Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

 ³  Therefore His brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see Your works which You are doing.

 ⁴  “For no one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known publicly.  If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.”

 ⁵  For not even His brothers were believing in Him.

 ⁶  So Jesus said to them, “My time is not yet here, but your time is always opportune.

 ⁷  “The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil.

 ⁸  “Go up to the feast yourselves;  I do not go up to this feast because My time has not yet fully come.”

 ⁹  Having said these things to them, He stayed in Galilee.”  John 7:1-9.

The world does not want to hear “its deeds are evil” which is “Total Depravity”, the “T” in “TULIP”.  The world does not want to hear that we are dead in sin.  The world does not want to hear Romans 3:10-12.

“¹⁰  as it is written,
         “THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
    ¹¹  THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
         THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
    ¹²  ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;
         THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
         THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”  Romans 3:10-12.

So, the world presents a “Jesus” who loves everyone and who doesn’t say anything bad about anyone, except maybe about those who were intolerant.  The world wants their “Jesus” to copy their practice of not calling anyone bad, except those who are intolerant, namely those who also strive for holiness and also call the world’s deeds as “evil”.

The world presents man as basically good.  “We just need teachings to improve ourselves and to uncover the goodness within us.”

The world thinks and teaches:  “I am better than others.  Therefore, I am good.”

The world does not want to hear about salvation based on “Unconditional Election”, the “U” of “TULIP”.  At least, the world wants credit for a “free-will” choice of Christ.  The world exclaims:  “We are not dead in sin;  we may be wounded;  but, we should get credit for flailing our arms signaling our willingness to be rescued.”

We should not be surprised that the world hated Jesus.  “For not even His brothers were believing in Him.”  John 7:5.