Enemies?

I had someone get very upset with me one time because of something I said in a sermon. I spoke about some people being “enemies of God,” and this individual thought I was being uncaring and insensitive.

 First of all, the Bible clearly identifies some as being enemies of God.

 James 4:4  You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

 

Phil 3:18  For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.

But the more important point, and the one I was trying to make in my message that day, is how we should treat those who are enemies of God. As members of the body of Christ, if someone is an enemy of Christ, he/she is our enemy. This is what Scripture says we should do to our enemies:

 

Romans 12:20 “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

 

Matthew 5:43-44 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

We are told to love and pray for our enemies. The only thing that might be considered “offensive” is when we share the Gospel with them. We were all enemies of God as one point. We want those who still are to be reconciled to God as we have been.

 

Romans 5:8-10 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

The reconciliation that God provides for all people in Jesus makes all the difference.