John 15:18-21 | Bearing His Name in a Hostile World
John 15:16-17 I Choose You
What does it mean to bear Christ’s name in a world that rejects Him?
In John 15:18–21, Jesus prepares His disciples not just to bear fruit, but to endure opposition. If the world hated Him, it will hate those who belong to Him. In this sermon, we consider what it means to be chosen out of the world, why faithfulness brings resistance, and how we can abide in Christ without seeking the world’s approval.
Will we fit in—or will we faithfully wear His name?
In this week’s sermon from John 15:18–21, we continue Jesus’ teaching on abiding in Him and bearing fruit that lasts. Last week we saw that Christ chose us to bear enduring fruit—lives marked by love for God, joyful worship, and love for neighbour. This fruit is not self-produced; it flows from remaining in Christ. As we abide in Him, we increasingly resemble Him.
But Jesus now gives a sobering warning: abiding in Him will also bring opposition.
When Jesus speaks of “the world,” He is not referring to creation itself, but to humanity in rebellion against God—the kingdom of darkness set against the kingdom of light. Scripture teaches that there is something in our fallen nature that is hostile toward God. We are either reconciled to Him through the new birth or we remain opposed to Him.
Jesus reminds His disciples: “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.” The sinless, obedient Son of God was rejected, mocked, and crucified. Why? Because He obeyed the Father rather than men. Because He revealed the truth about human sin. Because He was the very God they refused to acknowledge. If the world hates us for our faith, it is ultimately Christ they hate.
We have been chosen out of the world. We now bear His name. And bearing His name will provoke a reaction. Jesus does not hide this reality from us—He tells us beforehand so that we will not fall away when rejection comes (John 16:1, 4). Opposition is not evidence that something has gone wrong; it is often evidence that we truly belong to Him.
The New Testament repeatedly describes this “strange offense.” When believers no longer join in sinful patterns, others are surprised and may malign them (1 Peter 4:3–4). A life transformed by grace exposes the emptiness of sin. Choosing Christ inevitably creates a form of estrangement from the world.
This raises a pressing question: are we seeking the approval of God or the approval of man? Scripture warns against loving the world (1 John 2:15), against becoming friends with the world’s system (James 4:4), and against fearing man more than God (Galatians 1:10). Even in Jesus’ day, some believed in Him quietly but would not confess Him publicly for fear of social rejection (John 12:42–43).
Jesus calls us to something better than blending in. Fitting in is not a valid option for those who have been chosen out of the world.
That reality reshapes our lives. It affects:
Our priorities — how we spend our time, money, and energy.
Our message — resisting a “gospel of nice” that seeks cultural approval rather than faithfulness.
Our mission — remembering that our ultimate purpose is not winning temporary cultural or political battles, but participating in Christ’s eternal kingdom work.
We do not belong to this world anymore. Our identity, allegiance, and hope are elsewhere.
Jesus closes with this reminder: “All these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know Him who sent me.” The dividing line is ultimately about knowing God.
So the question before us is clear: will we seek to fit in, or will we gladly wear His name—trusting that abiding in Christ, even amid rejection, is the pathway to fruit that truly endures?