Why They Hate Us
Lessons from 1 John
“Why They Hate Us” is a biblical explanation of why groups of innocent people are marginalized and become targets of widespread hatred. However, those searching for answers must realize there is never a rational answer for sin.
To illustrate, there is a rise in anti-Semitism and the persecution of Christians worldwide. And because both Christians and Jews have their origins in God’s plans and purposes, the only conclusion is that their persecution is because of who they are and what they believe. Therefore, it is essential to understand that unchecked hatred in the heart is a profound spiritual issue.
Already, large numbers have organized to unleash the poisonous fruit of hate into the world’s bloodstream. So, prepare to stand firm by faith in the Lord as the world grows darker and people free themselves of all moral restraint. But, at the same time, take heart because God said in His Word that whoever fights against His people fights against Him. Therefore, do not fear them, for the Lord your God fights for you.
So, if you find yourself unsettled by the lies, animosity, and hostility you see daily, God wants to give you His perspective and prepare you to live for Him in this present evil age.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. Ephesians 6:10-11
Hateful People Oppose God and His People
The Bible says those who hate Christians and Jews also hate God and oppose his will. So, not surprisingly, those in rebellion against God easily conform to the echo chamber of the world that thinks what it does is righteous, but what God calls evil.
We know that we are children of God and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. 1 John 5:19
Satan is the prince of this world and an enemy of God, who deceives those who speak and act from the world’s viewpoint and conform themselves to all that God opposes.
They are of the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. 1 John 4:5-6
So, since the Garden of Eden, the world has been divided between believers who seek to do God’s will by faith and unbelievers who deny their Creator’s right to rule their lives. The latter do what is right in their own eyes.
The Spirit of the World
The spirit of Cain is the spirit of the world that loves what God condemns. Consequently, self-centeredness, self-exaltation, self-sufficiency, and self-righteousness prevail. Moreover, all these human-centered characteristics reflect the heart of the world’s evil system.
This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil, and his brother’s were righteous. Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. 1 John 3:11-13
Cain and Abel were the first children of Adam and Eve, but Cain had the self-centered spirit of the world, as so many do today. Although Cain knew the will of God, he offered Him whatever he decided to give Him. People still want God to approve of whatever they do and accept however they want to worship Him. Hence, they create a god in their image and write their own rules, yet they expect God to bless whatever they think or do.
God did not accept Cain’s offering, and this made him angry. But God told Cain, “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? In contrast to Cain, Abel brought an offering that pleased God, which ignited Cain’s smoldering hatred and jealous anger. Consequently, he murdered his brother, Abel. So, why do they hate us? Because believers who please God by faith, like Abel, expose and shame those who approach God in disregard for His revealed will. Therefore, Jesus told believers not to be surprised that the world hates them.
God loved Cain
Amazingly, God still loved Cain and gave him the chance to admit his sin and repent, but he refused and even responded in self-righteous anger. Today, those who reflect the spirit of Cain also reject God’s love, mercy, and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. As a result, they react with intense hostility towards believers who have received Jesus. But their hatred only reveals their rebellion against God.
The World Hates Jesus
Jesus is the sinless Son of God, yet the world hated Him then and hates Him now. Therefore, Jesus’ followers are also despised.
Jesus said: “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.” John 15:18-19
It is hard to imagine that those whom Jesus came to save from sin hated Him enough to kill Him without cause. Yet, people today continue to treat the Lord Jesus Christ and His followers with the same scorn of unbelief. Despite this, God is merciful and continues to save those who repent of their sins and believe in Jesus.
Indeed, Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sins with His blood and broke the power of sin when He rose from the dead. Therefore, Christians no longer belong to the corrupt value system of this world, nor do they conform to the world’s demands. Thus, the life of a true believer shames the so-called wisdom of this world, and like Cain, it reacts with anger, resentment, and persecution.
Jesus said:“If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father as well.” John 15:20-23
The World Hates Christians
The world hates Christians because they do not condone their sins. Therefore, do not be deceived or surprised when unbelievers do not warmly receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ or your biblical views. Inevitably, people in rebellion against God are controlled by the evil one and threatened by those who do not conform to the world’s thinking.
In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 2 Timothy 3:12-13
According to the verse above, all who delight in righteousness and are determined to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer because of their Christian beliefs. Because the world’s message is clear: Agree with the majority’s thinking and conform, or we will marginalize you.
