15:19John 15:19

Jesus chose his followers out of the world so they no longer belong to it, to its ways and spirit and pleasures, but stand as God's distinct people, and for that reason the world hates them instead of loving them as its own.SG4 232.3+2 That hatred only continues the world's hatred of Christ himself, for servants are not greater than their Lord, so those who persecuted him will persecute them and those who kept his word will keep theirs.RH Jun 25, 1861+2 It comes because the world does not know the Father who sent him, and because pure, obedient lives condemn worldly conduct and expose evil.Ms 23, 1906, par. 23–24+4 This conflict between righteousness and sin, truth and falsehood, Christ and Satan runs through all history to the end, so his followers should expect opposition, scorn and persecution and not be surprised or discouraged when it comes.Ms 87, 1897, par. 14+4 They are therefore to come out and be separate, loving God and keeping his commandments rather than seeking the world's favor, and to hold truth firmly and let its light shine while trusting Christ who overcame the world on their behalf.Ms 87, 1897, par. 14+4

Jesus spoke these words to the eleven disciples alone in the upper chamber after Judas had left, looking upon them with divine love and tenderest sympathy as he was about to tell them of his approaching separation from them.DA 662.1 He first directed their thoughts to the great object of his mission and to his joy that all his humiliation and suffering would glorify the Father's name.DA 662.1 They were part of his words of courage near the close of his earthly ministry, spoken while a cruel death was just before him.Lt 24, 1912, par. 3 He spoke them knowing the trials that would come to his church, including through unconverted believers.Ms 71, 1902, par. 5–8 They belong to the encouragement and hope of John 14-16.Ms 71, 1902, par. 5–8+1

The words were not fully understood until after the resurrection.ST May 23, 1878+1 The disciples later repeated them to steady and comfort one another in trial.ST May 23, 1878+1 Across the ages they have brought comfort, peace, hope and strength to true believers, giving courage to stand fast in the most trying hour and strength and assurance as long as time lasts.Ms 71, 1902, par. 5–8+1 Jesus foretold the opposition so his disciples would remember his words when it came, including expulsion from synagogues and persecution by people who believed they were serving God.Lt 38, 1896, par. 22 His instructions about the future did not leave them ignorant of his purposes but reminded them of his love and were given to strengthen them for trials and temptations ahead, with the Spirit of truth testifying of him through them.Lt 38, 1896, par. 22+1

The verse belongs to the teaching of John 15 about Christ as the true vine and believers as branches joined to him.Ms 59, 1902, par. 1+3 True branches have a vital connection to him, receiving spiritual strength through the Word, while spurious branches are contrasted with them.Ms 59, 1902, par. 1+1 Branches remain individuals yet share fellowship and unity through the same source of life, drawing the same Spirit and life-giving power that leads to love for one another without erasing differences or requiring uniformity.6MR 104.1–2 Love for God is proved by keeping his commandments.Ms 179, 1897, par. 23 Those who claim to believe on Jesus Christ should understand this teaching and reveal it in daily life, taking the Word into practical life and obeying it.Ms 59, 1902, par. 1

The verse also belongs to the larger discourse of John 6 and 13-17, especially John 14-16.RH Jun 18, 1901+2 It was part of Christ's instruction preparing his disciples for their work after his visible presence with them ended.RH Nov 4, 1902 Those chapters contain God's plainly expressed will for his people, the divine antidote for the sin of the whole world, joined to his gift of eternal life and resurrection to those who eat his flesh and drink his blood, his coming to give life more abundantly, and the believer's life hid with Christ in God, by which believers are made one with him in this present life to be one with him throughout all eternity.RH Jun 18, 1901 They hold the richest promises and are of deep import.Ms 42, 1890, par. 16–19 They are to be studied with diligence, even committed to memory and understood with new enlightenment when the mind is reshaped by God's Spirit, to correct lack of genuine piety, store the mind with truth and richest consolation, equip to speak a word in season to the oppressed and sorrowful, keep Thus saith the Lord upon the lips, make the soul like a watered garden, and let their loveliness shine forth in clear rays to others even where people lie in deep sleep and indifference.19MR 51.2+2

