The New Testament Church was
LOATHED (Mt. 10:22; 24:9; Lk. 6:22; Jn. 7:7; 15:18, 17:14; 1 Jn. 3:13)
AND
LOVED, ie favored (Pr. 3:3-4; Ac. 2:47; Ro. 14:18) by society.
The loathing is LOST MAN'S response to saving grace (darkness hates light, evil hates holiness).
But the loving (favoring) is LONGING MAN'S response to saving grace.
Jesus increased in favor with God and man (Lk. 2:52). See comments.
PARADOX...
Here is one of the paradoxes of the Christian experience. “Christ in us” causes the people around us to both loathe us and love us.
LOATHED BY MEN...
They loathe us because we represent Christ, and fallen nature loathes God, rejects His message and despises His messengers.
Matthew 10:22
(22) And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endures to the end shall be saved.
Matthew 24:9
(9) Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
Luke 6:22
(22) Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
John 7:7
(7) The world cannot hate you; but me it hates, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.
John 15:18-20
(18) If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
(19) 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 hates you.
(20) Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
John 17:14
(14) I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
1 John 3:12-13
(12) 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.
(13) Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
ENABLED TO LOVE (FAVOR) US BY GOD...
However, God has taken the initiative to provide restoration to fallen humanity by shining His light into everyone, enabling them to respond to and receive the message of salvation.
Romans 5:6-21
(6) For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
(7) For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
(8) But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
(9) Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
(10) For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
(11) And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
(12) Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
(13) (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
(14) Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
(15) But not as the offense, so also is the free gift. For if through the offense of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
(16) And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offenses unto justification.
(17) For if by one man's offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
(18) Therefore as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
(19) For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
(20) Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
(21) That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
John 1:7,9
(7) The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
(9) That was the true Light, which lights every man that comes into the world.
1 Timothy 2:4
(4) Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
Titus 2:11
(11) For the grace of God that brings salvation hath appeared to all men,
2 Peter 3:9
(9) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
1 John 2:2
(2) And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
There is no satisfaction as long as the human condition is warped and misdirected. Mankind in looking for that which satisfies the God ignited longing of his soul. This is what causes men to be favorable to God, His message and His people.
LOVED (FAVORED) BY MEN...
Consider the first days of the Church.
What is it that caused people to look with favor on the early church (47)? The fact that they were a separated people (42, 46), they were a significant people (43) and they were a selfless people (44-45).
Consider the first days of the Church.
Acts 2:42-47
(42) And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
(43) And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
(44) And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
(45) And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
(46) And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
(47) Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
The Fruit of the Holy Spirit makes us favorable.
Christians treat people fairly, lovingly, compassionately. Christians are honest, caring and self denying. Christians demonstrate love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance
(Galatians 5:22-23).
People are looking for men who say what they believe and live what they say. The true Christian lives the life of Christ. They are looking for men who care about them.
Proverbs 3:3-4
(3) Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
(4) So shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
Romans 14:17-19
(17) For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
(18) For he that in these things serves Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
(19) Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
Hebrews 12:14
(14) Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
There is an envelope of opportunity to reach people before they harden their hearts completely to the call of God. This is why it is important to reach children with the saving message of Christ.
Proverbs 29:1
(1) He, that being often reproved hardens his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
We should live our lives in the power of the Holy Spirit and in the likeness of Christ. If men are going to reject salvation, let it be because they reject Christ and His message rather than because we have been a negative influence on them.
JESUS FOUND FAVOR WITH MEN...
Luke 2:52
(52) And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
A PROPER BALANCE...
Both are true.
Christians are loathed (favored) by society. Christians are loved by society.
There are some who focus on the loathing and they live with a chip on their shoulder. They go about with anger in their voice and a scowl on their face. They have removed all bridges of outreach to the lost. They shroud the gospel in darkness, negativity, division and legalism.
There are some who focus on the loving and they live with their heads in the ground, like an ostrich. They go about with no sense of urgency or need for people to turn from sin. They are like people high on some mind numbing drug. They have removed all need for people to repent or change their lives. They make the gospel, the death of Christ, the revelation of God, into a joke.
