THE Apostle John in his First Epistle discourses much on the theme of the love of God and that which is related to it, that the children of God, as brethren, ought to love one another. And in the third chapter he distinguishes between the children of God and the children of the devil, illustrating the matter from the case of Cain and Abel: “Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous” (ver. 12). Then he advises his brethren as follows:—”Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you” (ver. 13), as he would have them to be fully aware of the fact that the spirit of hatred and persecution which was manifested by Cain was to be met with by the children of God in every age as from the direction of a godless world, although the world might have at times pretensions to association with true religion. Now, John’s teaching on this question of the hatred of the world towards the godly was doubtless derived largely from the divine instruction of the Lord Jesus personally, as well as from the Old Testament Scriptures, and as he was guided by the Spirit of Truth, as also from practical experience of this hatred. Jesus instructed His disciples on this question thus, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you” (John, chap. xv, verses 18, 19).
And thus the god-fearing followers of Christ Jesus are not to be amazed, astonished or think it strange that the world should hate them; and that on account of at least four leading reasons.
The great Redeemer has chosen them out of the world in His divine and sovereign love; and in the outgoings of this love toward them as unworthy, sinful creatures, He has called them effectually by the power of His holy spirit out of darkness into the marvellous light of the knowledge of His name and glory as their Saviour. By faith they have been enabled to believe in Him and to enter into fellowship with Him and are thus identified with Him, whom the world hateth.
Because they are not of the world, therefore the world entertains a hatred to them. They do not agree with the views of the spiritually ignorant world regarding God, man, sin, salvation, the worship of God, eternal realities and many other matters, of which the world hold erroneous and carnal views, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. And believers do not, and cannot, associate themselves with the world, walking “in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries” (I Peter iv, v. 3). And because of this the world speak evil of God’s people, thinking it strange that they run not with them to the same excess of riot, “speaking evil of you” (I Peter iv, v. 4). And in many other respects they are not of the world, which fact exposes them to the scorn, mockery and indignation of evil men who are at heart the children of the devil.
Then, inasmuch as “the servant is not greater than his lord,” the disciples of Christ Jesus, who is their Lord and Master, are warned by Him that they may expect trouble from the world, for He says, “If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you” (John xv, v. 20). And so believers upon the Lord Jesus Christ, in their relationship to Him as servants, are obliged to serve Him in varied ways and to witness on the side of His Truth, seeking the prosperity of His Kingdom and the honour of His name. This service frequently involves conflict with the enemies of Christ, and so the animus cherished in the hearts of such against their Lord for one reason or another, is turned towards and focussed upon His servants. Many martyrs sought the injury of no man, but the honour of their Lord and the overthrow of error; yet because their Lord’s Word, doctrine and gospel were obnoxious to evil men, they were persecuted as His servants, and so the true, gracious, faithful servants of the Lord Jesus cannot avoid a measure of the opposition and ignominy which He endured; but are enjoined to “Rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy” (I Peter iv, v. 13).
And finally, believers are still exposed to that self-same spirit which actuated Cain. Why did he slay his brother Abel? “Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous” (I John iii, v. 12). The ground of salvation, the faith, the fruits of that faith, the worship, the life, and in a word, the religion of the children of God, is a standing and constant condemnation of the evil works of the irreligious and religious world, who know not God and obey not the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. This state of affairs is thus liable to stir up in the depraved hearts of worldly men, envy and malice against the people of God. It is recorded of Korah, Dathan and Abiram that “They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the Lord” (Ps. cvi, v. 16).
And so the Apostle John’s brethren were not to marvel if they were the object of the world’s hatred; but rather to marvel, on the other hand, at the love of the Father bestowed upon them, as upon all genuine believers. “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not because it knew Him not” (I John iii, v. 1).