15:18-25 What constitutes the world Jesus refers to here that hates Him and His followers?
15:18-25 What constitutes the world Jesus refers to here that hates Him and His followers?
The world Jesus refers to here designates the godless, secular society under Satan's control that is hostile toward Christ and His followers simply because Christian standards are in opposition to the world's system (CP Jn 7:7; 8:24; 9:39; 14:30; 16:8-9; 1Cor 2:12; Col 2:8; 1Jn 3:13; 4:4-5; 5:18-19).
Christians are in the world but not of the world, and the world hates them for it (CP Mk 10:29-30; Jn 17:14-16; 2Ti 3:12). If Jesus had not come into the world and proved beyond doubt that He was the Messiah the Jews would not have been guilty of the sin of rejecting Him (CP Jn 15:22-25).
But He did come and they were then without excuse for rejecting Him. In rejecting Jesus the Jews proved they hated both Him and the Father (CP Jn 3:16-21; 8:18-19, 42-47; 9:39-41; 2cor 4:3-4).
Despite being persecuted and hated by the world Christians are not to raise protective barriers around themselves in order to live sheltered lives as Christians cut off from the world. We are commanded to be Christ's witnesses in the world (CP Mt 28:19-20; Mk 16:15; Lu 24:48; Jn 15:27; Ac 1:8; 10:42-43).
The world still has a place in God's redemptive plan (CP Jn 1:29; 3:16-17; 12:46-47; 2Co 5:18-19; Col 1:20; 2Pe 3:9; 1Jn 2:2). See also comments on Lu 16:14-15, Ga 6:14, Jas 4:1-4, 1Jn 2:15-17, and author's study Christians, Love Not the World in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 2).