One of the biggest secrets of the New Testament

When most people read the words World or earth in the New Testament, they tend to think the verses are speaking about planet earth, but imo, that is not true in most cases... take a look below and I think you'll see why :-)

John 15:18-25

The "World" Hates the Disciples

18 "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 

19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 

20 Remember what I told you: 'Servants are not greater than their master.'  If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 

21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me.

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22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. 

23 Those who hate me hate my Father as well. 

24 If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. 

25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: 'They hated me without reason.'

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A close read of this passage, especially verses 22-25 (the verses most pastors leave out when discussing this passage) show us that the "world" that hated Jesus and His disciples was NOT planet earth, but rather the Jewish world of that time... the religious leaders in particular. 

Let's take a look at verses 22, 24 and 25

22 If I had not come and spoken to THEM, THEY would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. 

Who is Jesus speaking too? All of planet earth... nope!

24 If I had not done among THEM the WORKS no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. 

Where did Jesus work the majority of His miracles... China, Germany, Jamaica??? (LOL) Nope, it was amongst the Jews of that time. 

Lastly verse 25 is a give away... 

25 But this is to fulfill what is written in THEIR LAW: 'They hated me without reason.

Who had the Law... the Jews did!

Likewise, when Jesus told His disciples to go preach the Gospel to the four corners of the world / earth and then the end would come... guess what "world" / earth Jesus was talking about? Yep, the Old Covenant Jewish world!

In several of the letters of Paul that we think of as only being to the Gentiles, there is also strong evidence that there were Jews present in his audience. Several times I have read texts that say... and you that know the Law... which is an obvious reference to the Jews, because they are the ones that would have known the Mosaic Law, not the non-Jews. 

This passage is one of the big eye-opening moments I had when I was first understanding the Fulfilled viewpoint... it was when the Lord opened my eyes to see that the "world" and the "earth" in the New Testament isn't talking about planet earth as we think of it most of the time, but rather that it was the Jewish Old Covenant "world" that God was destroying... it's temple, the "elementary" teachings of the Law (remember 2 Peter about the elements being burned up), etc... was coming to a end... the "old wineskin" was being burned up in the garbage pit (Gehenna / "hell") and the New Wineskin was being created to hold the New Wine of the Spirit in the Age / Aion that which was to come - We are now in that Age! 

Much more I could write, but I'll leave that for another day. :-)

Peace,

Dave