teachers, people get mad. They become hostile because the kingdom of Christ is an affront to their own little empires.
It is a defensive posture to hate someone who has crossed the line. It is an escalation to go on the offensive against those who declare the bankrupt futility of this world. Persecution is the posture of those who actually attack the kingdom of God, putting their hatred into action (Mt 5:10–12; 2 Tim 3:12).
Jesus so provoked the world that they schemed and executed the ultimate revenge against Him. The Jews crucified their own Messiah because they did not want Jesus to rule over them (Lk 19:14). They rejected the clearest revelation God had ever issued. Previously, He had spoken through the prophets; but when He sent His Son, He was giving His Word of revelation in the form of the perfect God-man (Heb 1:2).
God showed the world the perfect standard; and the world was exposed as woefully inadequate. Simply put, Jesus made everyone look bad. Instead of seeing and rejoicing in His goodness; both the Jews and the Gentiles rejected Him. Only the chosen remnant of Jews and Gentiles subjected themselves to His sovereign Lordship and grace. No one else had it in them to heed His call for them to come to Him in humble repentance to receive the forgiveness of sins (Mt 11:27; Acts 17:30). Apart from Him, men can do nothing (Jn 15:5).
In summary, we have seen the world’s hatred toward God the Father and His predetermined plan and fore-love of His beloved elect, predestined to adoption as sons. We have considered the world’s hatred toward God’s Son, Jesus Messiah. We noted how His holy and righteous perfection exposed all of humanity as a failed enterprise trying to create a Christ-less utopia on earth. Finally, we reviewed the world’s hatred toward God’s chosen people. It is the doctrine of sovereign election that infuriates the reprobate.
In conclusion, Jesus promised trouble in the world for His disciples (Jn 16:33). This includes the hatred and persecution by those outside of Christ. Their hostility will not end until it is put down at the second coming of Jesus Messiah on the Day of Judgment (Rev 19:11–21). When He will judge the world in perfect righteousness; which will anger the people of this world, forever, in their enteral punishment in the fiery hell of the lake of fire (Mt 25:41, 46; Jude 7; Rev 20:14–15). They hated God on earth; and they will hate Him more in their everlasting torment for their endless rebellion against His sovereign rule and reign. Jesus Christ is Lord…to the great chagrin of many.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
July 21, 2024
John 15:18–25
