The World Hates God

But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me (John 15:21).

The world hates Christians because it hates God’s truth that has set Christians free from sin and death. The world hates Christians because it remains under the power and authority of Satan, the lord of the earth. The world hates Christians because it hates Jesus Christ. The world hates Christians because it does not know God.

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said (Matthew 5:11), Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. In the Olivet Discourse Jesus said (Matthew 24:9), They will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. The Lord told Ananias to tell Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9:16), I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake. The Apostle Peter wrote (1 Peter 4:14), If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. Paul wrote to the Corinthians Christians (2 Corinthians 4:8-11), We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed - always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

The world hates the Christian because it hates Jesus. The world hates Jesus because it hates the One who sent Jesus to defeat Satan, sin, and death. (Romans 8:5-7) For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. (Ephesians 4:17-19) This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 

Every person is responsible for their own sin since they were born with a sinful, fallen nature, born into a world that is in rebellion against God. (Psalm 51:5) Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me. It was for all of these things that God the Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to open our understanding to the truth of our sinful condition, to offer us salvation by His grace through faith in Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1-2) Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Thank God for Jesus Christ! Amen.

Pastor Martin