ENEMIES
of God...
(2.)
ENEMIES
of God's People
A
tablet from the on-going INTERNET BOOK,
"The Doctor's Terrific Tablets"
(
http://www.terrific-tabs.com
)
by John
N. Todd III, M. D.
(link
to "About the Author")
The web-link to this
tablet is: http://www.terrific-tabs.com/print_enemies.htm
To send a "live" link to a friend, copy and paste
this web-link in an email message.
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This "tablet"
interrelates closely with
GOD's
PEOPLE
(link)
and:
CHOSEN
by God
(link)
and:
The
Heaven-rescued land
(link)
and:
The
ungodly
(link)
Originated
9/00; "Doctored" 3/01; 9/01; 10/01; 1/02; 2/02; 6/02; 7/02;
8/02; 9/02; 10/02; 5/03; 10/03; 1/04; 3/04; 4/04; 7/04;
2/05; 4/05; 9/05; 10/8/05
CLICK
HERE to go to the "FRONT
PAGE"
of "The
Doctor's Terrific Tablets"
CLICK
HERE for ALPHABETICAL
INDEX of
this entire
WEBSITE
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your thoughts to the author
Does God have
"enemies"? Does God have "friends"?
If so, how does one get to be an "enemy" of
God -- or how does one get to be a "friend" of
God? Can we humans "write our own ticket", and thus
cause ourselves to become God's "friends"? Do
we become an enemy of God if we don't join a
certain sectarian church? Can you and I
"work" our way into favor with God, by a
certain number of "good deeds"..... and thus
avoid becoming an "enemy" of God? If "works"
are required..... how many "good
works"
(link) are enough; and how will you and I
know when, or if, we have moved from the
"enemies-list", to the "friends-list"? Can we humans make
certain vows, or be "baptized", or recite a
special "creed".... and thus become "included" with
those whom God considers to be His
"friends" -- rather than His
enemies?
Other questions for the reader: Are the
enemies of God's people also
enemies of God?
Does God protect His own accepted ("chosen")
individuals from their enemies.... and
from the enemies of
God?
See, below, how God answers these
questions.... in His Bible.
Isaiah 42: 13 (NIV) The
LORD will march out like a mighty man. Like a warrior,
He will stir up His zeal. With a shout, He will raise the
battle cry, and will triumph over His
enemies.
Psalm 108:
12-13 (NEB) "Grant us help against the enemy,
for deliverance by man is a vain hope. With
God's help, we shall do valiantly; and God
Himself will tread our
enemies under foot."
(And, see
numerous other Biblical references, below.)
When I was a
child, growing up, and going to Sunday School, I was always
taught that "God loves everybody". I
inferred that to mean that God indeed "loves" every
individual, in every nation, in exactly the same
"amount", and in precisely the same way.
Even now, some church-goers seem to believe
and teach that all of us humans are the "same", in
the sight of God -- and that we are all
equally loved by God.
Well, my several translations of God's Bible do
not tell me that we are all the
same in the sight of God. I have not been able
to find any references that indicate
that God "loves" us all the same. In
fact, what I "see" and "hear" in the Bible tells me the
very opposite.
Here, at the beginning
of this "tablet", I want to state the following: I
am aware that it is not up to
me, or to you, to ascribe our "human"
notions and understandings to God --
about "things" that we can never
truly grasp. I remember that "our
thoughts are not His thoughts, and our ways are not
His ways." I understand, too, that no
human-being can positively state
that another human-being is right, or
wrong, in his "beliefs" about God? But....
we do have the Bible, the "word of
God", to guide us in our searchings for spiritual
truth.
So, I must say here, once again, that when I have
questions about the "rightness" or "wrongness" of
some theory about God, I go to
the Bible of God. I must also
re-state, here, my belief that if what you and I
are taught in the Bible, about God, is
erroneous -- then we have no real
and true "source-book" to study, or to
research. We have no reliable way to get
"the answers". So.... if we cannot
trust the Bible, we are left with only the
inventions of our own imaginations -- or the
fantasies of philosophers, or the
musings of physicists, or the
make-believe of psychologists, or the
home-made and "church-made"
beliefs of various sects and denominations.
(See The
Gold Standard of Spiritual
Truth,
linked.)
