Hated By the World 1 John 3:13 - Equipped for Battle

Many of them were thrown into lion's dens. Others were crucified. Still others were used as entertainment as they fell to the swords of gladiators. Some were covered in pitch and used to light the gardens of Caesar Nero. Who were they? The early Christians. Many of these early believers in Jesus Christ were cast into prisons and made to pay incredible prices as they would not profess Caesar as Lord. In addition to these, today many Christians throughout the world are persecuted for believing the very words that John the apostle has been sharing with us. Today, he gives us more instruction on what to do when the world hates you. In First John chapter three and verse thirteen he wrote:

Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

Once again we read “my brethren” as a greeting of loving favor by the aged apostle John as he now seeks to encourage those who feel hated for their righteous acts. He used the example of Cain in the preceding verse as an example of the way the world comes against the believer in Jesus, and now he addresses the problem directly. There should be no wonder or marvel that the world hates those who do righteous acts and have righteous attitudes. Jesus Himself spoke about the reason that people do not come to Him which in written in the book of the gospel of John chapter three and verses nineteen through twenty-one:

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that does evil hates the light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that does truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they have been done in God.

People who do not desire to change their evil ways do not want to come to Jesus. When we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior He begins to change our lives. Our ways and attitudes are revealed to us when we are against Him, and He begins to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. The world hates this because it enjoys the practices that are against what God desires. Jesus also said “in the world you shall have tribulation, but be not afraid. I have overcome the world.” John says do not be surprised if the world hates you. Do not marvel at it. This is just the way it is going to be. The world will hate our righteous acts just the way Cain hated Abel's righteous acts, and the sooner we accept John's words and trust the Lord with the aftermath, the sooner we will align ourselves with the Savior Jesus once again.





Next time we will look at another proof that we are walking with Jesus, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.





Until tomorrow...there is more...

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