Enemies of the cross of Christ:

Enemies of the cross of Christ:

Good examples are important aren’t they? Good examples are powerful as well. Mark Twain once said that “few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example.” Doesn’t it bug you when you aren’t quite doing something as well or with as much dedication as you ought to and you look over at the next person who’s giving their all?

Philippians 3:17. “Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.”

We saw the importance of following good examples and Paul clearly is an example that is good to follow. In contrast to Paul’s good example and others like him, Paul paints a much different picture in Philippians 3:18-19. Here we will see the enemies of the cross of Christ described. We see their bad example which is opposite of the way a believer should live. Let’s look at Philippians 3:18 and 19 together.

18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame; who set their mind on earthly things.

Just as there are good and Godly examples for us to follow there are examples that we need to avoid. Paul talks about the enemies of the cross of Christ in verses 18-19. We see the enemy described in verse 18.

1. The Enemy Described

Philippians 3:18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

Notice that Paul says that many walk this way. Many are the enemies of the cross of Christ. He doesn’t say there are a few who walk this way. He says that there are many that walk this way. Paul is referring to professing Christians whose lifestyle betrays the cross of Christ. There were people like this around in Paul’s day and unfortunately there are people like this around in our day. MacArthur describes them this way.

“…these are people who say they are the friends of Christ and the cross of Christ, who advocate Christ, who identify with Christ, whose names are on the church roll, who want spiritual leadership, but they are the enemies of the cross of Christ. They’re very subtle. It takes discernment to recognize them.” (John MacArthur)

There are those who profess Christ but are spiritual counterfeits. There are false teachers out there. Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ and we need to be aware that not everyone who professes the name of Christ actually belongs to Him. Jesus warned us about false prophets in Matthew 7:15.

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

They may appear harmless at first but they are destructive and deadly. Jesus told us to beware of false prophets. We need to watch out and not be deceived by them. Peter also warns about false teachers in 2 Peter 2:1.

But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.

Paul had often warned the Philippians believers about enemies of the cross of Christ. He makes that clear in our passage. He warns in other places about false teachers. Listen to the warning Paul issued in Acts 20:28-30.

28 “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

29 “For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.

30 “Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.

If someone recites the sinner’s prayer and continues to live the same old sinful way and no change or transformation takes place, it’s likely there was never a genuine profession of faith.

Listen to the words of Jesus in Matthew 16:24.

24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

He says that a true follower will deny himself, take up his cross and follow Christ. What did Jesus say in Matthew 7:21?

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

Be careful of those who claim to know Christ but don’t live a life that honors Him.

a. Entertainment, lewdness: Preoccupied with sex and sexual desire; lustful. b. Obscene; indecent. 2. Obsolete Wicked. b. Imitators of God’s power c. Traitors spirit. II Timothy 3:6

We are told to examine ourselves. 2 Corinthians 13:5 says that we are to examine ourselves as to whether we are in the faith. II Cor. 6:17

Those who truly know Christ are going to be walking far differently than those who are enemies of the cross of Christ.

2. The Enemy’s Destiny

Paul tells us that the end of the enemies of the cross of Christ is destruction. The word used here is the opposite of salvation. They are headed for destruction. Their future is not a happy one. Eternal destruction awaits the enemy of the cross of Christ. They may seem to be enjoying life on earth but destruction in Hell is what they face in the future.

Instead of eternal life that is given to those who trust in Christ, the enemies of the cross of Christ face death and destruction. The end they face is described in 2 Thessalonians 1:9.

These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,

An unpleasant future is in store for the enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction and Paul did not announce this with a smug attitude but with a broken heart.

3. The Enemy’s Deity

The idea is that instead of serving God they are consumed with gratifying their own physical desires. They serve themselves. They make idols out of their own fleshly desires. Their philosophy is “if it feels good do it.” “If it brings me pleasure that’s what I’ll do and pursue in my life.”

The enemies of the cross of Christ live to please themselves, not God. Philippians 3:10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,

Paul’s passion was to know Christ. He lived to please and serve the Lord Jesus Christ. But the enemies of the cross of Christ live to please self. Their god is their belly. This brings us to the enemy’s disgrace.

4. The Enemy’s Disgrace

We also see it in verse 19—the enemy’s disgrace. Look at what Paul says about the enemies of the cross of Christ. He says their glory is in their shame.

It means that they are proud of things they should be ashamed of. Does that sound familiar? We see that attitude today don’t we? Instead of being ashamed of immorality and immoral acts, the enemies of the cross glory in it.

Let’s look for a moment at Ephesians 5:11-12.

11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.

12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.

And listen to Isaiah 5:20.

20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

That is what the enemies of the cross of Christ do. They call evil good. They glory in things that should bring shame.

Note also the final thing that Paul tells us about the enemies of the cross of Christ is about what they delight in.

5. The Enemy’s Delight

They set their mind on earthly things. Their delight is found in the things of this world. God’s Word tells us in James 4:4;

4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

The enemies of the cross of Christ are friends of the world. They set their mind on earthly things. Their focus is on the things of this earth instead of the matters of eternity. They pursue material prizes and possessions that will one day be gone. They are consumed with the here and now instead of living a life that will count for eternity. They are living according to the flesh.

Listen to Romans 8:5-8.

5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.

8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

The enemies of the cross are carnally minded. Their mind is set on earthly things not spiritual.

And I hope that no one here this morning could be described as an enemy of the cross of Christ. Hopefully each one here today knows the Lord Jesus Christ and has the deepest desire to live a life that honors Him. Hopefully the destiny you face this morning is one of eternal life not destruction. Because as Romans 6:23 clearly states;

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

If you realize today that you have never trusted Christ eternal life can be yours if you will repent of your sin and place your faith and trust in Jesus Christ.