Lesson XXXV—September 10th
THE DISCIPLE'S RELATION TO THE 'WORLD. Jno. 15:18-27. Jesus has been speaking of the intimate relation existing between Himself as the Vine and the disciples, as the branches, and of the purpose of t h at union t h at they might bear fruit (vs. 2), more fruit (vs. .2, last clause), and much fruit (vs. 5-8). It is fruit bearing t h at glorifies the Father. He now turns to a solemn aspect which results from this intimate relation to the F a t h er and Himself. The world will hate them. L et us lo'ok at the cause of this world hatred cf Christians. (1) The Devilish Nature of the World. The world's hatred is natural.. The n a- t u re of man is opposed to God. "The carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be" (Rom. 8:7). Man. has a devilish nature. The devil h a t es God. Wh en Ad am gave allegiance to Satan, believed him and disbelieved God's Word, he fell and came under the power and dominion of Satan. H e received a devilish n a t u re (Gen. 3:4-7). The n a t u re of m an is in rebellion against God. Jesus Christ came to destroy the works of the devil (1 Jno. 3:8). We mu st not be surprised then to find the bitter hatred which is manifested everywhere to- ward the Deity of Jesus Christ. We are not of the world (vs. 19). There is no affinity between the believer and the world. We are born from above (Jno. 3:7). We have the life of God (Jno. 3:36). Our affinity is Jesus CJirist, who is God, manifest in the flesh (1 Tim. 3:16). Our citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20). . Warning of Persecution. Forewarned is forearmed. The Lord was preparing His followers for the fierce fight whioh awaited them. The little band of believers would receive a severe shock when the shepherd was taken away. They were to be persecuted. The devilish n a t u re of their enemies was to be manifested by devilish deeds. There was to be excommuni- cation from the synagogues and execution by the sword. The heritage of the saints is sor- row and suffering through manifold afflic- tions. There • are wrong impressions concerning the Christian life. Some view it as a kind of picnic. A convenient palace car convey- ance to heaven, a life of freedom from con- flict. The Christian is a soldier and is called to endure hardness. 2 Tim. 2:3. The cross is an offence to the world, Gal. 5:11. The cross testifies to the horrors of sin and to the righteous demands of a holy God who spared not His own. Rom. 8:32. The Wickedness of Persecution. It was no new thing t h at God's children should be persecuted. Abel felt the force of persecution for righteousness' sake at the hand of Cain, Gen. 4, Joseph was subject Lesson XXXVI PROPHECY AND PERSECUTION. Jno. 16:1-6.
Jesus said to the Jews, "Ye are from be- neath (downwards), I am from above (up- wards). Ye are of this world, I am not of this world" (Jno. 8:23). Oil and water might be made to mix, but you can never make, the world love the things of Christ. People must be born f r om above and have á new nature, a nature like Christ, before they can ever love the things of Christ. It should be no marvel then to us t h at we aré commanded to be non-conformed to the world (Rom. 12:1, 2). (2) The Duty of Confessing Him. Believers are the light of the world (Matt. 5:14). They testify for Christ and against the world, leaving them no cloak for their sin (vs. 22), and affording the Lord an op- portunity to d r aw them to H im (Jno. 12: 32). The Holy Spirit will use us as followers of Christ to witness for H im (vs. 26-27). If persecution comes to us because of our faithfulness to the Lord we mu st rejoice because the servant is not greater t h an his Lord (vs. 20). We must not seek persecution, but we mu st seek to live a life of real separation from the world t h at hates our Lord (2 Cor. 6:17). - (3) The Danger of Rejecting Him. The Lord makes a solemn s t a t eme nt con^ cerning those" who reject Him. "No cloák for their sin." " H a t e th both Me a nd My F a t h e r ." To hate is. to loathe, detest, abhor, abominate. To hate is to manifest the spirit of Satan and hell. How awful the sin fo those who reject Jesus Christ. How we .should pray for those who wilfully reject the love of Christ. September 17th to. it for many years. David received it at the hands of King Saul and Daniel from the politicians of Babylon. The Lord Himself was persecuted from His cradle to the cross. Paul persecuted the Church, Acts 22:4; Phil. 3:6, and was himself persecuted of the Jews, 2 Cor. 4:9. The prophets were persecuted, Matt. 5:11. The blood of millions of the ma r t y rs testify to the awful hate there is in the h e a r ts of men toward God, and His Word. The devil is the instigator of all persecution. "Wh en men and women live godly they shall suffer it," 2 Tim. 3:12. All persecution of the saints is aimed at the Lord Jesus Himself, for He said to Saul, who was persecuting Christians, "Why per- secutest thou Me?" Acts 22:7. "Offences must come, but woe unto him by whom they come," L u ke 17:1. The Worth of Persecution. There is a blessed compensation if we are persecuted for righteousness' sake, Matt. 5:11. We are told to bless them which per- secute us, Rom. 12:14. Paul says- he took pleasure in persecutions. 2 Cor. 12:10, and he gloried in the faith of those who patient- ly endured, 2 Thess. 1:4. There will be an eternal reward for all of those who for loyalty to Jesus Christ and His Word are called upon to suffer at the hands of ungodly men, whether in the Church or out.
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