In my spiritual quest, no reading of any
book, except the Bible, has satisfied
me, in "explaining" God -- and in
describing God. Don't ask me
why I feel this way -- I don't know
why! I,
perhaps like you, have read and studied literally
hundreds of books on "religion" and philosophy and
psychology -- and books and articles about churches
and "spiritual" matters -- but no
writings have ever been as satisfying and
rewarding, to me, as
God's Bible. (My intuition tells me that Godspeople
[God's People] "hear" and
"see" the message of the Bible; and
that they "believe" what they
read..... even when they do not fully
understand the implications of some Biblical
statements -- or God's reasons
for certain inclusions that are found in the
Bible.) See "The
Language of God"
(link).
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But, back to the
initial questions: does God "love"
everyone in the world, exactly the
same? Or, does God have "special
people" that He loves and protects -- and claims as
His own? Does God create certain individuals
to be His own? Is there anything an individual can do
to make himself become "loved" by God
-- that is, to become a "friend" of God?
Contrariwise, if an individual is on God's "enemies list",
is there anything that person can do to cause
himself to be removed from this
"enemies list"?
Can a "church" or a minister
cause you to become a "friend" of God.
Will membership in a certain "church" cause
God to include you among His "chosen" ones --
and to delete your name from His
"enemies"?
Does anyone believe that an individual -- chosen
(approved, accepted) by God -- can "bounce"
back and forth between being a
"friend" of God -- and then an "enemy" of
God?
Here's the "other side" of the same question: if God
does not love everyone equally -- then, does
God Himself indeed have "enemies"? And,
if God does have enemies, does He punish or
destroy those who are His "enemies"?
Are there some individuals, or groups of people, that
God created to be
His enemies? (See Romans 9: 20, below.)
Are the enemies of God's
people also enemies of
God?
Does God protect His own accepted ("chosen")
individuals from their enemies.... and
from the enemies of
God?
It is obvious that I cannot answer these questions,
myself; but I will disclose, below, a number of
scriptural references that answer these questions, to
my satisfaction. If you believe
the Bible, as I do; and if you accept the
"truth" of what God tells us through the
Bible, then consider the "answers" that
follow.
There are
actually two main sections, below. The
first section quotes various scriptures that
establish the Biblical statements that God
does indeed have "enemies.... a
determination made by God, only.... and
not by God PLUS certain man-made
"doctrines". The second section below quotes
scriptures that refer to the enemies of
God's people.... and how God
protects His
people from their enemies. The quoted
scriptures reveal that God deals with the
enemies of His people as though they are
enemies of God
Himself. (See link
God's
People.)
I.
ENEMIES of GOD; and HOW GOD DEALS WITH
HIS ENEMIES:
Isaiah 42: 13 (NIV)
The LORD will march out like a mighty man. Like a
warrior, He will stir up His zeal. With a shout, He will
raise the battle cry, and will triumph over
His enemies.
Nahum 1: 8 (NEB) "The Lord takes vengeance
on His adversaries. Against
His enemies -- He directs His
wrath."
Romans 9: 10 (NIV) Not only that, but Rebekah's
children had one and the same father, our father
Isaac. 11 Yet, before the twins
were born, or had done anything
good or bad -- in order that
God's purpose in election might stand,
12 not by works, but by Him who
calls -- she was told, "The older will serve the
younger." 13 Just as it is written: "Jacob I
loved, but Esau I hated."
14 What then shall we say? Is God unjust?
Not at all! 15 For He says to Moses, "I will have
mercy on whom I have mercy; and I will have
compassion on whom I have compassion." 16
It does not, therefore,
depend on man's desire, or effort --
but on God's mercy.
Isaiah 66: 6 (NEB) "That roar from the city, that
uproar in the temple, is the sound of the Lord
dealing retribution to His
foes."
Romans 9: 20 (NRSV) But who indeed are you,
a human-being, to argue with God? Will what is
molded say to the one who molds it, "Why have you
made me like this?" 21 Has the
potter no right over the clay, to make out
of the same lump one object for special use....
and another for ordinary use? 22 What if
God, desiring to show His wrath, and
to make known His power, has endured with much
patience the objects of wrath that
are MADE FOR DESTRUCTION;
23 and what if He has done so in order to make
known the riches of His glory for the objects
of mercy.... which He has
prepared beforehand for
glory...
