Not of the world (John 17:14)
The hatred of the followers of the Christ started already while Jesus was still on earth and while we were not yet called Christians.
Acts 11:26 The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
This hate is also a sign of the end times, and the last in this series.
This hatred will only grow further in time.
Jesus however wanted us to be full of joy (John 17:13). He gave us God’s word so we would know how to live and how to follow Him and His teachings.
This following of Jesus will make clear to the world that we are not following their ways, which causes the world to hate us. The softest way they express this is by ignoring us as if we don’t exist.
We are not joining in their feasts etc.
because we are not of the world, like also Jesus was not of the world, and because we have received God’s word.
Still Jesus did not ask the Father to take us out of the world, but to protect us from the evil one.
If we would be out of the world we could not be a living testimony to those around us anymore.
Matthew 24:14 — This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.
1 John 5:10 — The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son.
Yes, if we really belong to the Christ then we are no longer of the world, just like Jesus was not of the world.
And because we live a holy life in truth it will also be conflicting with their way of life.
This all counts for us as well, for Jesus did not only ask for them who were with Him, but also for all those who believe in Him through their preaching; He wants us to be one like He and the Father are one.
Read now how this is written in the Bible
John 17:13-21
¹³But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have MY JOY MADE FULL in themselves. ¹⁴I have given them YOUR WORD; and the world has HATED THEM, because they are NOT OF THE WORLD, even as I am not of the world. ¹⁵I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but TO KEEP THEM FROM THE EVIL ONE. ¹⁶They are NOT OF THE WORLD, even as I am NOT OF THE WORLD. ¹⁷Sanctify them in the truth; YOUR WORD IS TRUTH. ¹⁸As You SENT ME into the world, I also have SENT THEM into the world. ¹⁹For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves ALSO MAY BE SANCTIFIED IN TRUTH. ²⁰”I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but FOR THOSE ALSO WHO BELIEVE IN ME through their word; ²¹that they may ALL BE ONE; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that THEY ALSO MAY BE IN US, so that the WORLD MAY BELIEVE that You sent Me
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