Jesus Christ warns that all of his true followers will be persecuted. Now, why exactly would this be? Why is the rest of humanity out to get Christ and his followers?
"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." Mt. 24:9
"12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." 2 Tim. 3:12
Paul says that ALL that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Why is this? Is it because human nature and God are at war with one another? Is it because the real commands of Jesus Christ are so radical that human nature simply will persecute anyone who obeys them (by their very nature)?
"7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Rom. 8:7
"20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved." Jn. 3:20
"15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." Gen. 3:15
You see, human nature and God are at war. God's commands are against human nature and outside of human nature which is why his real followers simply will be persecuted by the rest of humanity. In other words, the commands are considered radical by the rest of humanity. It is considered offensive. It is considered evil, immoral, etc. Hence, Christ's real followers will be persecuted.
"17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." Jn. 14:17
This verse proves that the truth is outside of human nature, since the disobedient ones cannot receive the Spirit of truth. Therefore, truth must be outside the sphere of their nature. In addition, it proves that God is outside of human nature, because the "Spirit" here is talking about the Holy Spirit, which is God.
So the truth is not to be found inside of human nature, but only through obedience to God's commands. Since these commands are contrary to human nature and its whims, the individual who obeys them simply will be persecuted, period. Which is why Christ said:
"34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household." Mt. 10:34-36
Christ says that even one's own household will not like one obeying his commands - that is how contrary the gospel is to human nature.
So to sum it all up - Christ's commands are considered radical to human nature. Human nature does not like God (actually, hates him) and hence will hate those who obey his commands. The commands are considered against human nature, therefore Christ's real followers are considered to be evil, immoral, insane, etc., which is why they are eventually delivered up to prisons and killed in Mt. 24:9 (and many other passages).
Anyone who obeys the real gospel of Jesus Christ can expect persecution. That is a promise of the Apostle Paul, and of Jesus Christ.
"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." Mt. 24:9
"12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." 2 Tim. 3:12
Paul says that ALL that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Why is this? Is it because human nature and God are at war with one another? Is it because the real commands of Jesus Christ are so radical that human nature simply will persecute anyone who obeys them (by their very nature)?
"7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Rom. 8:7
"20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved." Jn. 3:20
"15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." Gen. 3:15
You see, human nature and God are at war. God's commands are against human nature and outside of human nature which is why his real followers simply will be persecuted by the rest of humanity. In other words, the commands are considered radical by the rest of humanity. It is considered offensive. It is considered evil, immoral, etc. Hence, Christ's real followers will be persecuted.
"17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." Jn. 14:17
This verse proves that the truth is outside of human nature, since the disobedient ones cannot receive the Spirit of truth. Therefore, truth must be outside the sphere of their nature. In addition, it proves that God is outside of human nature, because the "Spirit" here is talking about the Holy Spirit, which is God.
So the truth is not to be found inside of human nature, but only through obedience to God's commands. Since these commands are contrary to human nature and its whims, the individual who obeys them simply will be persecuted, period. Which is why Christ said:
"34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household." Mt. 10:34-36
Christ says that even one's own household will not like one obeying his commands - that is how contrary the gospel is to human nature.
So to sum it all up - Christ's commands are considered radical to human nature. Human nature does not like God (actually, hates him) and hence will hate those who obey his commands. The commands are considered against human nature, therefore Christ's real followers are considered to be evil, immoral, insane, etc., which is why they are eventually delivered up to prisons and killed in Mt. 24:9 (and many other passages).
Anyone who obeys the real gospel of Jesus Christ can expect persecution. That is a promise of the Apostle Paul, and of Jesus Christ.