So, believers who do not comply with the world’s thinking or approve of immoral behavior can expect to be rejected and even persecuted. Subsequently, many who claim to know Jesus stop following Him to join with others who heartily approve of what God hates. If this describes you, repent and return to your heavenly Father who loves you. Then, choose to stand firm by faith in Jesus and speak the truth in love.
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love for the Father is not in them. 1 John 2:15
Do You Love the World
God’s Word says that those who love the world are God’s enemies.
You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. James 4:4
Those who continue to fulfill their sinful desires are of the world and in violation of God’s moral laws. Therefore, no one can say they love God yet love the world that is opposed to His will. So, likewise, no one who claims to know God should make a habit of wrongdoing because Jesus Christ died to deliver us from our sins.
He (Jesus) appeared so that He might take away our sins. And in Him is no sin. No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen Him or known Him. The one who does what is sinful is of the devil because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. 1 John 3:5-6, 8
Confession of Sin
God is love, and the source of all love, and His kindness leads people to repent of their sins. So, how do you respond to Jesus and His followers? To test your heart: How would you react if a believer told you that your independence from God is called sin? Furthermore, you won’t be in heaven unless you repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Would you be interested in hearing more, or would you react with hostility?
However, if the Holy Spirit has convinced you of your sins, then stop now and confess them to God. He loves you and will forgive your sins because of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8-9
Followers of Christ Love Their Enemies
Jesus said: “You have heard that it was said, ‘love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:43-44
Although the world hates believers, Jesus commanded His followers to love everyone, even their enemies. Jesus also said that if you love Him, you will keep His commandments as you rely on Him. Therefore, you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.
So then, how should believers respond to the world’s hatred? First, by faith, seek to represent the love of the Lord Jesus in your words and conduct. And most importantly, love people enough to share the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:17
They Will Know We Are Christians By Our Love
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Bible study for “Why They Hate Us?”
Week 1: Genesis 4:1-16; 12:1-4; Psalm 1:1-6; 5:1-12; 14:1-7; 25:16-22; 35:1-28; 36:1-12; 37:1-20, 34-40; 96:13; 97:10; 119:86-89; 122:6-9; 123:1-4; Proverbs 8:13; 9:7-8; 10:12; 22:24-25; Matthew 5:10-16, 21-23, 43-48; 6:24; 7:13-14, 21-27; 10:17-33; 12:33-37; 22:37-40; Mark 1:14-15; 7:20-23; 8:34-38; Luke 6:22-36; 9:23-2611:23, 27-28; John 1:10-14, 18
Week 2: John 3:13-21; 5:24, 41-44; 7:7; 8:12, 23-24, 42-47; 12:25-33, 42-50; 13:34-35; 14:6-7, 21-24, 30-31; 15:10-14; 17-25; 16:1-11, 33; 17:3-26; Acts 5:29, 38-42; 14:21-22; Romans 1:18-32; 2:1-11; 5:1-8; 8:5-9, 14-18; 12:1-2, 9-21; 13:8-14; 16:17-20; 1 Corinthians 1:18-21; 3:16-20; 6:9-11, 18-20; 13:1-7, 13; 16:13-14 22-24; 2 Corinthians 4:1-12, 16-18
Week 3: Galatians 1:3-4; 5:13-26; 6:7-10; Ephesians 2:1-10; 3:14-21; 4:17-32; 5:1-12; 6:10-18; Philippians 2:14-16; 3:3, 10; Colossians 1:9-14; 2:6-10; 3:1-14; 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12; 1 Timothy 6:12-19; 2 Timothy 2:19, 22-26; 3:1-5, 10-13; Titus 1:15-16; 2:11-14; 3:1-11, Hebrews 1:1-4, 8-13; 3:12-14; 4:12-13; 11:4-6, 24-29, 35-40
Week 4: James 1:19-27; 3:13-18; 4:1-17; 5:7-12; 1 Peter 1:22-25; 2:11-25; 3:8-18; 4:1-9, 12-19; 1 John 1:5-10; 2:1-6, 9-11, 15-17, 22-23, 28-29; 3:1-24; 4:1-21; 5:1-5, 11-12, 18-21; 2 John 1:6-11; 3 John 1:11; Jude 1:1-25; Revelation 1:1-8; 2:1-3, 8-13; 5:6-14; 6:9-17; 7:9-17; 9:20-21; 11:15-19; 12:7-12, 17; 16:4-11; 17:14; 21:1-8, 22-27; 22:6-21