If his followers belonged to the world, the world would love them as its own, but Jesus has chosen them out of the world so they do not belong to it, and therefore the world hates them rather than loving them.SG4 232.3+4 This choosing out means they do not belong to its ways, values, spirit, pleasures and friendship, and their separation marks them as God's distinct, peculiar people.SG4 232.3+4 Their rejection follows the world's prior rejection and hatred of Christ himself, bringing persecution for his name rather than acceptance by those who do not know the Father who sent him.RH Jun 25, 1861+4 Their treatment follows the same pattern as his: those who turn determinedly from him will also oppose his followers, opposing their witness about Jesus through expulsion from synagogues and persecution by people who believe they are serving God.Ms 23, 1906, par. 23–24+2 He foretold this opposition so his disciples would remember his words when it came, and the Spirit of truth would testify about him through them.Lt 38, 1896, par. 22

Being chosen out of the world means being brought into oneness with Jesus Christ and oneness with God, in which humanity grasps divinity and divinity lifts up humanity.RH Jun 18, 1901+1 In this unity believers take hold of and partake of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.Ms 139, 1909, par. 13 Resisting the influence of Christ's Holy Spirit keeps a person from coming up to this standard that the Lord sent Jesus to make possible.Ms 139, 1909, par. 13 This belongs to God's plainly expressed will in John 6 and 13-17, which holds the divine antidote for the sin of the whole world, joined to his gift of eternal life and resurrection to those who eat his flesh and drink his blood, his coming to give life more abundantly, and the believer's life hid with Christ in God.RH Jun 18, 1901 It is Christ's great process by which believers are made one with him in this present life to be one with him throughout all eternity, though they may die as Christ died.RH Jun 18, 1901

Being chosen does not shield believers from temptation but prepares them to meet and resist it.Ms 86, 1910, par. 54–55+1 When they encounter the world in public life, the Spirit of God is to strengthen them so they do not yield to corrupting influences.19MR 328.1 Christ reveals himself to those thus chosen, so that when with his Spirit upon them they labor unitedly and heartily with him to the best of their ability to overcome temptation for victory at every step, they are never alone.Ms 86, 1910, par. 54–55 They are working for heaven to see the King in his beauty and to enter through the gates into the city for eternal life with right to the tree of life where there is no more death and no more sin.Ms 86, 1910, par. 54–55

The hatred the world shows to Christ's followers comes after and because of its earlier hatred of Christ himself.RH Jun 25, 1861+4 As servants are not greater than their Lord, those who persecuted Him will persecute them for His name, and those who kept His saying will keep theirs.Ms 145, 1906, par. 51+2 Those who turn determinedly from Him will oppose His followers in the same pattern, so that His disciples may say with Him that they are hated without cause.Ms 9, 1898, par. 27+2 Their separation from the world brings persecution rather than acceptance, not because they belong to it but because He has chosen them out of it.Ms 23, 1906, par. 23–24+2

That hostility comes because the world does not know the Father who sent Jesus nor the Son, cannot receive the truth, and does not discern spiritual things.Ms 23, 1906, par. 23–24+3 It rejects both the messengers and their message, and in rejecting the one sent to speak God's message it ultimately rejects the One who sent Him.Ms 145, 1906, par. 51+1 Christ was drawing the world, but the world refused to come to Him and refused to know Him, so hatred is the certain result of being separate and letting every ray of entrusted light shine amid moral darkness.Ms 40a, 1890, par. 53–54+1 This opposition to witness about Jesus can even take the form of expulsion from synagogues and persecution by people who believe they are serving God.Lt 38, 1896, par. 22

The world hates His followers because their consistent, obedient, pure and holy lives condemn worldly conduct, expose evil works, and rebuke pride, extravagance, ambition, sin, lust and self-gratification.Ms 97, 1909, par. 15–17+4 Christ's goodness and strict integrity distinguished Him from the people of His day and provoked their hatred, and the same qualities provoke it still.Ms 97, 1909, par. 15–17+1 Faithful warnings, earnest prayers, straightforward lifting up of Christ, speaking the truth with power and living it in practical holiness, and obedience to God's commandments with loyalty to His works may provoke hostility even when lives are blameless.Ms 104, 1897, par. 4–7+2 A merely outward form of Christianity does not provoke the same resistance, while loyalty to God and His truth forfeits the friendship of the world and its praise, confidence, sympathy and flattery become a matter of alarm rather than evidence of rightness.Lt 28, 1888, par. 8–12+1

