1510. The Attitude of the Cosmos Toward the Believer

The Attitude of the Cosmos Toward the Believer

"The cosmos hath hated them, because they are not of the cosmos, even as I am not of the cosmos" (Joh_17:14).

When Christ came into the cosmos, "the cosmos knew Him not" (Joh_1:10); God so loved the "cosmos" that He gave His only begotten Son (see Joh_3:16); God sent His Son into the cosmos that the cosmos might be saved (see Joh_3:17); God sent His Son to give light unto the cosmos (see Joh_12:46); the cosmos repudiated every effort of the Triune God to give it light, it repulsed God's love.

The cosmos in its wisdom knew not God, and therefore it crucified the Lord of Glory (see 1Co_1:21; 1Co_2:8).

The world has never had a change of heart. Its attitude toward the believer is the same as its attitude toward the believer's Lord. "If ye were of the cosmos, the cosmos would love his own; but because ye are not of the cosmos, but I have chosen you out of the cosmos, therefore the cosmos hateth you" (Joh_15:19).

The believer is made a spectacle unto the cosmos (see 1Co_4:13); the cosmos knoweth him not (see 1Jn_3:1). The chief glory of the believer should ever be stated thus: "God forbid that I should glory, save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the cosmos is crucified unto me, and I unto the cosmos" (Gal_6:14, \1911 Bible).

"Know ye not that the friendship of this cosmos is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the cosmos is the enemy of God" (Jam_4:4).

The opposite is just as true; the friend of God is reckoned by the cosmos as an enemy. Therefore "if the cosmos hate you," said Christ, "Ye know that it hated Me before it hated you" (Joh_15:18).

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR