Oppositions

There are four major oppositions to God present in our world; hatred, irreverence, complacency and ignorance.

Hatred is defiant of God's kingdom; the 'created' rejecting the Creator.

Irreverence is abusive in handling Truth; utilizing God's Word for self gain.

Complacency disregards His commands; compromising to the world.

Ignorance is sincerely blind; unbelief that has never heard.

These variables of rebellion against God are the product of man's fallen state. Humanity is tempted to believe they can sustain themselves by becoming their own authority; but exclusively in the life of God's children, opposition is used to pronounce a stark contrast between His Kingdom and the present age, bringing about an awareness of His holiness that His elect may be pruned away from the world and into the eternal life to come.

"He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:10-13)

PJR

"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours." (John 15:18-20)