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The Gospel of John, The Period of Conference, Conference With the Father, Part LXIV, John 17:14 - Lesson 172
John 17:14, I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Jesus declared to the Jews in John 8:23, .... Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
Paul in 2 Cor 5:17 declared: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
And in Heb 3:1 Paul wrote, Wherefore, holy brethren, .....partakers of the heavenly calling, ....consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
Amplifying this partaking of the heavenly calling, Paul said in Phil 3:20, For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
So Jesus Christ in this High Priestly Prayer declares himself to be not of this world and if he is not of this world shall also his disciples be.
We are to be heavenly minded!
Our conversation is in heaven.
This word conversation means community and citizenship.
We who are Christ's are of the community of heaven.
We who are saved are citizens of heaven.
We are strangers here journeying to our home to be with Christ.
But the world hates citizens of heaven.
Did not the world crucify Jesus Christ, the number one citizen of heaven?
So Jesus Christ petitions the Father for the preservation of his disciples.
Not being of the world they were not to fellowship with the world, they were not to take part in its worship, and they were not to promote the world. |