God’s Saving Enmity Part 10: THE UNCEASING ENMITY OF THE WORLD WITH CHRIST, HIS DISCIPLES AND THE GOSPEL

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
March 8, 2023

God’s Saving Enmity
Part 10

THE UNCEASING ENMITY OF THE WORLD WITH CHRIST, HIS DISCIPLES AND THE GOSPEL

See John 15: 17-25 (KJV or RV) first. Now these (all emphasis and words in brackets mine):

“Ye adulteress and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the WORLD is ENMITY with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the ENEMY of God.” James 3:4. 

“Love not the WORLD, neither the THINGS that are in the world [worldly things]. If any man LOVE the world the love of the FATHER is not in him. For ALL that is in the world, the lust of the FLESH, and the lust of the EYES, and the PRIDE of life, is NOT of the Father but of the world. And the WORLD PASSETH AWAY AND THE LUST THEREOF, but he that doeth the WILL of God abideth forever [with Him].” 1 John 2: 15-17, KJV. 

Here is a definitive definition of the gospel as delineated in the comprehensive sanctuary doctrine:
“The gospel is a SYSTEM of practical truths destined to work great changes in human CHARACTER. If it does not work the TRANSFORMATION in life, in habits, and practice, it is NO TRUTH to those who are believers. [Not all believers are truth believers]. Man must be SANCTIFIED through the truth. And said Jesus, ‘Thy WORD is truth’ (John 17: 17). Unless the truth of God shall lift up man out of his DEPRAVITY, his INTEMPERATE AND PROFLIGATE HABITS, and make him reflect the image of God, he is LOST.” (E. G. White, Letter 14, Mar. 13, 1885).

See Matt. 10: 14-41. Thus:
“The Savior bade His disciples not to hope that the WORLD’S ENMITY TO THE GOSPEL would be overcome, and that after a time its OPPOSITION would cease. He said, ‘I CAME NOT TO SEND PEACE BUT A SWORD.’ This creation of strife is NOT THE EFFECT OF THE GOSPEL BUT THE RESULT OF THE OPPOSITION [to it].

“Of all the PERSECUTIONS hardest to bear is variance in the HOME, the ESTRANGEMENT of dearest earthly friends. But Jesus declares, ‘he that loveth FATHER or MOTHER MORE than Me, is NOT WORTHY of Me; and he that loveth SON or DAUGHTER MORE than Me, is not worthy of Me. And he that

taketh not HIS CROSS [of self-denial and self-sacrifice and loving Jesus MORE than his earthly family, dearest friends, and fellow church brethren] and followeth after Me [His life example and teachings], is not worthy of Me.’” (E. G. White, Desire of Ages, p. 357.

To be continued, God willing. Bless all, NMF.