Intro:

[Rom 5:10 KJV] 10 For if, when we were enemies.…”

Enemies… “a person who is actively opposed or hostile to someone or something.”

You hear alot about enemies now days in the news.

“The deep state… Social Media has labeled politicians they deem the enemy as the Swamp… The major Media Networks are considered by some the enemy of the people today… The President of the United States is considered by others the enemy… The Democrats are the enemy to some Republicans, or the Republicans are the enemy to some Democrats — Everyone is the Enemy in today’s culture it seems!

Today Japan is a close Ally of the United States but just go back to 1942, and the enemy was Japanese Americans who were all suspected of being spies for the enemy! Japanese Americans, some of whom were loyal Seventh-day Adventists, were taken by the thousands between

1942-1945… 117,000 Japanese Americans were taken from their homes, many not even able to say good bye to their family members and placed in internment camps — Not in N Korea, Not in a radical Islamic state but right here in the United States — because US sentiment considered someone of Japanese descent too dangerous to have in open society — Pearl Harbor only heightened this dark sentiment.  

(Just a few hundred miles from here) In Portland, Oregon, 3,000 Japanese Americans were taken from their homes and stayed in the livestock pavilion of the Pacific International Livestock Exposition Facilities. In Southern Idaho near the Snake River is the Minidoka Internment National Monument, which used to be a war relocation center. 13,000 Japanese Americans were imprisoned here, right here in Idaho!

What does this go to show? It doesn’t matter who you are, where you live, how famous you are — If it can happen then to them, it can happen to us today. And indeed the Bible says it will —

• In 1942 the enemy was someone of Japanese descent
• After September 11, 2001 the enemy was someone who practiced the Islamic religion
• After Trump took office, and especially since the war exploded in Ukraine, the enemy has been Russia
• But in the Future, the enemy of the state will be those who have committed their lives entirely to Jesus Christ. Prophecy has predicted, that Christians (Seventh-day Adventist Christians in this Church) will be hunted down and considered the enemy of the state — It happened to the Jews in Nazi Germany, It happened in Rwanda when up to 200,000 Hutus were hunted down and slaughtered by the state run Tutsi army. It has happened to Christians before in the early Roman empire power, and if one thing is for certain (History repeats itself!)

[Rev 13:7-8 KJV] 7 And it was given unto him [THE BEAST POWER —Which is a Religious Political Government] to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

During this prophetic time period that is soon to break upon our world, you can either be a  

1. Friend of God and thus an enemy of the state, or you can be an
2. Enemy of God and a friend of the state. —

Everything depends on who is your enemy on that day. You can join the political rebellion against God, or you can join the religious resistance of the Saints.

(How are you preparing for this time, when you will be enemy of the state? Are you drawing close to God now — when it matters so much?)

Set against this backdrop of the end of time, the topic of whose enemy you are has immense significance. We know how you become an enemy of the state at this time (Simply commit your life entirely, completely, and totally to God above all else — Make His service supreme! During the 1st Century Christians were persecuted because of their insistence that their loyalty to God must be supreme over their loyalty as citizens of the state. Here is where the rub came, and what prompted state persecution against early Christians… The same will be true at the end — if you have placed the worship of God as your priority, then His law will hold your conscience over the requirements of the state. So we know how we become enemies of the state — but what about God? We must understand something about What it means to be God’s enemy. Let me point out a few things from the very first of God’s enemies, in the very last book of the Bible.

Who was God’s first enemy?

[Rev 12:7 KJV] 7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

The Bible says there was a war in heaven — who started this war?

[Isa 14:12-13 KJV] 12 “O Lucifer… thou hast said in thine heart… I will exalt my throne above the stars of God…”

The first thing I’d like to point our attention to is that from God’s first enemy- Lucifer, to the last sinner on the planet… God is not the one who us his enemy, but it is us who have made God our enemy.

Whether it is discontent with the position God has given us in life, or distrust of God’s plan for us, or the desire for self-exaltation — whatever the motive. If we find ourselves warring with God — it is essential to understand that this war is not God’s plan, God’s desire, or God’s initiative.

If we are God’s enemy, it is because WE have chosen to be. WE set ourselves against God! In fact, Even after Lucifer had begun his revolt against God — God would have forgiven the rebellion and accepted him again.

“If he had been willing to return to God, satisfied to fill the place appointed him in God’s great plan, he would have been reinstated in his office.” — From Eternity Past, 12.

This idea that God is looking for our faults, or waiting to cut us off, banish us from his presence, or abandon us in our shame — is not a heaven inspired idea, for it does not reflect God and His true feelings towards us when we fail or fall.

