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Becoming Your Enemy

by Micky Galloway

The letter to the Galatians was written to those who had been influenced by Judaizing teachers who were binding, as necessary to salvation, certain aspects of the Law of Moses. Paul indicted some of them, “Ye are severed from Christ, ye would be justified by the law; ye are fallen away from grace” (Galatians 5:4). This was a serious charge because, “For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one who continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them” (Galatians 3:10). These Judaizing teachers did not realize that justification under the Law of Moses was not possible unless they kept it perfectly. Paul pronounces the “anathema” of God upon anyone who would preach such a perverted gospel (Galatians 1:9). Evidently from the text these Judaizing teachers were causing many casualties. Though Paul’s relationship with these Galatian churches had been very close (cf. Galatians 4:15), he expresses fear that he had wasted his time, “I am afraid of you, lest by any means I have bestowed labor upon you in vain” (Galatians 4:11). He then asked them, “So then am I become your enemy, by telling you the truth?” (Galatians 4:16). The implications of this question are far reaching.

Those who are children of God need to be rebuked when they sin. In Acts 8 as Philip preached in Samaria the text tells us that “Simon also himself believed: and being baptized, he continued with Philip; and beholding signs and great miracles wrought, he was amazed” (verse 13).Yet, when he offered the apostles money to buy the ability to impart spiritual gifts, Peter rebuked him saying, “Thy silver perish with thee, because thou hast thought to obtain the gift of God with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right before God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray the Lord, if perhaps the thought of thy heart shall be forgiven thee” (Acts 8:20-22). Paul rebuked Peter to the face because “he stood condemned” when he disassociated himself from the Gentile converts in Antioch (Galatians 2:11). Peter was being hypocritical in his actions. Paul instructed young Timothy to reprove elders who sin “in the sight of all, that the rest also may be in fear” (I Timothy 5:20).

The preaching of truth often makes enemies. As Moses sought to free the children of Israel, Pharaoh threatened to kill him, “Get thee from me, take heed to thyself, see my face no more; for in the day thou seest my face thou shalt die” (Exodus 10:28). Elijah likewise was threatened by wicked Jezebel, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to-morrow about this time. And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life…” (I Kings 19:2-3). Jezebel’s husband, King Ahab of Israel said of the prophet Micaiah, “I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil” (I Kings 22:8). This is not new, for men have always opposed truth. Jesus attempted to prepare the apostles for their work by telling them, “Ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake” (Matthew 10:22).

Some become enemies of the truth in ignorance. Paul is an example of this as he thought he was doing right to persecute the church. He said, “I verily thought with myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And this I also did…” (Acts 26:9; cf. I Timothy 1:13). Others are simply so blinded by prejudice they cannot believe the truth (cf. John 12:39). These obviously do not love the truth (cf. II Thessalonians 2:10-12). Still others knowingly and deliberately make themselves enemies of the truth. Jesus explained why in John 3:19-20, “men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, and cometh not to the light, lest his works should be reproved.”

Truth however, must be preached even at the expense of making enemies. Paul charged Timothy to “ preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables” (II Timothy 4:1-4). As we have heard so many times before, “Only ONE untaught generation leads to apostasy.” Paul spoke of the Judaizing teachers among the Galatians as “false brethren…who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: to whom we gave place in the way of subjection, no, not for an hour.” Why did Paul take such a hard stand? He continues... “that the truth of the gospel might continue with you” (Galatians 2:4-5).

Paul had no desire to please the people. His only desire was to please God. “For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? or am I striving to please men? if I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10). Paul would never have left the practices of Judaism if it was his desire to please men. There were too many things to his credit in the Jews religion, but he was willing to count it all loss for Christ, “for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but refuse, that I may gain Christ, and be found in him…” (Philippians 3:7-9).

Yes, the preaching of truth makes enemies, but the consequences for failing to teach it are worse; souls are lost. Those who taught the Gentiles to be circumcised were subverting your souls (cf. Acts 15:24). The word used here for “subverting” is the Greek word, “psuchas.” It means to “turn away violently from a right state, to unsettle” (Thayer). Those who mislead the ones whom they are trying to teach will answer to “heavier judgment,” or greater condemnation (James 3:1; cf. Mark 12:38-40; Luke 20:45-47). The consequences are eternal for teaching that which is false. Therefore, let us “preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season…” That is, preach it right, when they like it and when they don’t like it, but preach the word.

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