I John 3:11 “For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. 13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.”
There is a “world” of wicked Cains that hates anything that is good and moral and holy and righteous. And, no matter how hard one might try, wicked Cains cannot be turned into “righteous” Abels; for, wicked Cains are “of that wicked one”; that is, the devil. The devil is their master, and they lustfully follow after him. We are plainly told that “the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect.” (Genesis 3:4-5). The “LORD” had respect for the person of “Abel” but not for the person of “Cain”; because “Cain” “was of that wicked one”; whereas “Abel” was of God. Notice that it was not only their offerings, but “the LORD had respect unto Abel” himself, but He “had not respect” “unto Cain” himself. Cain’s works were evil because they were motivated by an evil heart. Abel’s works were “righteous” because He had God-given “righteousness” in his heart to guide and motivate him. “Cain” slew “Abel” out of malice that rose from his evil nature. He was so wicked that he showed no remorse at all that his brother was dead, but he complained about the severe penalty that “the LORD” imposed upon him. Since that time, there has been a stark contrast between those who are “of that wicked one” and those who are of “the LORD”. Those who are of “the LORD” simply want to live with brotherly love, in peace and worshipful service to “the LORD”. Those who are “of that wicked one” are greedy, lustful, and hateful towards anything that is godly. So, “Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.”!