Something About Being Enemies Of God & Christ

[Michael37]

• Rom 5:10  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
• Rom 8:7  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
• Php 3:18  For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
• Col 1:21  And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now has he reconciled...
• Jas 4:4  Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

How did I ever become the enemy of God and Christ?

When I was a young sprite, about 3 or 4 years old, my mother asked me in a very serious tone if I loved Jesus and I said I did. I knew the story of His birth, death, and resurrection, being born the fourth of six children raised in an Anglican vicarage. Now at 66 years the memory of my mother's question is still strong, and I particularly remember the sunlight streaming through the large window of the lounge where the two of us were together that day.

I also recall responding to an evangelist at school as a 5 year old when a missionary team came visiting and our class was gathered for a gospel presentation that maybe included films and slides, but which concluded with an invitation for all to raise their hands if they accepted Christ as their Saviour, and to come forward as confirmation of this. I raised my hand, already believing what I had heard and been taught about Christ, and I was the first to go to the front when the call was made. I was given a card which apparently explained that I had accepted Christ and become His disciple and when I got home and showed it to my mother she indignantly exclaimed, "Oh we've already taken care of that."

By time I was 26 years old, in spite of mostly regular Bible reading and prayers, habitual service attendance and numerous commitments and professions of faith in Christ, it was obvious to me and many others that not much in my walking of the straight and narrow had been taken care of. It was at that time I received a visitation from the LORD who advised me that I was denying Him by the way I was living, and completely overcome with loathing and remorse for my wickedness, I responded immediately, spending much time in confession and repentance until my heart was filled in a new way with a fresh desire and determination to be faithful to Christ and to live a God-glorifying life with help from the Holy Spirit.

As for the question, "How did I ever become an enemy of God and Christ?", the answer is in the soil.

Mat 13:18-22  "Therefore hear the parable of the sower:  

(19)  When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.  

(20)  But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;  (21)  yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.  

(22)  Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 

    

[Frits]

Thank you Michael37,

For sharing your life story? As we see some people living in sin, this creates enmity with the Lord God. Once this was the case for me and you too. But one Bible verse came up to me as I read your story,

"But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom.5:8)

That love is what I am looking for in my daily life; show the love I got from pur Lord Jezus Christ to people of my family and in my neighbourhood, even when they sometimes act like a enemies.

God bless you.

[Michael37]

5 hours ago, Frits said:

Thank you Michael37,

For sharing your life story? As we see some people living in sin, this creates enmity with the Lord God. Once this was the case for me and you too. But one Bible verse came up to me as I read your story,

"But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom.5:8)

That love is what I am looking for in my daily life; show the love I got from pur Lord Jezus Christ to people of my family and in my neighbourhood, even when they sometimes act like a enemies.

God bless you.

Hi Frits. Good to read your insights. Yes, that verse about God's love being proved by Christ's death for us was in the reading I was doing before posting this thread. As a child I would argue with myself that I wasn't even alive when Christ died so wasn't a sinner at the time of Christ's death, but of course the truth is that Christ shed His blood and died for all sinners past, present, and future.

 

Joh 3:16-17  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  (17)  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Eph 2:5-7  Even when we were dead in sins, has quickened us together with Christ, (by grace you are saved;)  (6)  And has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:  (7)  That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

1Ti 1:15-16  This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.  (16)  Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

Heb 9:15  And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.