After telling his disciples that they should love one another, Jesus began preparing them in John 15:18-16:11 to be hated by the world. Even so, he sent them out to be witnesses for him, but not on their own. He also promised to send the Holy Spirit to be the witness who would convince the world about the truth of the gospel.
Even as he adapted his defense to the hostile Jewish audience, Paul did not shrink back from emphasizing that the gospel is for all...
Christians need to learn to speak with joy, listen with discernment, and grow in grace.
God fulfills his plan against human opposition and even through human suffering.