Every time Scripture describes one who turns from God and makes God their enemy, we immediately have a picture of God extending His grace.

Immediately after Adam and Eve chose self & sin over God — Immediately after they messed up

(What is their reaction to God, and What is God’s reaction to them?)

#1 — They walk away from God, wishing to not see His face

[Gen 3:8 NKJV] 8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

#2 — God seeks after them, and offers a path to reconciliation

[Gen 3:8 NKJV] 8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

Then we go to the story of Cain and Abel — The brother’s offer their offerings to the Lord. At that time, God would show his acceptance of an offering by sending fire down from heaven to consume the offering — and the offering He prescribed, was a sacrificial Lamb (A symbol that pointed people forward to the innocent son of God who would die for us). Cain decided like his parents to go his own way, and instead offered his lettuce, his tomatoes, his cucumbers, his pineapple, or other produce. And the Lord responded by not responding (There was no fire from heaven)… Cain looked over at the smoking embers of his brothers sacrifice, and then the stone cold sacrifice of his vegetables — and what do you think was Abel’s thought?

Well the Bible says he was angry! But I wonder if he felt as if God had abandoned him, as if God did not love him, as if God hated him. Do we feel that way too when we don’t see evidence of God’s blessing in our lives? Did God hate Cain, simply because He could not bless Cain? No, in fact it is after Cain’s mess up that God goes seeking after Cain and speaks to His heart to reconcile him back to himself.

[Gen 4:6-7 NKJV] 6 So the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 “If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire [is] for you, but you should rule over it.”

Cain makes himself God’s enemy, and God is the one who initiates reconciliation. God is the one who seeks after Cain when he sins. God is the one who won’t let go of Cain!

This story is repeated over, and over, and over, and over gain in Scripture.

Jonah — Refuses to go preach for God in Ninevah and instead seeks to run away in the opposite direction by hiring a boat to take him to a far away country. This results in the a life-threatening storm, which results in Jonah being thrown over board into the midst of a roaring sea. Does God leave him? Does God walk away from Jonah? Is God the one who calls Jonah His enemy? No, God sends a whale on a rescue mission to safely carry Jonah for three days back to the beach he had set out from. God did that!

When the once faithful Elijah, full of fear, faithlessly runs from Jezebel — God doesn’t abandon his prophet to die in the wilderness, he doesn’t reprimand the prophet for his faithless course, but instead sends Ravens to feed him — until his faith is restored!

To a hardened Babylonian King (Nebuchadnezzar) — God gives a dream, and sends a prophet to turn the king to himself again.

To Rebellious Israel in the Wilderness — God opens the seas so they walk on dry ground, feeds them with Manna — bread from heaven, gives them water from a rock, and  then plants his very presence tenderly in their midst as a reminder they are HIS loved children.

In fact God did not choose Israel because of their faithfulness — God never chooses us because of our faithfulness. God’s gracious actions in your life are because of His Faithfulness…. His Faithfulness is the foundation of His mercy & grace toward Israel and toward us.

[Deu 7:7-8 NKJV] 7 “The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; 8 “but because the LORD loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand…”

Evangelical Christians have put forth the idea the Israel is the only nation chosen by God, but there were others who were avowed enemies of God whom he called His chosen.

[Isa 19:25 NKJV] 25 “whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, “Blessed [is] Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.”

We think Israel was God’s people because they were righteous, and the other nations were wicked. But We have the twisted idea that somehow our righteousness brings us into favor with God — If I’m bad, I make him mad, if I’m good then He loves me as He should. But the Love of God doesn’t work that way! The Bible says, His choosing us is based on His faithfulness, His character, His mercy, His grace!

[2Ti 2:13 NKJV] 13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful.…

It is NOT our blunderings and mistakes that make us enemies of God, it is the refusal of God’s grace, and our own reluctance to turn from our sinful life. The Father is waiting with open arms, we can choose to come home from our prodigal ways today, and just as God called Egypt his people, and Assyria the work of His hands, so he will call you His beloved child — His choice motivated from His love.

[Jhn 1:12 NKJV] 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

Even our choice to turn to God is a gift from God’s grace —  

[Rom 2:4 NKJV] 4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

“The love of God still yearns over the one who has chosen to separate from Him, and He sets in operation influences to bring him back to the Father’s house….A golden chain, the mercy and compassion of divine love, is passed around every imperiled soul. The Lord declares, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Jeremiah 31:3. ” — Christ Object Lessons, 202

It is precisely because God treats His enemies different than we treat our own enemies that we can begin to fathom God’s supreme love!