Deuteronomy 32: 39 (NIV) God speaking: "See now
that I myself am He! There is no god
besides me. I put to death; and I
bring to life. I have wounded, and I will
heal; and no one can deliver out of my
hand. 40 I lift my hand to heaven and declare: As
surely as I live forever, 41 when I sharpen my
flashing sword, and my hand grasps it in judgment, I
will take vengeance on
my adversaries, and repay those
who hate me. 42 I will make my arrows drunk with
blood, while my sword devours flesh: the blood of the
slain and the captives, the heads of the enemy leaders."
43 Rejoice, O nations, with His people, for He
will avenge the blood
of His servants; He will take
vengeance on His enemies, and
make atonement for His land, and
people.
Hebrews 10: 12 (NEB) "But Christ offered for all
time, one sacrifice for sins, and took His seat at the
right hand of God, where He waits henceforth until
His enemies are made his
footstool."
Hebrews 10: 27 "..... a fierce fire will consume
God's enemies."
Romans 5: 10 (NIV) For if, when we were God's
enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the
death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled,
shall we be saved through His life!
Deuteronomy 7: 10 (NIV) But those who hate Him, He
will repay to their face by destruction. He will
not be slow to repay to their face those who hate
Him.
James 4: 4 (NRSV) Do you not know that
friendship with the world is enmity with
God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a
friend of the world becomes an
enemy of God.
II.
ENEMIES of GOD'S PEOPLE; and how
GOD deals with the
ENEMIES of HIS
PEOPLE:
Psalm 108:
12-13 (NEB) "Grant us help against the
enemy, for deliverance by man is a vain
hope. With God's help, we shall do valiantly; and
God Himself will tread our
enemies under foot."
Luke 1: 71 (NEB) "So God promised, age after age,
by the lips of the prophets, that He would deliver
us from our
enemies, out of the hands of all who
hate us."
Psalm 44: 5 (NIV) Through you, we push back our
enemies; through your name, we trample
our foes. 6 I do
not trust in my bow, my sword does not
bring me victory; 7 but you give us victory
over our enemies; you put
our adversaries to
shame.
Psalm 23: 5 (KJV) Thou preparest a
table before me in the presence
of mine enemies. Thou
anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
2 Chronicles 20: 15 (KJV) Thus saith the LORD unto
you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this
great multitude; for the battle is
not yours, but God's....
17 Ye shall not need to fight in this
battle. Set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the
salvation of the LORD, with you, O Judah and
Jerusalem. Fear not, nor be dismayed;
tomorrow go out against them: for the LORD
will be with you.
Same (NEB) 15 Have no fear; do not be dismayed by
the great horde, for the battle is in God's
hands, not yours.
17 It is not you who will fight this
battle. Stand firm and wait, and you will see the
deliverance worked by the
Lord. He is on your side.
Psalm 138: 7 (NEB) Though I walk among foes, thou
dost preserve my life, exerting thy power
against the rage of my
enemies: and with thy right hand, thou
savest me.
Isaiah 41: 9 (NRSV) You
are my servant; I have chosen you,
and not cast you off. 10 Do not fear, for I am
with you. Do not be afraid, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you; I will help you; I
will uphold you with my victorious right hand. 11
Yes, all who are incensed
against you shall be ashamed and
disgraced. Those who strive against you shall be
as nothing, and shall perish. 12 You shall
seek those who contend with you, but you shall not find
them. Those who war against you shall be as
nothing at all. 13 For I, the LORD your
God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, "Do
not fear, I will help
you."
Deuteronomy 33: 27 (NIV) The eternal God is your
refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will
drive out your enemy before you,
saying, `Destroy him!'
2 Samuel 22: 18 (NIV) He rescued me from my
powerful enemy, from my foes, who
were too strong for me.
Isaiah 54: 14 (NRSV) In righteousness you shall be
established. You shall be far from oppression, for
you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall
not come near you. If anyone stirs up strife, it
is not from me. Whoever stirs up strife with
you shall fall, because of you.
17 No weapon that is fashioned against you shall
prosper, and you shall confute every tongue that rises
against you in
judgment. This is the heritage of the
servants of the LORD; and their vindication
is from me, says the LORD.
Proverbs 16: 7 (NIV) When a man's ways are
pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his
enemies live at peace with him.
Psalm 27: 1-5 (NIV) The LORD is the stronghold of
my life -- of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When
evil men advance against me to devour my
flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.... 5 For in the
day of trouble, He will keep me safe in His
dwelling.
