The enmity there is in the fallen heart of man to God will ever show itself against Christ’s faithful people. Self-love and self-deceit are the parents of this hatred which the world shows toward real Christians.
Sir Richard Hill
It is a surprise to men when the teaching of Scripture regarding man’s enmity toward God is taught to them. It is almost always denied, though in ways that shows the reality of the enmity. In one sense the Scriptures are full of the enmity of man toward God and His people. We can see this from Genesis 3 when the curse was announced on the serpent (Satan) and that curse was that God would put enmity between the seed of the woman and the seed of the woman. Throughout the Old Testament there was constant war between the seeds. This enmity toward God is seen in the enmity of the heart toward His people.
We see this teaching in Scripture that sinners are at enmity with Him and are in fact His enemies in several ways. First, and perhaps most obvious, when people are friends of the world they are in fact enemies of God. James 4:4 is quite clear that friendship with the world is hostility toward God and that those who want to be friends with the world makes him or herself and enemy of God. This teaching, while hated like many of the true teachings of Christianity, is clear and unequivocal. It is not just the obvious worldly people that are enemies of God, but also those who want to be friends with the world. This is a very sobering teaching. Regardless of whether a person has prayed a prayer or walked an aisle or confirmed a creed as true, friendship with the world means a person is hostile to God and is an enemy of God. Again, that teaching must sink into our hearts and the sobering reality of it must drive us to grace which alone can reconcile us to God by Christ alone. But we continue to see the masses wanting Christ (in name) and the world at the same time. It simply cannot be.
James 4:4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
This enmity toward God comes out against “Christ’s faithful people.” The enmity toward God is not seen in those religious people who are friends with the world, but only the faithful followers of Christ. The fieriest of darts that Satan fires are also against true believers and he fires those at times through religious people who are friends with the world. While it may not appear to be the case, especially with those who are nice and outwardly religious who perform many religious duties, the enmity is there. Perhaps it does not come out with the strength that one expects, but the enmity is there and it is seen. True Christians are hated by many and will always be hated because of Christ. Jesus warned His people that if they hated Him they will hate His people (you) as well. But again, Jesus warned His people and His people are the faithful followers of Christ. They can expect persecution in some way and they will be hated because of their stand for the truth.
All those in the world are full of self-love and self-deceit. When a person is told that s/he must repent of this self-love and love God, this teaching will be hated. When a person is told that s/he is full of self-deceit and that person must repent of that self-deceit and look to Christ as reality and Truth, that teaching will be hated. The hatred of that teaching will then be turned on the one who is speaking the message. Again, we have to remember that there is enmity in the hearts of the people we are talking to. They will hate the truth when they first hear it. This is one of the things that is so concerning about the message of the modern day. People are not offended by it and the enmity they have in their hearts does not come out when they hear the modern message. The professing “Church” of the day has watered down the message of the Gospel of the glory of God so much that the enmity that is in the hearts of the people is not given cause to rise. If the enmity is there, it will come up when the truth is taught.
There is enmity toward people on moral issues, whether they are Christian or not, but not on the Gospel of grace alone and Christ alone. We are told that we are to present the Gospel simply and clearly so that people can understand. The problem with that, however, is that when we simplify things so much people don’t see their own hearts and the true character of God and the Gospel. The so-called “Christian” message is then kept watered down in order for people not to get angry and leave the church. Perhaps this is just another way of deception of keeping the Gospel and the character of God hidden from people as they take the religious way to hell.
God Loves... Himself 
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