Listen to Jesus words regarding His own people — Israel!

[Mat 23:37 NKJV] 37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her!…”

Does this sound like God’s enemies to you?

“While the Jewish leaders professed to have great zeal for the honor of God and the good of Israel, they were enemies of both.” — AA, 417. but Jesus responds with a glimpse into how God feels about His own avowed enemies:

[Mat 23:37 NKJV] 37 “… How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under [her] wings, but you were not willing!

Paul even declares about the Jews:

[Rom 11:28 KJV] 28 “As concerning the gospel, [they are] enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, [they are] beloved for the fathers’ sakes.”

Quick Review: Here’s what we’ve learned about the enemies of God:

1. We are God’s enemy because of our choice, not His.
2. God reaches out to us first, before we chose to reach out to Him
3. God’s mercy and grace towards you is based on His faithfulness not ours
4. We can begin to fathom God’s love when we see how He treats His enemies.

But there’s more….

God’s enemies are powerless & hopeless to be anything else, except that God reaches them by His grace.

[Rom 5:6 NKJV] 6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

This is why it is a fatal deception to say to yourself: “I will turn to God and to Christ when things get really bad, or when I see the things prophesied in the Bible happening. When I see the plagues falling, then I’ll turn! When the Sunday laws come, then I’ll turn! You don’t understand, that you don’t have the strength to turn and can not turn away from sin to Christ unless God gives you grace to turn.

When we are in sin, we are blind to the unfolding of events around us, and we are caught by surprise (precisely because we waited, and didn’t watch)

[Mat 24:39 NKJV] 39 “and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

[1Th 5:2, 6 NKJV] 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. … 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others [do], but let us watch and be sober.

Our only assurance of Salvation then, is to turn to the Lord now while Mercy still pleads and Grace is knocking. The day will come when the voice of Mercy will be silent — The pleadings of grace will no longer be heard… The day will come when forgiveness will no longer be extended, and the doors of heaven so long opened to God’s enemies will out of necessity be closed.

God’s Justice demands that the enemies of God be brought to account for their actions, But God’s grace equally demands that the enemies of God be given what they do not deserve — Mercy & Forgiveness. How could Justice & Mercy meet?

The only way was for God to meet the requirements of His own Justice (Christ kept the whole law of God and lives a sinless life, then took upon Himself our guilt and died our death), it was only then that He could bestow upon us the full benefits of His own Mercy. God’s Justice was met, His Mercy was given, and His Supreme Love was demonstrated through the sacrifice of Jesus.

[Rom 5:8-9 NKJV] 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

Who did Christ reconcile back to God through His death? Christains?

[2Co 5:19 NKJV] 19 “that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.”

“That prayer of Christ (“Father Forgive Them”) for His enemies embraced the world. It took in every sinner that had lived or should live, from the beginning of the world to the end of time. Upon all rests the guilt of crucifying the Son of God. To all, forgiveness is freely offered. “Whosoever will” may have peace with God, and inherit eternal life.” — Called to Stand Apart, 37.5

But this does not mean the whole world is saved, it simply means that there is no longer anything left between us and God to make us enemies of God any longer. God has taken His enemies (us) and reconciled us to Himself through the blood of Jesus Christ. But what then is left to be saved? I thought reconciliation was salvation!

[Rom 5:10 NKJV] 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

Reconciliation is God’s Justifying — Declaring us Righteous through the actions of Jesus Christ. Remember we are Justified by the faith of Jesus!!! (As Galatians tells us)

Now that we are justified by faith, is our salvation now dependent upon our life? [Let’s read the verse again]

[Rom 5:10 NKJV] 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of

His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

Whose life is our salvation dependent on? — We are not saved because our life has reached perfection, we are saved because His life reached perfection.

 

What then must I do? “Believe on Him for everlasting life” (1 Tim 1:16)

[Jhn 1:12 NKJV] 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

What about my faults, failures, and fumbling? What about perfection? What about overcoming sin?

Don’t I need to be perfect for heaven?

[Phl 1:6 NKJV] 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete [it] until the day of Jesus Christ;

[Jde 1:24 NKJV] 24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present [you] faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,

[Phl 2:13 NKJV] 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for [His] good pleasure. So what is our work then? It is to believe on Him who called you to Salvation.

We will explore this further when we come to our next sermon in this series “The Second Adam & A Second Chance” — So don’t miss next week!

Appeal: Trust in the merits, the character, the goodness, the grace and love, of Jesus Christ. He has done what none could do, so that we would become what none could become on their own.

Will you believe today?