Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 1 John 3:13-15

Jesus said “If the world hates you, know that it hated me first” (John 15:18) As a Christian you should not be surprised when you receive great opposition sharing the true gospel of Christ and living a genuine Born Again lifestyle. The world will hate you because it hates the real Jesus Christ. Why? Because Jesus is the truth in a world of deception,  because Jesus is the Light in a world of darkness, because Jesus is life in a world of death. 

Its been said before Why would we expect to be treated better than our Lord who was killed by this world? You shouldn’t expect better treatment than Christ. So when the world rejects and persecutes it, consider pure joy because the world knows the living God is inside of you. The Apostle James said “Anyone who loves the world is an enemy of God” (James 4:4) One of the great mistakes the Church makes today is they try to be more like the world instead of more like God. You can’t be in the world and be in Christ at the same time. They are enemies of one another!

So why do we remain in this world until we are called home by our Lord? As the Apostle John says here “ Because we love the brethren (Church)” Even during persecution or suffering we have a higher calling by God, to finish our race placed before us! To be the salt and light of this world, to be the hands and feet of Christ in your community. You are the difference in your local community. You are the difference in your local Church, serve and be faithful to your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Speaking of the Church, notice what the Apostle John says here under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit “Whoever hates his brother (Church) is a murderer, and you know that a murderer does not have eternal life abiding in them” The Apostle John is going off Jesus teaching at the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:21-22) You can’t hate the Church and be Born Again also, this is a complete contradiction of the Holy Spirit

If you don’t like what’s going on at your local Church , be the difference! If you don’t like what’s going on in your local community, be the difference! You were called to be a servant of Christ, be the Light in this dark world, be the Salt in a corrupted world that is fading away, expect to suffer for Christs sake because the world hated Christ first!

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. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure 1 John 3:1-3

Are you a Child of God? There is a misconception that we are all automatically children of God, but this is not true or Biblical. We are all made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) however we have become separated from God because of our sin (Isaiah 59:2) This is the major issue we have as humans, not only are we on the path to eternal death, but we are also been cut off from our Heavenly Father because of our sinful nature

Unfortunately most of the world doesn’t understand this condition and many teach a false message that you are always a Child of God, regardless of your spiritual condition. Because of this false understanding, many don’t see a need for Jesus, many don’t understand they need to be Born Again in Christ (John 3:3) to see the Kingdom of Heaven. 

This is why the message by the Apostle John is such great news (the gospel) “What great love the Father has lavished upon us” Does this statement make any sense if you were always a Child of God? What love did God the Father bestow upon us? Of course The Son of God, Jesus Christ, came in flesh and died for our sins, so we can be reconciled back to the Father (2 Corinthians 5:18)

Because of what Christ did, notice what the Apostle John says “That we can be called Children of God” Notice you are only a Child of God because of Christ, and as Christ said “You must be Born Again” It’s only until you become regenerated by the Holy Spirit, that you can become a Child of God

Now understanding this, there is a greater urgency to share the gospel. If we are not Children of God, then what are we? Of course you are a Child of the devil (John 8:44) This is why the world is Anti-Christ, because the Children of the world belong to Satan, and they follow the ways of Satan. They hate the truth, they hate the light, they hate the real Jesus Christ of the Bible

Not only are we Children of God but as the Apostle John says “When He (Christ) is revealed, we shall be like him” We are conforming into the image of Christ (Romans 8:29) Not only have you been saved, but you are being sanctified and regenerated by the Holy Spirit into the image of Christ. So rejoice brothers and sisters for our Lord Jesus Christ, because of the great love our Father has bestowed upon us, we can become Children of God, and Born Again by the Holy Spirit, Amen!

And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him. 1 John 2:28-29

As we head into the new year, let’s take this opportunity to renew our passion with Christ. As we continue on this long walk with Christ, maybe your firing has been dwindling, maybe you don’t get out of bed in the morning, excited to see what The Lord has in store for you today! Let’s renew our covenant with Christ, and get onfire for The Lord once again, just as we were when we first became Born Again. As the Apostle Paul says “Don’t grow weary of doing good” (Galatians 6:9)

As the Apostle John teaches us this morning, lets continue to Abide in Christ, then when Christ returns, we have the confidence in our salvation with Christ. So many people seem insecure in their relationship with Christ, many who profess to be Christians, are even unsure about their own salvation. If you abide in Jesus, this will alleviate all anxieties of life. Put your whole honest faith and trust in Christ for the salvation of your life. Are you truly doing that? Do you honestly put your whole faith in Jesus for your salvation? Abide in Jesus every minute, every hour, every day, when you are outside of Christ, thats when you become lost

The Apostle John makes another important statement “And not be ashamed before him at his coming” How many people have been saved by Christ, yet they still live like they are dead in their sins? Understand if you are Born Again in Christ, you are a new creation, you are now Child of God, you are no longer a slave to sin and this world. Come to Christ with the love that He has demonstrated to you, come to Christ with the confidence knowing you have been redeemed

When you have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit, your sins have been washed clean by the blood of Christ, you have been given a new heart and a transformed mind. You are no longer the old man you once were, so now you can come boldly and confidently to Christ as his sheep, his Children, and not as a slave or goat. Christ has forgiven you and remembered your sins no more, as far as the east is from the west, you are a redeemed Child of God

You might say, how can this be possible? As the Apostle John says “Is Born of Him (Christ) You have been Born Again in Christ (John 3:3) You are no longer a slave to sin and this world, you have been set free by Christ. So brothers and sisters come in confidence to your Lord , who has washed you clean by HIs own blood, and regenerated you by the Holy Spirit, Amen!

Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. 1 John 2:24-27

 The hymn “Abide in Me” is one of my favorites and is a classic hymn for the Church, because the message of “Abiding in Christ” is so essential to our Christian Walk. I just did a quick look up of the translation of abide, it comes from the original Greek word of “meneite” which also means “remain” “stay”and “await” Abiding in Christ is a total surrender and reliance upon our Lord to guide us through our everyday life

As the Apostle John teaches us “Let that therefore abide in you, which you have heard from the beginning” So many “Christians” fall away to false teachings and doctrine, why? Because they don’t abide in Christ, They don’t remain in the gospel teachings provided by the Holy Spirit, they are led astray by false teachers who have a personal agenda.

When you stop abiding in the Word of God, you then eventually stop abiding in Christ, because Jesus is the living Word of God. We are so eager to forge our own trials, yet we don’t understand being a servant of Christ is about obedience and authority. While it will take some time to fully grasp all the teachings The Lord has revealed to us, we need to stay faithful to the promises delivered to us by the Holy Spirit by the prophets and the apostles. 

As the Apostle John warns “concerning them that seduce or deceive you” There are many false teachers and false religions out there, they will deceive and seduce you into the condemnation of your soul. Abide in Christ, live off the red letters of Jesus in the Bible, don’t live off the blasphemous teachings of man. The whole point of false religions is to take you away from Christ, the Holy Spirit wants you to abide in Christ fully and securely

We talked previously about “The Anointing” which is the Holy Spirit, as the Apostle John says “The anointing (The Holy Spirit) which you received of him, abides in You” This is the gift given to you by Christ, you have the Holy Spirit, as John tells us “Your teacher for everything you need to know” Rely upon the Holy Spirit for spiritual discernment not man

Abide in Christ in everything you do, and Christ will abide in You, don’t lose focus on Jesus, keep your eyes fixed on Christ, Amen!