John 15:17-16:4

Down deep on the inside, most people think about what it would be like to be famous.  Right or wrong, there is a part of us that would like to be "on top."  We’d like to feel the appreciation and admiration of our peers.  It’s vital that we admit this fact before we can appreciate what Jesus is saying in our text. Jesus addressed the issue of popularity and acceptance with words we all need to hear.  He understands our craving for love and acceptance, yet knows that we won’t find it in the applause of men.  As a matter of fact, Jesus warns us that it is much more likely that persecution, not popularity, will be the net result of the presence Christ followers in the world.  Let’s consider what our Lord had to say about this important subject matter.

I. Don’t be surprised by persecution (See John 15:17-25). Christians must expect persecution from this world that hates Jesus (See John 15:18).  That’s strong language but it’s the truth.  It is our Lord who is speaking these words here in the Gospel of John (for another verse with similar meaning see 1 John 3:13).  Our need for love and acceptance will never be met by the unbelieving world, but instead through the body of Christ (See John 15:17).  Jesus provides at least two reasons for the negative attitude of the world toward Christians.
A. Resentment (See John 15:19) - If believers belonged to the world, there would be no problem! However, Jesus said, "You do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you."  He reminds the disciples, and all believers that we are called to live a different kind of life (See Matthew 5:6, 8, 10) for a completely different purpose ("His good purpose" -- See Philippians 2:13).  When Christians walk in the light we expose the dark deeds of men.  This makes for considerable discomfort and resentment (See John 3:19-20).

B. Ignorance (See John 15:21, 25) - "They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me."  Later Jesus quotes Psalm 35:19, "They have hated me without reason." The world does not understand God (See Romans 1:28; 1 Corinthians 2:14)).  As a result, it has no means by which it can properly evaluate the messenger He sent.  In word and deed Jesus came to reveal God’s plan and purpose in redeeming mankind.  The unbelieving world’s rejection of Christ and His teaching leaves them with no excuse for their sin, not even the one that will be most common at the final judgment, "I didn’t know!"   Ignorance is not always bliss. 

In this Part 2; Tolerance in the Church, we are looking at the church at Pergamos. The dictation of the Lord was penned and sent to this church. 

The city of Pergamos was a capital of the region under Roman rule.  It was the farthest north of the Seven Churches and a great and flourishing area when John wrote this missive. This city was situated sixty-four miles north of Smyrna, in Mysia, on a lofty hill, and was a great political and religious center. 

Pergamos would rival Ephesus for being a center of world religions.  There were temples to Zeus, Athena, and Dionysus, as well as the grove and temple of Asklepios, the, so called, god of healing, called the god of Pergamum. This temple even included a university for medical study.  Pergamum was the first city in Asia (A.D. 29) with a temple for the worship of Augustus (Octavius Caesar) and was considered the very center of emperor-worship.

The church faced great opposition.  They were not merely in a satanic place, but the very seat of Satan. This definition was given either for the idol worship or the presence of the ungodly rule of Rome. Revelation 17 speaks of a city on seven hills, which would seem to point to this city.  Whatever the cause of the name, the city was so wicked that the Lord said it was Satan’s seat of rule.

Contrary to current public opinion, there is such a thing as absolute truth, and it is found in the Bible.

Followers of Jesus understand the intellectual and moral bankruptcy of the post-modern notion of “tolerance” (moral relativism).  We need to dedicate ourselves to using scripture as our guide to absolute truth and we need to learn how to deal with those who reject Biblical truth.

This current prevailing philosophy teaches that there is no absolute truth, and that all philosophies, all religions, and all opinions are equally valid, with no way to distinguish one as being morally superior to others. This philosophy is taught in our public schools, universities, and promoted in our media; there is nothing that is true everywhere, and that everything is true somewhere.