Our Enemies As Christians
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“Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.”
Isaiah 55:3 KJV
“Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand: but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servant's sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes:”
1 Kings 11:34
“ and yet thou hast not been as my servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to do that only which was right in mine eyes;”
1 Kings 14:8 KJV
“Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.”
Isaiah 55:3 KJV
“Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand: but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servant's sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes:”
1 Kings 11:34
“ and yet thou hast not been as my servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to do that only which was right in mine eyes;”
1 Kings 14:8 KJV
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Love your enemy.. that's the same love Christ has for you and me. So does He ever stop? Its love.. that love never ever sees faults never thinks of its self. But you quote Psalms? Way before Christ ever came. What did Christ say? "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” So there's your answer.
Remember Christ never asks us to do something He never did. The world hates Him yet He cries because they don't know how much He loves them. All the good that happens to them.. never came from the enemy. Just look at all that Israel has done to Him.. He came to His own first.
Remember Christ never asks us to do something He never did. The world hates Him yet He cries because they don't know how much He loves them. All the good that happens to them.. never came from the enemy. Just look at all that Israel has done to Him.. He came to His own first.
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There is an old saying that fits here: Were it not for the Grace of God, so go I.
In Matthew 5:44, the Lord is reminding us of one very important fact. We should love our enemies! Why is this? For one, because God showed believers MERCY and FORGIVENESS even though we were enemies of God. Therefore, believers should follow our Heavenly Fathers example: Mat 5:45-47 that ye may be sons of your Father who is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. (46) For if ye love them that love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? (47) And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the Gentiles the same?
Secondly, let us not forget, that if God had not done a work in us, we would be exactly like the one you are calling an enemy. We were no better than they before God called us out and we are still no better than they, if we cannot love, forgive and pray for them.
However, as a believer, this does not mean that you have to stand there and be abused - IF the cause is for Christ. If it is for your own revenge, that is a different story. You should be slow to anger, slow to speak and slow to act. After all, what have they injured? Your pride? You will survive.
In the cause of Christ, you should be fierce towards those who are spreading lies, quick to shun those who work evil and hate the things that God hates.
In regards to the Psalms you quoted in your post... Please note that the Psalmist was talking with God - who is the righteous Judge - and many of the things he was mentioning, were about the revealed will of God towards those who are unbelievers. They were not about things that the Psalmist himself was planning to do.
Finally, keep this in mind:
Rom 12:17 Render to no man evil for evil. Take thought for things honorable in the sight of all men.
Rom 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lies in you, be at peace with all men.
Rom 12:19 Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath of God: for it is written, Vengeance belongs unto me; I will recompense, says the Lord.
Rom 12:20 But if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him to drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head.
Rom 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
In Matthew 5:44, the Lord is reminding us of one very important fact. We should love our enemies! Why is this? For one, because God showed believers MERCY and FORGIVENESS even though we were enemies of God. Therefore, believers should follow our Heavenly Fathers example: Mat 5:45-47 that ye may be sons of your Father who is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. (46) For if ye love them that love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? (47) And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the Gentiles the same?
Secondly, let us not forget, that if God had not done a work in us, we would be exactly like the one you are calling an enemy. We were no better than they before God called us out and we are still no better than they, if we cannot love, forgive and pray for them.
However, as a believer, this does not mean that you have to stand there and be abused - IF the cause is for Christ. If it is for your own revenge, that is a different story. You should be slow to anger, slow to speak and slow to act. After all, what have they injured? Your pride? You will survive.
In the cause of Christ, you should be fierce towards those who are spreading lies, quick to shun those who work evil and hate the things that God hates.
In regards to the Psalms you quoted in your post... Please note that the Psalmist was talking with God - who is the righteous Judge - and many of the things he was mentioning, were about the revealed will of God towards those who are unbelievers. They were not about things that the Psalmist himself was planning to do.
Finally, keep this in mind:
Rom 12:17 Render to no man evil for evil. Take thought for things honorable in the sight of all men.
Rom 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lies in you, be at peace with all men.
Rom 12:19 Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath of God: for it is written, Vengeance belongs unto me; I will recompense, says the Lord.
Rom 12:20 But if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him to drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head.
Rom 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
It's basically like Apostle Paul said in Romans 12:18, if it be possible, as much as lieth within you, live peaceably with all men.
