Why do I have enemies? Except for being white and being a Christian, I have no enemies that I know personally. Well there may be a couple who think they are enemies on this blog?

Still, Jesus tells us to love them, whoever they are. Some of these enemies will be turned around and will become joined to us in the body of Christ (God’s saints). Most Jesus has told us will remain enemies. Vengeance is Mine says the Lord. We don’t have the foreknowledge that Our Heavenly Father has, vengeance therefore does not look good on us. Jesus accepted the wrath of all men upon Him, because some of them will be saved. So He paid for all sin even knowing what He did. Our job is to allow the Holy Spirit’s use of the sword of the Lord (the word) and the shield of faith to through us minister to our enemies out of love for them.

Proverbs 15:9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But He loves one who pursues righteousness. (NASB1995)

One would think from verses like this that an enemy who pursues wicked ways is in drastic need of a life change; otherwise they have no hope.

Proverbs 15:31 He whose ear listens to the life-giving reproof Will dwell among the wise. (NASB1995)

It is the job of a believer to make disciples. Disciples come from giving out the good news that God has provided the way of salvation for any who will hear. The above verse tells us that listening to reproof will bring one to wisdom. But reproof can seem unloving. Listen;

This is important: does the reproof of someone’s actions necessarily mean that that one is unloved? Absolutely not. God loves us and He did not ignore our sin and abandon His reproof of it in His word to us as recorded in the Scripture. Nor should we when we are ministering to others. It’s actually difficult to make reproof anything other than what it is: an expression of blame or disapproval; a rebuke.

You can call it’s use hatred if you like, but without having had the wages of our sin reproved, none of us would have turned to God.

If the gospel was simply “God loves you and Jesus loves you, so go and do thou likewise: love one another; then sin would be meaningless, but it does not stop there. Jesus died for your sin and mine, because had He not you would have paid sins price on your own. You would have experienced the wrath of God all by your lonesome. And the gospel even goes further: God’s wrath means an eternal separation from Him and His love. It is Hell. Some of that may seem unloving but it is the Gospel.

So again, If the gospel was simply “God loves you and Jesus loves you, so go and do thou likewise: love one another; love your enemies, we are all sinners it matters not what our sin may be, God still loves you. In fact, even if you don’t love, that’s just more sin and it’s all forgiven.

But what is interesting is that the folks that push all this are just plain not willing to forgive and forget anyone, who presents a gospel that includes a reproof of sins. For reproof is hatred. Reproof is not loving.

Proverbs 15:31 He whose ear listens to the life-giving reproof Will dwell among the wise. (NASB1995)

Otherwise whether my friend or my enemy, you will not. Seek the redeemer of your soul today while it is yet day. To be redeemed by accepting what Jesus did for you is the only avenue to redemption. His blood was shed to cleanse you from your sin; not to leave you stuck in it.

If my reproof seems hateful please know that it is only hateful for those who will unwisely refuse it. It is meant to bring you to Jesus who is love.