## A Persecuted Heart

## John 15:18-16:4

If we were to go downtown and begin asking people what they thought about Jesus Christ, we would get a variety of responses. Some would say that He was a great teacher, others might say that He was a person who displayed love for others, and still others might speak of His being a leader. These may be true, but they would be an insult to Our Savior. If that is all that He was then He was a liar. These answers reflect how little the world really understands about Jesus Christ. The better the world understands who He is, the more the world will hate Him. If they speak well of Him, it is because they do not understand Him.

Christ and the world represent two conflicting philosophies that have no common ground between them. John identifies the world in 1 Jn. 2:16-17. Humanism, selfishness, greediness, and the pursuit of illicit pleasures is of the world. So, if we are going to be whole- hearted disciples for the Lord, we must accept the antagonism of the world system and realize that the more outspoken we are about Christ, the more the world will hate us and oppose us.

Jesus had told the disciples about their new status as His friends. He had explained the special relationship of the true Vine and the branches, but now it is time to explain the darker side of their commitment to Christ. Just as He went the way of agony and humiliation, so His disciples must follow. What can we expect from this world? Jesus tells us here in the next few verses.

I. Expect to be hated by the world. v18-19

A. Remember Christ's command.

1. He said, "This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you." v12

2. He didn't give this command simply because love is of God...

3. He commanded us to love one another because He knew that we would need one another's strength to combat the world.

B. Christ was hated because He exposed the world.

1. The world loves "Religion" because it appeals to pride and self-effort.

2. Jesus Christ came and penetrated the outer shell and exposed the inner world of humanity.

3. His light shined into a sin- darkened world and men didn't like what they saw.

4. 1 Jn. 3:12 tells us that "Cain, who was of that wicked one, ... slew his brother...because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous."

5. Liars do not like friends who speak only the truth; drunkards are bothered by people who do not drink; a person who swears feels uncomfortable in the presence of a Christian who speaks wholesome words.

6. When we stand before Christ it will not be with our heads held high with pride, but we will kneel to receive His mercy and salvation.

C. Christ was hated by the world because He made the religious leaders look bad.

1. He spoke with authority.

2. He had insight into human nature.

3. He did not flatter His listeners with pious words about human good.

4. He spoke about the sinfulness of the human heart and judge the hidden motives of the pious.

5. As His whole-hearted disciples, we must do the same.

6. We must take our stand with Christ, but realize that it will mean conflict with the world.

II. Expect persecution from the world. v20

A. Christ was persecuted.

1. The Pharisees and the Sadducees after Him with vengeance.

2. They sought to silence the message that He was delivering.

3. Those who will follow Christ should not expect to be treated any differently.

B. Much of the time, those who are doing the persecuting will think that they are doing God a favor.

1. Note: Jn. 16:2

2. This was the case with Jesus and in the early church.

3. The Jews believed they were on God's side when they put Christ to death. page four

4. The same is true with the early disciples. cf. Acts 9:1-2 5. It is happening today with our missionaries. ex. K. C. Thomas

C. The greatest enemy of Christianity in America is "Secular Humanism".

1. Do not be lulled into believing that the world is more tolerant of Christians now than it used to be.

2. As humanism becomes stronger, it will also become less tolerant of Christianity.

a. Hitler, Stalin, and Mao are good examples of secularism brought to its ultimate conclusion.

b. The state becomes a substitute for God, and this false god will attack the true and living God.

3. There are many in our society who have taken away our freedoms and are presently lobbying to remove more of them.

4. The brighter our lamp burns, the more the world is repelled.

III. Summary of Christ's teaching.

A. His followers and the world are irreconcilable.

1. There is no common ground between them.

2. There must be antagonism and strife.

B. Believers cannot be freinds with both Christ and the world.

1. cf. James 4:4

2. Jesus said, "He that is not with me is against me..." Mt. 12:30

C. If we have not felt the antagonism of unbelievers who touch our lives, it is most likely that we are lack- ing in our Christian commitment.

1. A Christian who is popular with the world is a contradiction of terms.

2. Jesus commanded that we not hide our light, but that we let our light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. cf. Mt. 5:15-16

D. This passage of Scripture reveals the fallacy of the success and wealth teaching that is so prevalent today.

Conclusion: Are we willing to identify with Christ even if it means being rejected by this world? When confronted with the world will we compromise our beliefs or will we let our light shine? A songwriter put it well with the words of his song which asked, "When the world looks at you, do they see Jesus?"