What did Jesus say about how His own would be treated while on this earth?
Jesus made some very relevant statements concerning the hatred of His followers (also called Christians) a long time ago. In the book of John from the Bible Jesus stated these words to His disciples, “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” (see John 15:19) In verse 18, we read that Jesus made it clear that He would be the object of this hatred before it would come to Christians. “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.”
The Bible also makes it clear that any hostility Christians face is actually aimed at God Himself. If you don’t believe that, all one needs to do is take a look at the Ten Commandments. Looking at just a few of the commandments, ask yourself if you have ever lied, used God’s name as a cuss word, lusted (Jesus said that is committing adultery in the heart – see Matthew 5:27,28). had hateful thoughts toward a brother, or failed to put God first? If so, then we are seen from God’s perspective as breaking His perfect, holy law. Take a moment to think about what this means. Perhaps you find or have found yourself getting enraged at God. Any anger or lack of humility we have toward God is the hostility we have by nature toward Him. But our mind and flesh filled desires are to naturally desire to do evil and break God’s law.
“…the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” see Romans 8:7,8
We all by nature deserve the judgment of God because we have broken God’s law. We have all committed crimes against God who cannot have sin in His presence. (Sin is the breaking of God’s perfect law and we are guilty of that as seen in the good person test. ) The question we all need to ask is what can be done, if anything, to remedy our relationship with God? If God judges us who are deserving of Hell because we have sinned against Him, is that the end of us or is there a way of escape?
“It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” Hebrews 9:27
For anyone sensitive to finding out the answer to this they will find it. You may be surprised or not but the answer has nothing to do with good deeds we do or don’t do. It has nothing to do with what sacrifice we can or cannot make for God either. We cannot earn back a right relationship with God. In fact, the answer really has nothing to do with us at all but Him. And the answer will not be because one joined the right church, or became a better person or found Religion. There is no religion that has the answer for how to escape God’s judgment and restore a right relationship with Him because the answer is found only in God in the Bible. God Himself is the only one who can provide a way of escape from His judgment. Because His love is so great for us, He did that Himself 2000 years ago in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the perfect, holy sacrifice who paid the penalty for us breaking His own law.
“now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” Hebrews 9:26
“The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
Jesus Christ is the answer for all humankind to be saved from coming judgment against sin. Satan (God’s arch-enemy) knows it and hates it. Therefore he hates true Christians (followers of Jesus) because he hated God first. More about this in a later post. But there is hope because Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice and payment, satisfying the great wrath that God has against sin.
“Therefore He [Jesus] is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25
“God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” see Romans 8:9-10
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