Are Non-Christians An Enemy Of God?

[catlover]

I ran across this sentiment. Truthfully, I have never heard of such an idea until I came to Christian Forums. What is your thought on Non-Christians being an enemy of God?

I believe God loves non-believers and His son came to heal people and showed love and compassion.

 

[Caliban]

Non-christians are the victims of the enemy of God and as with all victims God wishes them saved, all of them if they choose to be saved and he will try his darndest

 

[kamikat]

I think God loves all His creations. I was recently told by someone who has never met him, that my husband is wicked and rebellious because he is not a Christian. My husband was raised in an athiest home and was never exposed to religion for most of his life. How can he rebel against something he does not know? I think God can work through non-Christians, just as well as through Christians.
kamikat

 

[Erinwilcox]

Psa 7:11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry [with the wicked] every day.

Mat 12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.


Luk 11:23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.

Jam 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Well, this is what the Bible says. It matters not what man thinks or says, but rather what God has said in His Word.

 

[QuantaCura]

Psa 7:11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry [with the wicked] every day.

Mat 12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.


Luk 11:23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.

Jam 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Well, this is what the Bible says. It matters not what man thinks or says, but rather what God has said in His Word.

And then we have this:
Luke 9: 50 And Jesus said to him: Forbid him not; for he that is not against you, is for you.

It's a simple deal. God loves all the same. He sent His only Son to save not condemn. That being said, if someone chooses not to believe and to conduct themselves wickedly, they will have to suffer serious consequences--they have made God their personal enemy. On the other hand, those who have not had the opprtunity to believe, but follow the law written on all our heart by cooperating with the interior graces God sends all men, may still be saved as they may have placed themselves in God's friendship.

Here's an interesting passage to think about:

Luke 12:47 And that servant who knew the will of his lord, and prepared not himself, and did not according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

48 But he that knew not, and did things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. And unto whomsoever much is given, of him much shall be required: and to whom they have committed much, of him they will demand the more.

 

[Akathist]

I believe that God hates sins and that sinful behavior is behavior at emnity to God.

I also believe that God created all life and that His life and Light shines upon all, Christian and nonChristian.

 

[Rebirth In Flames]

Psa 7:11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry [with the wicked] every day.

Mat 12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.


Luk 11:23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.

Jam 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Well, this is what the Bible says. It matters not what man thinks or says, but rather what God has said in His Word.

Amen; I agree with Erinwilcox on this one. This isn't a "feel-good" faith we live for, it's one based on Scripture... what I feel is right, holds little bearing to the absolute truth written for us in Scripture. This isn't a relative answer, it's absolute in the sense that Scripture says that if you don't accept Christ, then you go to hell...and those who go to hell are obviously an enemy of God, not because they weren't "good people", but because they didn't accept Christ into their hearts. Being a "good person" in this life isn't going to score you brownie points at judgement as most people want to believe, brownies don't matter at judgement - God's sweet enough.. the only thing that matters is if you've accepted the mediation of Jesus Christ into your heart and daily make the choice to continually follow Him.

 

[Dragons87]

Some non-Christians may indeed be God's enemy, but most, I believe, are at best lost sheep.

 

[Rebirth In Flames]

Some non-Christians may indeed be God's enemy, but most, I believe, are at best lost sheep.

All are lost sheep who don't accept Christ, and all lost sheep are in danger of going to hell unless we don't witness to them and let them know that they have a choice. But all lost sheep are enemies of God.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

In the Christian west, as well as most other parts of the world, the gospel of grace is well known. There will come a time of 'famine of the word'. It could happen soon as the gospel has been preached and published throughout the whole world. In the apostolic days the gospel was of course, unknown. Not so today.

Regarding hell; the good unsaved's 'part' of the lake of fire may not be as hot as for the wicked. God is very gracious to all in this mortal life. All have a full life span and can be in health and prosperity (mostly). Most choose wisely, many do not. When it's over they (the unsaved) are simply dead, not tortured forever. That would be 'eternal life' in torment. Not scriptural. Paul spoke of becoming a 'castaway' if by becoming so he could save others. I doubt that he would consider an eternity in torment so that others could enjoy eternal life with God. That makes no sense.

 

[mlqurgw]

I am surprised no one posted this passage.


Rom 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 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.
Rom 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

Notice it doesn't say at enmity but is enmity.

 

[Rebirth In Flames]

Regarding hell; the good unsaved's 'part' of the lake of fire may not be as hot as for the wicked. God is very gracious to all in this mortal life. All have a full life span and can be in health and prosperity (mostly). Most choose wisely, many do not. When it's over they (the unsaved) are simply dead, not tortured forever. That would be 'eternal life' in torment. Not scriptural. Paul spoke of becoming a 'castaway' if by becoming so he could save others. I doubt that he would consider an eternity in torment so that others could enjoy eternal life with God. That makes no sense.

