"Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?" (Galatians 4:16) Paul did not desire to become an enemy of these brethren he loved. Because he loved them, however, he told them what they needed to hear rather than what they wanted to hear. It is hard to know people's reaction when you speak the truth, the whole counsel of God. It may hit and hurt. We are to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15); but we must speak the truth. It was Paul's duty to tell them the truth of God. It is the duty of every member of the body of Christ to present the truth even if it hurts, even to people who have itching ears. Too many people want soothing, deceitful messages instead of the truth (Isaiah 30:10).
We have been taught that preaching and teaching the oracles of God will make some enemies of the cross and of those who stand for the truth (Philippians 3:17-19).
In the words of Paul, "I am your enemy if I tell you the truth” that:
(1) There is one true church. This fact is seen in Paul's proclamation: He declared that there is “one body” (Ephesians 4:4). He affirmed that the body is “the church” (Ephesians 1:22-23).
(2) That salvation is only in Christ's church. All spiritual blessings are "in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3); forgiveness (Ephesians 1:7); redemption (Colossians 1:14); sonship (Galatians 3:26-27). The same process whereby one gets into Christ is the same way one gets into the body (church) of Christ (Galatians 3:26-27; 1 Corinthians 12:12-20; Ephesians 5:23).
Men need to hear the truth. Those who pervert the gospel are our enemies (Galatians 1:6-9). Error will not save; it condemns (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12).