John Chapt. 15 vs.18 & 19

We've been told that God's word is like a sharp, double-edged sword, able to divide and set apart truth from error. Often times its seems as if we believers have taken the edge off that sword in order to make the word seem more "palatable". Pastors, afraid of losing members and wary of offending newcomers to their flock, oftentimes try to "dull" the sword of truth. It is when we humble ourselves before God, repent of this dulling spirit and read afresh the word of truth, that we see his word once again cut through the error of our worldly lenses, to see the shining light of His word for us, his church.


In reading John Chapter 15, the Lord has been revealing His truth to me with a sharper sword lately. John Chapter 15 vs 18&19 begins:

"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you."

This world is not our home!

If we belonged to the world it would love us. As it is, the world hates Jesus Christ and so it hates us as well,. . . . unless we belong to it!

"You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God" James 4:4

Jesus has chosen us as believers out of the world, that's why the world hates us.

The world's system of self-imposed ethics, morality, religion - takes issue with the "intolerance" of the exclusivity of the truth of Jesus Christ. The world wants control over good and bad, right and wrong and a one size fits all morality. Jesus and the gospel do not fit into this equation!

So..... the world hates Jesus and all who follow Him!

If the world hates us, why are we so occupied with trying to be a part of it, or even, why are we trying to reform it?!

The flesh cannot be reformed - it must die!

Are efforts to reform values and moral systems in America a waste of time? Any results apart from souls being regenerated, are fruitless and temporary at best!

Should we be occupied with the moral decline in America?

Or should we instead be involved in saving as many individuals on a personal basis as we can? We are at odds with the world because of our faith in Christ. The world will not listen to us.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."

God did not send Jesus into this world to condemn the world, but to save it. God is in the business of reconciling the world to Himself through his son, Jesus Christ. The ministry of reconciliation is the ministry of every born again believer. 2nd Corinthians 5:16 tells us not to regard anyone from a worldly point of view. We are to view everyone in the light of eternity. Only Christ can regenerate the worldly heart with the sword of the Spirit and the truth of His word. Our job is to be ambassadors for Christ with His message of reconciliation.

"The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light." Romans 13: 11&12