(Verse 18) - We ought not expect the friendship of the world. Friendship is rooted in common interests or values. It ought to go without saying, then, that Christians and non-Christians ought not be friends on any but the most casual of levels. "How can two walk together except they be agreed?" asks God's Word. Unless we are talking about frivoulous things that ultimately don't matter we must answer resoundingly that they cannot. We ought not expect that we can have close, personal friendships with those with whom we have nothing really meaningful in common.

This is not to say that we have no relationship whatever with the unredeemed. This must not be so. As believers we must seek to have relationships with unredeemed people. But the aim of this relationship must be evangelism at the fore. Though this may seem mercenary, it is not. It is simply recognizing what reality is. If we are involved in close friendships with the unredeemed thus is a more than even chance that we are compromising our testimony to the Gospel to some degree. We must remember that friendship with the world is enmity with God!

The opposition of the world ought to be expected. The Scripture is clear that the chief duty we hold toward the world is to preach the Gospel, the true Gospel to them. It makes equally as clear that the world, as a rule, hates the Gospel. The exception, of course, is the one whom God is in the process of drawing to Christ. But that is the only exception! All others are, the Word of God says, haters of God. If we present the Gospel message accurately and faithfully, we can fully expect that hatred to flow over onto us.

The opposition of the world ought not and can not hinder us in the work of God as it did not hinder Christ. His example ought to stay in our mind's eye. One wonders if there is a better example in all of history of perseverance  under opposition and persecution than Jesus Christ's example. He was opposed at virtually every turn and ultimately killed because He spoke God's message to the audience God gave Him and because He refused to speak peace where there was no peace. Ought this not also be our experience, at least in type, as well?

Our motivation ought to be the desire to be like Christ. If we truly want to be like Jesus, then we ought to be willing to say the kinds of things He said to those around Him who were unredeemed. He minced no words and did not seek to relate to them or even to leave the door open for the future. He didn't try to protect His relationship with them for later. He didn't soft-pedal His message in the hope that perhaps He would get a chance to speak with them later. He didn't seem to be much concerned about driving people away. If we want to be like Jesus, shouldn't this be a part of what we emulate as well as His compassion; etc?

(Verse 19) - If we were of the world essentially means if we shared their values, if we were vain, sensual, given to pleasure, wealth and ambition. If we were like them in these and other ways they would not oppose and persecute us. This underscores for us the essential problem between believers and the world. They are given over to the pursuit of that which is categorically against the desire and design of God. Men know instinctively that what they do is sinful. They hate that this is true. They know that God is there and that they are accountable to Him. They hate that this is so as well. They hate anything that reminds them that there is such a God and that they are woefully inadequate according to His standards.

This is where the conflict of values and priorities enters into the matter. The christian tries to live in a manner that pleases God and is consistent with His character. This does nothing but remind the unredeemed man of His woeful sin and of his accountability before God. Needless to say, they hate this is so, and strike against it whenever and wherever they can.

They are not just different and opposed, they are antagonistic to what the world wants and what it stands for. This cannot be over-emphasized. They are antagonistic not because of the Christian, but because of the unredeemed. As we have noted above; the world hates being reminded of its lack of righteousness before God. They strike out angrily at anything that represents God and the implication of their need before Him. They hate the very mention of His name!

The real question here is "Is this the kind of Christianity that I embrace?" What is it about Christianity that so antagonistic to the world and brings its hatred? First, it is exclusive, it does not allow for varying points of view. Second, it is rigid. It insists that men come to God by a single, definite path. Third, it is critical. It proclaims that man's best efforts are not sufficient to please God. Fourth, it is demanding. It requires a quantity and a quality of righteousness that man cannot supply. Fifth, it is selective. God chooses and blesses some, leaving others in their sin.

The reason for all of this is that God has chosen them (the disciples, here representative of all believers) from out of the world. We can look at this in one of two ways. First, it could refer to the call of God upon believers lives to live differently from the world. But it might also refer to the basic act of God in choosing believers for blessing from out of the mass of unsaved humanity.

How do those facts apply to my life?:

 Therefore indicates and underscores the conclusion that this, indeed, is why the world hates believers. The question is, is it the reason that the world hates you?