That rejection belongs to the irrepressible conflict between righteousness and sin, love and hatred, truth and falsehood, light and darkness, Christ and Belial, the party led by Jesus and the party led by Satan.Ms 181, 1905, par. 4–6+3 There can be no union between light and darkness and no concord between Christ and Belial, so Christ's servants and Satan's servants cannot be at peace while sin and sinners remain.2T 689.1–690.2+2 Presenting the love of Christ draws away subjects of Satan's kingdom and stirs the prince of evil and his emissaries to resist, and the love manifested in the church stirs the wrath of Satan.DA 678.2+2 His purity was a constant reproach to the proud, sensual generation then living, so they hated Him and in the end crucified Him, and the same hostility directed against Jesus for His purity, holiness and sinless devotion is directed against His followers when they resist sin and uphold truth.4SP 325.3–326.1+1

The hatred in the verse is not confined to one age but expresses an antagonism between truth and error and between Christ and Satan that continues through history from Christ's time onward to the end of time.GC88 143.3–144.1+4 Its outward forms change and become more subtle, yet the principle remains, and hostility toward Christ's followers will become more evident as the end approaches.GC88 143.3–144.1+2 The verse therefore explains why those who present God's appointed truth for their time should expect opposition, since the spirit of the world is opposed to Christ.GC88 143.3–144.1+1 Christ's goodness and strict integrity distinguished Him from the people of His day and provoked their hatred, and those who show the same qualities will likewise be hated.Ms 97, 1909, par. 15–17 The same hostility directed against Jesus for His purity, holiness and sinless devotion is directed against His followers when they resist sin and uphold truth, for Christ's servants and Satan's servants cannot be at peace, so persecution continues while sin and sinners remain.4SP 325.3–326.1

At the close of world history Christ's followers will be hated because they do not belong to the world, since Christ has chosen them out of it, and their rejection repeats the world's hatred of Christ as part of the persecution His servants will face.Ms 40, 1897, par. 38–40+2 Their obedience to God's commandments and loyalty to His works sets them against those who reject God's truth and may provoke hostility even when their lives are blameless.Ms 104, 1897, par. 4–7+1 They must therefore be prepared for persecution and oppressive human laws that oppose God's law.Ms 104, 1897, par. 4–7+1 As Christ was hated without cause despite His purity and good works, His obedient disciples must expect persecution and unjust treatment, including arrest and judgment under human laws that oppose God's law, and being cut off from house and heritage for faith.Ms 40, 1897, par. 38–40+1

Cain and Abel stand for the two classes that exist from the fall to the second coming, the righteous believers and the wicked unbelievers.SG3 50.1 Cain killing Abel shows how the hatred works: the wicked envy the righteous and hate them because they are better, and they are jealous and persecute and kill them because right doing condemns their sinful course.GC88 46.1+1 Abel's righteousness provoked Cain just as Jesus' holiness provoked those who rejected and crucified Him, and from Christ's time onward faithful disciples have faced the same hatred and opposition from those who follow sinful ways because their purity exposes selfishness and corruption.GC88 46.1+1 The outward character of persecution changes with the times, but the principle and spirit underlying it is the same that has slain the chosen of the Lord ever since the days of Abel, for between righteousness and sin, love and hatred, truth and falsehood there is an irrepressible conflict. The same spirit that opposed Christ, killed the apostles, and stirred Nero against the faithful sought to destroy those beloved of God in the persecution of the Waldenses.GC 77.3+1 Christ and the martyrs were put to death because they appeared to despise the wisdom of their age and brought forward new truth, and those who challenge accepted error can likewise be accused of pride and face hostility, as Luther was accused when reform was opposed.GC88 130.2–131.1

Those who are chosen out of the world and no longer belong to it should expect the world to hate them as it hated Christ before them, because the world loves its own.Ms 87, 1897, par. 14+4 That share in reproach and persecution is no cause for complaint, discouragement, surprise, impatience, terror, or loss of temper when trials, opposition, suffering, hindrance, humiliation, stumbling blocks, ridicule and censure come, or when Christ does not miraculously deliver or humiliate enemies.Ms 87, 1897, par. 14+4 Conformity to the world removes that opposition, and a merely outward form of Christianity lived without power and practical holiness does not provoke the same resistance.Ms 114, 1903, par. 10+2