Deuteronomy 7: 15 (NIV) The LORD will keep you
free from every disease. He will not inflict on
you the horrible diseases you knew in
Egypt.... but He will inflict them on all who hate you.
(JNT note: There is an Interesting sequitur in
verse 16. I have a problem, nowadays, with
grasping the implication of this Biblical statement.)
16 You must destroy all the peoples the LORD
your God gives over to you. Do not look on them with pity
and do not serve their gods, for
that will be a snare to you.
Psalm 92: 11 (NRSV) My eyes have seen the
downfall of my enemies; my ears have
heard the doom of my evil assailants.
12 The righteous flourish like the
palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13
They are planted in the house of the LORD. They flourish
in the courts of our God. 14 In old age, they
still produce fruit -- they are always green, and full of
sap.
I particularly
like the second section, above, showing that God does
indeed protect His people from
their enemies. This fact is either
true, and correct -- or the
Bible does not mean
what it says.
So, to repeat the paragraph at the start of this
"tablet": How does one get to be an "enemy" of God?
How does one get to be a "friend" of God? Can we
humans "write our own ticket", and thus cause ourselves to
become God's "friends"? Do we become an enemy of God if we
don't join a certain denominational church? Can we
"work" our way into favor with God, by a certain number of
"good deeds", and thus avoid becoming an "enemy" of
God? If so, how many "good works" are enough; and how
will we know when we have moved from the list of
"enemies"? Can we make certain vows, or be
"baptized", or recite a special "creed", and thus join those
whom God considers to be "friends", instead of His
enemies?
The Biblical answer to these questions is that God,
alone, decides who is an
"enemy".... and God, alone, decides which ones
of us are included among His people --
His "children", His "chosen" ones, His "called", "the
righteous", the "saved", His "redeemed", His "claimed", His
"accepted". The choice is God's.... not
ours.... and not the opinion of any
human-being, or any group of humans.
I cannot find Biblical indication that a human
individual can cause himself to become a
Godsperson, or a "friend" of God -- by
anything that individual "does", or
says, or claims, or promises, or
sacrifices, or gives, or joins, or
"decides", or recites.
Summary remarks.... Only God knows who is
acceptable to God -- in His sight -- for
His reasons. We humans, in or out of
any "church", are not qualified to
determine, or to identify, or to
select, or to "approve"....
which ones of us have been accepted by
God. Neither are we human-beings entitled to
determine or identify or specify which of us humans
are God's enemies. Isn't it absurd to
think that God must await human or
church or denominational approbation before
God accepts His own people.... and rejects His
"enemies".
Consider the following scriptures, also:
Romans 8: 29 (NRSV) For those whom He foreknew
He also predestined to be conformed to the image of
His Son.... in order that He (Jesus) might be the
firstborn within a large family.
30 And those whom He predestined He also
called; and those whom He called He also
justified; and those whom He justified He also
glorified. 31 What then are
we to say about these things? If
God is for us, who is against
us?
James 4: 12 (NRSV) There is one
Lawgiver and Judge -- who is able to
save, and to destroy. So then,
who are you to judge your
neighbor?
4/11/04 -- Now, note this lovely prayer, from
"David", the Psalmist.... to God:
Psalm
28 (NRSV)
Of David. 1 To you, O LORD, I call.... my
rock. Do not refuse to hear me.... for if you
are silent to me, I shall be like those who go down to the
pit. 2 Hear the voice of my supplication, as I cry to
you for help.... as I lift up my hands toward your most holy
sanctuary. 3 Do not drag me away with the wicked --
with those who are workers of evil.... who speak
peace with their neighbors, while mischief is
in their hearts. 4 Repay them according
to their work, and according to the evil of their
deeds. Repay them according to the work of
their hands. Render them their due reward. 5
Because they do not regard the works of the
LORD, or the work of His hands.... He will break them
down, and build them up no more. 6 Blessed be the
LORD, for He has heard the sound of my
pleadings. 7 The LORD is my
strength, and my shield -- in Him my heart
TRUSTS
(link); so I am helped -- and my heart
exults.... and with my song, I give thanks
to Him. 8 The LORD is the strength of
His
people
(link). He is the saving refuge of HIS
ANOINTED
(link). 9 O save your people,
and bless your heritage. Be their shepherd -- and
carry them.... forever.
9/13/05
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