I bet you have Dante's works right next to your Bible, don't you? I don't believe in worse or better parts of hell because I can't find anything in Scripture that supports that... though it is kind of fun to think that there are better parts, (more heavenly, lol), parts of hell than others depending upon how much sin you've actually committed; though, that's fantasy and not the reality of it. All who don't have Christ as their personal Savior, are eternally tormented in hell. All live forever, and there are only two roads to travel on: no inbetween or rationalizations of more than two. Heaven for those who have Christ, and hell for those who do not... forever.

 

[UncleRicky]

According to Scripture, The unsaved are enemies, but God loves them, died for them, and persues them with an amazing love.

Rick

 

[mlqurgw]

According to Scripture, The unsaved are enemies, but God loves them, died for them, and persues them with an amazing love.

Rick

Welcome! I believe you will find that what you have said, other than the unsaved are enemies and perhaps even that, will be very debatable.

 

[Erinwilcox]

When it's over they (the unsaved) are simply dead, not tortured forever. That would be 'eternal life' in torment. Not scriptural. Paul spoke of becoming a 'castaway' if by becoming so he could save others. I doubt that he would consider an eternity in torment so that others could enjoy eternal life with God. That makes no sense.

Mar 9:43And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
Mar 9:44Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. Mar 9:45And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
Mar 9:46Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. Mar 9:47And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
Mar 9:48Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.


This sounds like eternity to me.

 

[tulc]

But all lost sheep are enemies of God.

Lost sheep are His sheep and not His enemies.
tulc(thinks Jesus died for all those people you call His enimies)

 

[tulc]

All live forever, and there are only two roads to travel on: no inbetween or rationalizations of more than two. Heaven for those who have Christ, and hell for those who do not... forever.

The Frank Castle school of theology!
tulc(more of a DC kind of guy)

 

[catlover]

Amen; I agree with Erinwilcox on this one. This isn't a "feel-good" faith we live for, it's one based on Scripture... what I feel is right, holds little bearing to the absolute truth written for us in Scripture. This isn't a relative answer, it's absolute in the sense that Scripture says that if you don't accept Christ, then you go to hell...and those who go to hell are obviously an enemy of God, not because they weren't "good people", but because they didn't accept Christ into their hearts. Being a "good person" in this life isn't going to score you brownie points at judgement as most people want to believe, brownies don't matter at judgement - God's sweet enough.. the only thing that matters is if you've accepted the mediation of Jesus Christ into your heart and daily make the choice to continually follow Him.

What's so bad about "feel good" Scripture? It seems some Christians get a real kick out of condemning people.(don't parrot the platitudge I don't condemn anyone God does, because unless he is speaking directly to you, I think it's you.) Jesus WAS a feel good human being, He sure didn't get up and chuck a stone at the woman caught in adultry. I am sure some would here.


Jesus stated He came to seek and save what was lost. Why do folks like to forgot the positive part of this faith?

 

[Augustine_Was_Calvinist]

And then we have this:
Luke 9: 50 And Jesus said to him: Forbid him not; for he that is not against you, is for you.

That is taken way out of context and has nothing to do with salvation whatsoever. It is a clear case of eisegesis, forcing one's own personal philosophy into a text taken out of context as a pretext for that philosophy.

The context was the disciples running across someone casting out demons in Jesus's name, which the disciples objected to because this man was not part of their specific circle. Jesus was telling the disciples that He has sheep outside that inner circle, at that time. It in now way refers to unbelievers who simply are not against Christians. That is to do terrible violence to the text and to derive false doctrines in the process.

It's a simple deal. God loves all the same. He sent His only Son to save not condemn. That being said, if someone chooses not to believe and to conduct themselves wickedly, they will have to suffer serious consequences--they have made God their personal enemy. On the other hand, those who have not had the opprtunity to believe, but follow the law written on all our heart by cooperating with the interior graces God sends all men, may still be saved as they may have placed themselves in God's friendship.

That also is a false gospel, and another means of salvation other than through faith in Christ, for by the deeds of the Law, whether the Law they have within themselves or the Mosaic Law shall no flesh be saved.

Here's an interesting passage to think about:

Luke 12:47 And that servant who knew the will of his lord, and prepared not himself, and did not according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

48 But he that knew not, and did things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. And unto whomsoever much is given, of him much shall be required: and to whom they have committed much, of him they will demand the more.

And that passage is referring to the level of one's punishment in hell, not that some will be punished lightly then released.

 

[Augustine_Was_Calvinist]

I am surprised no one posted this passage.


Rom 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 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.
Rom 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

Notice it doesn't say at enmity but is enmity.

You beat me to it bro. Good show mate.