The hatred shows itself in scorn, derision, meanness, reproach, contempt, false witness and false reports, speaking against them, jealousy, oppression, and aggressive warfare involving peril, loss and human suffering requiring self-denial and cross-bearing.Ms 87, 1897, par. 14+4 It includes opposition to witness about Jesus, expulsion from synagogues, and arrest and judgment under human laws that oppose God's law, with obedience to God's commandments setting believers against those who reject truth.Lt 38, 1896, par. 22+2 Much of it comes from persecutors who believe they are serving God because they do not know Him who sent Jesus, and worldly people may also try to distort ministers' teaching and silence reproof so they can persist in sin.Lt 38, 1896, par. 22+2 Every child of rebellion does this evil work of heaping reproach even on those without spot or stain, as reproach was heaped on Christ, and only a religion that is not aggressive or heroic but corrupted by worldly currents earns the world's smiles, flattery, applause, admiration, respect and esteem.Lt 21, 1882, par. 36–38+2

Jesus foretold this opposition in instructions about the future so disciples would remember his words when it came, would not be left ignorant of his purposes, would be reminded of his love, and would be strengthened for trials and temptations ahead.Lt 38, 1896, par. 22+2 They do not face the Christian path alone or abandoned during his personal absence, for the Comforter, the Spirit of truth, testifies of Christ through them and cheers and strengthens them to remain faithful and bear witness, while their union with him and the Father embraces them.Lt 38, 1896, par. 22+2 Enemies can act only as providence permits, and Christ overcame the world on their behalf and enables them to overcome.Ms 87, 1897, par. 14+1 His words of courage spoken with cruel death before him were not fully understood until after the resurrection but were later repeated by disciples to steady one another in trial, and have brought comfort, peace, hope and strength to believers across the ages, so that even those cut off from house and heritage for faith may still be filled with joy when they give their hearts to Christ, receive his grace, and rest upon him as Substitute and Surety, even the Son of God.Lt 24, 1912, par. 3+3

Being hated by the world does not by itself prove faithfulness.SG4 316.2+1 Hatred caused by refusing to take a course that would win love, by uncultivated manners, by making truth a matter of quarrel with neighbors, by making the Sabbath as annoying as possible, or by conduct that disgusts the world through error does not fulfill the promise, and those who pursue such a course to make the world hate them anger God, become a stumbling block to sinners and a reproach to sacred truth, and must repent.SG4 316.2+1

The verses call for taking John 15:18-27 to heart to correct lack of love and lack of resignation to bear any cross or difficulty.Ms 86, 1910, par. 43–44 They call for sacred union with God in which the salvation of God is seen in a remarkable manner, and for letting Jesus do a great work of preparation before standing in review at the Judgment.Ms 86, 1910, par. 43–44 That readiness comes now through humbling the soul before God, seeking the Lord, confessing where wrong, and letting light shine forth because the Lord is working.Ms 86, 1910, par. 43–44

Following Jesus means coming out from the world and being separate, with influence wholly on the Lord's side, for those chosen out are no longer of the world and are therefore hated as he was hated before them.Ms 8, 1880, par. 1–3+3 There can be no union, fellowship, peace or concord between light and darkness, between those who serve God and those who serve other masters, and no one can mix or mingle with the world while united with Christ.Ms 40a, 1890, par. 53–54+4 Loving self, indulging inclination, and compromising faith makes a person Satan's servant, so this separation is of eternal importance, and God's servants and the world's servants belong to distinct classes with no true fellowship between them.Ms 8, 1880, par. 1–3+3 The true Christian represents a truth that works counter to all the ambitious plans of the world, where judgment is turned backward and justice stands afar off, where truth is fallen in the street and equity cannot enter, and where departing from evil makes a person a prey.Ms 45, 1908, par. 17–18

