Being an enemy of God is a very serious matter that has eternal consequences. The Bible makes it clear that those who are enemies of God face His judgment and wrath. At the same time, the Bible also offers hope and a way to reconciliation through faith in Jesus Christ.
There are several ways the Bible describes what it means to be an enemy of God:
1. Rejecting God and His Truth
Those who reject God, His word, and His ways are considered His enemies. Jesus said, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters” (Matthew 12:30 ESV). To reject Christ is to align oneself against Him as an enemy. The apostle Paul writes, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth” (Romans 1:18 ESV). Enemies of God suppress the truth in unrighteousness rather than believe the gospel and submit to Christ as Lord.
2. Actively Opposing God
The enemies of God include those who actively oppose Him and set themselves against His purposes. The book of James says, “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4 ESV). There is no middle ground – we are either aligned with God or opposed to Him. His enemies are those who choose to be “friends” with the world’s corrupt system rather than pursue holy friendship with God.
3. Hatred of God and Christ
Having hatred and disdain toward God is clearly a marker of His enemies. The psalmist writes of God’s enemies, “For they do not speak peace, but against those who are quiet in the land they devise words of deceit. They open wide their mouths against me; they say, ‘Aha, Aha! our eyes have seen it!’ You have seen, O LORD; be not silent! O Lord, be not far from me!” (Psalm 35:20-22 ESV). Those who hate God and Christ make it obvious through their words and attitudes of contempt.
4. Living in Sin and Unbelief
The lifestyles and patterns of those who are far from God also demonstrate that they are His enemies. Titus 3:3 says, “For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.” Unbelievers live in the passions of their flesh, acting out in ways contrary to God’s holy standard. Their manner of life opposes the ways of God. Romans 8:7 tells us, “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.”
5. Under God’s Judgment
The ultimate fate of those who set themselves as enemies of God is to fall under His judgment and condemnation. “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life” (Romans 5:10 ESV). All who remain enemies of God will face His wrath (Romans 2:5-6). As Jesus declared, “But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me” (Luke 19:27 ESV). Only by repenting and turning to Christ can one be saved from this fearful fate.
6. Under the Influence of Satan
The enemies of God are aligned with the kingdom of darkness under the power of Satan. Colossians 1:21 states, “And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds.” Unbelievers follow the agenda of the devil, living in sin and rebellion against God. 1 John 3:8 explains, “Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning.” Those who persist in sin reveal themselves to be children of the devil rather than children of God.
7. Devoid of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit does not dwell within the hearts of those who are enemies of God. Paul contrasts the state of believers and unbelievers: “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him” (Romans 8:9 ESV). Without the presence of the Holy Spirit, there is no possibility of spiritual life or fellowship with God.
8. Under God’s Wrath
The Bible repeatedly warns that the enemies of God will face His judgment and wrath. Romans 5:9 says, “Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.” And in John 3:36, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” As Hebrews 10:31 declares, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” His enemies will endure everlasting punishment (Matthew 25:46).
9. Unable to Please God
In their natural state, the enemies of God are unable to please Him or submit to His Law. “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:7-8 ESV). They are “separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12 ESV). There is a complete separation from God.
10. Objects of God’s Mercy
Despite the dire position of the enemies of God, the Bible also presents the hope of redemption and reconciliation through Christ. “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life” (Romans 5:10 ESV). Salvation is offered to all who turn from enmity to faith in Jesus. The Lord “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4 ESV). By grace we can be forgiven and made new.
In summary, the enemies of God live in active rebellion against Him and face His righteous wrath. But the good news is that Jesus Christ came to rescue us from this state of enmity and to bring us into His kingdom. He alone can transform us from being enemies of God to adopted children who love and follow after Him.