ENEMIES BECAUSE OF THE TRUTH
Thank you and a pleasant good morning to each one who has been so kind as to turn your radio to this station and consider what shall be said at this time. It is good to have you in our listening audience and it continues to be my desire and prayer that only good will come from our studies together. Knowing my heart, it is my wish that the truth of God's Word will shine through. There can be no doubt to any honest person that the religious world is divided into many schisms and differing bodies. The only solution to the religious division that exists is correct understand and application of God's Word, which we have recorded in what is commonly know as the New Testament of Christ Jesus. It contains the truth of Heaven.
The inspired apostle Paul spoke of this truth when writing to the Galatian brethren. Hear him, "So then am I become your enemy, by telling you the truth? (Galatians 4:16). What is the background or setting for this statement? Looking to the earlier part of the book, we see Paul is writing to the churches in the province of Galatia. He states that they were violating the laws of Christ by seeking to return to the old Law of Moses for justification. In the third chapter of the same book, Paul states,
"O foolish Galatians, who did bewitch you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly set forth crucified? This only would I learn from you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish: having begun in the Spirit, are ye now perfected in the flesh?"
In Chapter five, verse four, we read, "Ye are severed from Christ, ye who would be justified by the law; ye are fallen away from grace." Thus, Paul rebukes them for attempting to go back to the Law of Moses for their salvation. In pointing out this truth, Paul was their friend. He was warning them of traveling down a path that would eventually lead to their eternal destruction. So, the apostle asks them the question with which we began, "Am I become your enemy by telling you the truth."
The world, generally speaking, has always turned away from hearing the truth. The majority has always been in the wrong path. Jesus so tells us this fact, "For wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby" (Matthew 7:13). Let us look at some examples of men who became the enemy of the very people they were trying to assist.
In Exodus 3, through chapter 10, Moses sought to be the friend to Pharaoh. Moses came to Pharaoh and asked for the release of God's people, the Israelites. Had Pharaoh listened to Moses' request and released these people, Egypt would have escaped the wrath of the ten plagues. But, Pharaoh's self pride would not allow this to happen. He refused their release and his nation suffered as one by one the plagues were sent upon the Egyptians, cause much anguish and heartache. As each plague came, Moses became Pharaoh's friend by
asking him to release the captives. But, Moses became Pharaoh's enemy and the next plague came.
Noah tried to be a friend to his generation. This narrative is found in Genesis, chapters 6 through 8. The apostle Peter tells us that God, "spared not the ancient world, but preserved Noah with seven others, a preacher of righteousness, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly" (2 Peter 2:5). Had the people of that time listened to Noah,
they would have escaped the destruction that came upon them. But, they refused the pleas of this righteous man, Noah.
Can you not hear their taunting remarks? That old man, Noah, is trying to tell us that if we don't repent and clean up our lives, the world is going to be destroyed with water. Who does he think he is anyhow?
If he thinks we are going to quit our homosexual behavior, he has another thought coming. We shall live like we want to live. That old man is crazy. He says God shall destroy the world unless we repent.
What does he know about it anyway. But, the flood came, and the inhabitants of that day drowned. Why? Because they refused to hear the pleas of the righteous man, Noah, who tried to be their friend by warning them.
In the first verses of Matthew 14, we read of John the prophet, who sought to be a friend to Herod. Herod was living in adultery. John told him this relationship was unlawful. God's Word teaches that all adulterers and fornicators, shall be cast into the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone --
Revelation 21:8. John tried to warn Herod, he was Herod's friend. But, Herod counted him as his enemy and eventually had John beheaded. You see, this has always been the path of wickedness. Just destroy the one who points out your error. This was what the Jews did to the Son of God, Jesus Christ. When Pilate ask what to do with Jesus, they cried out, "
Crucify Him." And so they did.
The apostles were friends to the Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, yea to all the world.
These men went forth preaching the "good news" of the Resurrected Christ. They went forth proclaiming the Gospel, telling men and women what they must do if they would enjoy eternal life in the presence of the Father; but the world killed them. They offered the world something that is far beyond what anyone else has ever offered -- Eternal Life. But, they were killed.
Stephen, in Acts, chapter 7, told the Jewish council about Jesus of Nazareth, they stopped their ears and rushed upon him and cast him out of the city, and stoned him -- Acts 7:57, 58. Here again was a man who sought to befriend these people and they killed him. Have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
Back to our beginning text, Paul was seeking the welfare of the churches in Galatia, but they were guilty of counting him as their enemy. He points out truth, but truth is often difficult to accept. It seems to be easier to accept and believe error.
Enemies of the truth hate those who are faithful preachers, just as the faithful men of old were hated. Men like Moses, Noah, Stephen, Paul, all sought to bring sinful man back into God's favor. Yet, as they taught truth, they were hated, despised. But, this did not deter them in continuing to do the work of God.
Would I become your enemy, my listening audience, when I seek to teach the truth of God's Word? Let us see:
Christ sent his apostle out with the good message of the Gospel.
That Gospel is still the message that the world needs. Stated simply, it says, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel, He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned"
(Mark 16:15,16). Jesus said, "Ye must be born again" (John 3:3,5).
When the multitude cried out, "What shall we do?" in Acts 2:37, Peter could have said, "Ye must be born again." But, they would have had no idea what to do. Rather, he said, "Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). You see, Peter told them what they needed to know and to do. He gave them the information they needed to obey the Father. And that is the same information that man needs today.
You, my friend, need to believe in Christ Jesus as the Son of God; you need to turn from your sins, that's call repentance; you need to confess your faith in Christ; and you need to be baptized into Christ for the remission of your sins. When I tell you that, have I become your enemy?? When I quote the words of Mark 16:16, there are those who are filled with wrath and anger.
They accuse me of teaching water salvation. Of course, such is not the case. One who accuses me of teaching water salvation is willingly and knowingly misrepresenting the truth. I believe that Christ Jesus is the Savior; He shed His blood for the remission of sins. But, how can one enjoy the benefits of salvation without obeying the commands of our Lord. Which of God's commands can we chose not to obey?
Our God demands of each one of us that we must hear the truth and that we must obey that truth. If you, or I, would refuse the message of Heaven, we shall incur eternal condemnation; being cast from the presence of Jehovah. Are you a follower of Christ? A Christian? Have you obeyed the gospel?
Jack Thompson [ radio lessons ]