Separation is shown by loving God and keeping his commandments rather than loving the world's pleasures, friendship, customs, practices and principles, for love is proved by obedience and obedience is the Bible test for those privileged with light.Lt 23, 1900, par. 2+3 It includes turning from sin and everything evil, obeying God in words and actions, and letting heaven's light strengthen the soul and shine to others to God's glory.Ms 70, 1911, par. 26 When Christians turn from the world's customs and practices, including in keeping the Sabbath, they bear a cross and may face opposition from those who do not serve God.Ms 85, 1893, par. 45–49 Living in holy simplicity including in dress, withdrawing affections from earthly treasure to heavenly treasure, and guarding the heart lest human desires replace God's will belong to this separation, as shown hard by Samson and by the rich young ruler who struggled to turn from worldly treasure even with eternal life set before him.ST Oct 29, 1894+1

The world's praise, confidence, sympathy, smiles, flattery, applause, favors and esteem are no evidence of rightness but a matter of alarm, and loyalty to God and his truth forfeits its friendship.Lt 28, 1888, par. 8–12+2 If a person belonged to the world the world would love and applaud him as its own, while those who share the world's spirit receive its smiles and those who do not belong to it face scorn and persecution for his name.Lt 28, 1888, par. 8–12+2 Only a religion that is not aggressive in spirit or heroic in action but corrupted by worldly currents earns the world's admiration, respect and esteem, while spirituality that rebukes pride and extravagance and faithful warnings and earnest prayers that clash with ambition become objects of scorn, derision and meanness.Lt 4a, 1880, par. 8–10 Seeking the support and confidence of the world separates from the source of strength, becoming so closely aligned that its praise, favors and ways shape spirit and judgment and making the world one's master, and teaching that Christians will be honored by the world contradicts Christ's teaching.Lt 28, 1888, par. 8–12+2 When professed Christians share the world's values and conduct, worldlings find them agreeable and praise them, and this lack of practical godliness blurs the separation and reassures others in careless disregard of God's claims.5T 430.3

Those in sacred trust are to hold the truth firmly and teach it distinctly and positively before the world, even though the world will not look on them with favor but will hate them, and there is no peace to be had by uniting interests with unbelievers who cannot receive the truth because they do not know the Father or the Son.Ms 40a, 1890, par. 53–54+1 It is God's plan that every ray of light entrusted to men shine amid moral darkness, in clear distinct rays preserved and imparted so souls will come to the light even where people lie in deep sleep, love pleasure and novelty, relish startling fables that leave self-complacency undisturbed, refuse arousing truth, and stand encased in self-deception and stolid indifference that only God can penetrate.Ms 40a, 1890, par. 53–54+2 They are to represent Christ and be a blessing to the world by helping those in need and telling those perishing in sin, speaking the truth with power and living it in practical holiness, living with purity that rebukes others.Lt 21, 1882, par. 36–38+1 They are to remain Christlike and patient and not become impatient or lose temper when dealing with worldly people, and to bear faithful witness against policies opposed to truth and righteousness.Ms 80, 1893, par. 36–43 Ministers especially must be free from selfishness, benevolent, self-denying and blameless, with eternal considerations outweighing earthly gain.Ms 80, 1893, par. 36–43

Because they follow the best light they have in obedience, it is their privilege to claim his blessing, lay the whole burden upon Jesus Christ, and claim by faith his rich whole salvation secured by his whole sacrifice as sin-bearer, and to be joyful and free rather than under bondage to the law or pressed down by darkness.Ms 9, 1886, par. 14–16 They are called to hide themselves in Christ and hold fast to the hope offered in the gospel, for they cannot enjoy the friendship of the world while having life hidden with Christ.Ms 81, 1910, par. 25–27+2 Their affections must be withdrawn from earthly treasure and transferred to heavenly treasure, trusting only wisdom from above and strength from God in union with the Lord and abiding in him.ST Oct 29, 1894+1 Strength and prosperity consist in this connection as a peculiar people and living examples of holiness, by which the world is enlightened, convicted or condemned according to how it treats the light, and laboring unitedly and heartily with him with his Spirit upon them to overcome temptation for victory at every step they are never alone but work for heaven to see the King in his beauty and enter through the gates into the city with right to the tree of life where there is no more death and no more sin, gaining victory step by step united with heaven, known by pure fruit without abuse or contention.2T 689.1–690.2+1 Even when suffering loss including being cut off from house and heritage for faith, those who give hearts to Christ, receive the message of his grace, and rest upon him as Substitute and Surety may still be filled with joy.ST Jun 2, 1898