John 15,18 – 6,4

Why are we hated so much?  A quick reminder: Our first question: How much does Jesus love us? John 13,1 Last Sunday’s answer: As the Father loves the Son 15,9  Now we ask this question: Why does the non-Christian world hate us so much? 15,18 Why can’t we all just get along together?

Why does the world hate us?  Because we are chosen out of the world v19 Look at verse 16: “You did not chose me, but I chose you to go and bear fruit.” [This is my baptismal verse]  Can you cope with the doctrine of election?  We are marked out as, “the special ones” v19

Why does the world hate us?  Because of who Jesus is v21 His holiness shows up their sin v22 His miraculous powers show up their powerless v24 His relationship with the Father shows up their irrational actions Psalm 35,19 [A personal illustration of being persecuted – the CU meeting]

Why does the world hate us? Because The Holy Spirit testifies about Jesus He tells the truth about him v26  The disciples must also testify about Jesus v27  And so we must also take the risk [Evangelism – this is risk-taking]

Why can’t we all get on together?  We call on three eye witnesses to confirm this:  The brother of Jesus James 4,4 “Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.”  The disciple Jesus loved 1 John 2,15 “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

Why can’t we all get on together?  The impetuous one 1 Peter 2, 9-10 “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

Our summary  Chosen By God  Hated by the world  Commanded to tell the truth about Jesus