That does not mean we can't love our enemies and pray for them. At the same time, that does not mean we have to let them run over us either. Here's a Scripture by Jesus that many just pass over...
Jesus speaking in 'red':
Luke 22:35-37
35 And He said unto them, "When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing?" And they said, "Nothing."
36 Then said He unto them, "But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.
37 For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in Me, 'And He was reckoned among the transgressors': for the things concerning Me have an end."
38 And they said, "Lord, behold, here are two swords." And He said unto them, "It is enough."
KJV
Why do many miss the above Scripture where Jesus told His disciples when He sent them out in final to preach The Gospel, for those who didn't have one, to go buy a sword?
The above Scripture by Lord Jesus shows that we as His servants have the God-given right to defend ourselves. In that day, a sword was the most common weapon of the time.
What about Matthew 5 where Jesus said to turn the other cheek if you are slapped on the face by your enemy? Well, what 'situation' was that involving? Who was He speaking those things to in Matthew 5? To His disciples. And what would be their Commission? To go preach The Gospel to the nations. So someone who is against our preaching of The Gospel comes up to us and slaps us on the face, offer them the other cheek also. That's the situation. And in that time slapping the face was a practice to show a person they were guilty of shame. It was not to kill them.
Now but what if a thief or murderer is coming up to you to kill you? What then, just turn the other cheek?!? like let it happen?!? God forbid, NO! That's why Jesus told His disciples that didn't have one, to go buy a sword!
Jesus gave His servants the right to defend their self, and their family, and their country, from thieves, murderers, against subversives, and against all sorts of corruption and evil. We are not to allow our enemies to treat us like second class citizens.
And in case one did not know, World Communist policy is geared to use... the Christian Church to push disarming and pacifist dogma, i.e., for you to NOT defend yourself nor your family nor your country!
Communist Goal #27 (from ex-FBI agent Cleon Skousen's 1958 book The Naked Communist, listing 45 strategic points for Communist takeover of the United States.)
"Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with "social" religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity, which does not need a "religious crutch."
(from https://archive.org/details/45-declared-goals/page/n1/mode/2up)
That does not mean we can't love our enemies and pray for them. At the same time, that does not mean we have to let them run over us either. Here's a Scripture by Jesus that many just pass over...
Jesus speaking in 'red':
Luke 22:35-37
35 And He said unto them, "When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing?" And they said, "Nothing."
36 Then said He unto them, "But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.
37 For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in Me, 'And He was reckoned among the transgressors': for the things concerning Me have an end."
38 And they said, "Lord, behold, here are two swords." And He said unto them, "It is enough."
KJV
Why do many miss the above Scripture where Jesus told His disciples when He sent them out in final to preach The Gospel, for those who didn't have one, to go buy a sword?
The above Scripture by Lord Jesus shows that we as His servants have the God-given right to defend ourselves. In that day, a sword was the most common weapon of the time.
What about Matthew 5 where Jesus said to turn the other cheek if you are slapped on the face by your enemy? Well, what 'situation' was that involving? Who was He speaking those things to in Matthew 5? To His disciples. And what would be their Commission? To go preach The Gospel to the nations. So someone who is against our preaching of The Gospel comes up to us and slaps us on the face, offer them the other cheek also. That's the situation. And in that time slapping the face was a practice to show a person they were guilty of shame. It was not to kill them.
Now but what if a thief or murderer is coming up to you to kill you? What then, just turn the other cheek?!? like let it happen?!? God forbid, NO! That's why Jesus told His disciples that didn't have one, to go buy a sword!
Jesus gave His servants the right to defend their self, and their family, and their country, from thieves, murderers, against subversives, and against all sorts of corruption and evil. We are not to allow our enemies to treat us like second class citizens.
And in case one did not know, World Communist policy is geared to use... the Christian Church to push disarming and pacifist dogma, i.e., for you to NOT defend yourself nor your family nor your country!
Communist Goal #27 (from ex-FBI agent Cleon Skousen's 1958 book The Naked Communist, listing 45 strategic points for Communist takeover of the United States.)
"Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with "social" religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity, which does not need a "religious crutch."
(from https://archive.org/details/45-declared-goals/page/n1/mode/2up)
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