DO WE HAVE OPPONENTS?

It is a fact that most Christians today live and think like the world. They have a carnal mind.

According to the apostle Paul, If a person refuses to submit to the commandments of God, they have a carnal mind and are an enemy of God!

"Because the CARNAL MIND is enmity against God: for IT IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE LAW OF GOD, neither indeed can be." Romans 8:7

QUESTION: If a person is an enemy of God, are they our opponent? Jesus said this to his carnal unconverted brethren:

"John 7:7
The world cannot hate you - You profess no principles in opposition to the world. You do not excite its envy, or rouse against you the civil rulers. As you possess the same spirit and principles with the men of the world, they cannot be expected to hate you.

I testify of it - I bear witness against it. This was the main cause of the opposition which was made to him. He proclaimed that men were depraved, and the result was that they hated him. We may expect that all who preach faithfully against the wickedness of men will excite opposition. Yet this is not to deter us from doing our duty, and, after the example of Jesus, from proclaiming to men their sins, whatever may be the result." Barnes

According to the apostle John, a person who commits rebellious sin is a child of the devil:

"He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." 1 John 3:8

QUESTION: If a person is a child of the devil, then is he really my brother in Christ?

ANSWER: No!

Jesus said: "And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which HEAR THE WORD OF GOD, AND DO IT." Luke 8:21

We must discern the body of Christ and cast out the wicked from among us. In the time of Achan, many perished because of unjudged "Sin in the camp.":

Joshua 7:12 Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.

Joshua 7:13 Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.

Ancient Israel stoned Achan. In this time of grace, we must cast the wicked out of our fellowship. Obstinate sinners will be judged by God and die the second death:

"For to be carnally minded is death; ..." Romans 8:6

Donna Kupp