Our focus should not be the loathing or the loving of our neighbors. Our focus should be the message of Christ and the service of God and the reaching of the lost with the gospel.
Our neighbors will love us (if we live like Christ in the midst of a perverse generation), but if they do not surrender to the Lordship of Christ, they will loathe us.
PARADOX...
Here is one of the paradoxes of the Christian experience. “Christ in us” causes the people around us to both loathe us and love us.
LOATHED BY MEN...
They loathe us because we represent Christ, and fallen nature loathes God, rejects His message and despises His messengers.
Matthew 10:22
(22) And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endures to the end shall be saved.
Matthew 24:9
(9) Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
Luke 6:22
(22) Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
John 7:7
(7) The world cannot hate you; but me it hates, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.
John 15:18-20
(18) If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
(19) 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 hates you.
(20) Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
John 17:14
(14) I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
1 John 3:12-13
(12) 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.
(13) Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
ENABLED TO LOVE (FAVOR) US BY GOD...
However, God has taken the initiative to provide restoration to fallen humanity by shining His light into everyone, enabling them to respond to and receive the message of salvation.
Romans 5:6-21
(6) For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
(7) For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
(8) But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
(9) Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
(10) For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
(11) And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
(12) Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
(13) (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
(14) Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
(15) But not as the offense, so also is the free gift. For if through the offense of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
(16) And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offenses unto justification.
(17) For if by one man's offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
(18) Therefore as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
(19) For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
(20) Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
(21) That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
John 1:7,9
(7) The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
(9) That was the true Light, which lights every man that comes into the world.
1 Timothy 2:4
(4) Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
Titus 2:11
(11) For the grace of God that brings salvation hath appeared to all men,
2 Peter 3:9
(9) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
1 John 2:2
(2) And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
There is no satisfaction as long as the human condition is warped and misdirected. Mankind in looking for that which satisfies the God ignited longing of his soul. This is what causes men to be favorable to God, His message and His people.
LOVED (FAVORED) BY MEN...
Consider the first days of the Church.
What is it that caused people to look with favor on the early church (47)? The fact that they were a separated people (42, 46), they were a significant people (43) and they were a selfless people (44-45).
Consider the first days of the Church.
Acts 2:42-47
(42) And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
(43) And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
(44) And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
(45) And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
(46) And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
(47) Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
The Fruit of the Holy Spirit makes us favorable.
Christians treat people fairly, lovingly, compassionately. Christians are honest, caring and self denying. Christians demonstrate love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance
(Galatians 5:22-23).
People are looking for men who say what they believe and live what they say. The true Christian lives the life of Christ. They are looking for men who care about them.
Proverbs 3:3-4
(3) Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
(4) So shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
Romans 14:17-19
(17) For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
(18) For he that in these things serves Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
(19) Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
Hebrews 12:14
(14) Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
There is an envelope of opportunity to reach people before they harden their hearts completely to the call of God. This is why it is important to reach children with the saving message of Christ.
Proverbs 29:1
(1) He, that being often reproved hardens his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
We should live our lives in the power of the Holy Spirit and in the likeness of Christ. If men are going to reject salvation, let it be because they reject Christ and His message rather than because we have been a negative influence on them.
JESUS FOUND FAVOR WITH MEN...
Luke 2:52
(52) And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
A PROPER BALANCE...
Both are true.
Christians are loathed (favored) by society. Christians are loved by society.
There are some who focus on the loathing and they live with a chip on their shoulder. They go about with anger in their voice and a scowl on their face. They have removed all bridges of outreach to the lost. They shroud the gospel in darkness, negativity, division and legalism.
There are some who focus on the loving and they live with their heads in the ground, like an ostrich. They go about with no sense of urgency or need for people to turn from sin. They are like people high on some mind numbing drug. They have removed all need for people to repent or change their lives. They make the gospel, the death of Christ, the revelation of God, into a joke.
Our focus should not be the loathing or the loving of our neighbors. Our focus should be the message of Christ and the service of God and the reaching of the lost with the gospel.
Our neighbors will love us (if we live like Christ in the midst of a perverse generation), but if they do not surrender to the Lordship of Christ, they will loathe us.
