ENEMIES OF THE CROSS
PHILIPPIANS 3:17—4:1
Introduction:
The Apostle Paul encourages believers to follow his example and walk in a way that is pleasing to the Lord. However, he warns us of those who walk as “enemies of the cross of Christ.”
We are seeing more and more a moving away from the truth even by those who have for many years stood by the Word of God. False teachers abound in the Lord’s churches and are reaping the fruits of a false gospel.
Let us consider the enemies of the cross and be aware of their false teachings, but at the same time we must walk before men as a testimony of the saving grace of God.
I. ENEMIES OF THE CROSS DESCRIBED
A. Those that are CONTRARY, vs. 18-19.
1. Seducers, 1 Timothy 4:1, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;”
a. They have departed from the faith, 2 Timothy 4:4, “And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”
b. They have fallen away from the truth, 2 Thessalonians 2:3, “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;”
2. Many corrupt teachers, 2 Timothy 4:3, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;”
a. They will grow weary of the old plain gospel of Christ, 2 Peter 2:1, “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.”
b. They will be greedy of fables, and take pleasure in them, 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12, “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
B. Their destiny is DISTRUCTION, Romans 6:21, “What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.”
1. Their pride will destroy them, Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”
2. They love strife, Proverbs 17:19, “He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.”
3. They that forsake the Lord shall be destroyed, Isaiah 1:28, “And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the LORD shall be consumed.”
C. Their God is their belly.
1. They are controlled by their fleshly nature, Romans 7:18, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.”
2. Their mind is controlled by earthly things, Romans 8:7,“Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.”
3. They surrender to themselves:
a. To immorality and licentiousness, Romans 1:26-27, “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.”
b. To gluttony and drink, Proverbs 23:21, “For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.”
D. They glory in their shame, Jude 13, “Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.”
II. THE ONLY HOPE FOR THE ENEMIES OF THE CROSS
A. The Lord Himself is the only hope.
1. Outside of Christ there is no hope, Ephesians 2:12, “That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:”
2. The Lord justifies by His grace, Titus 3:7, “That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
B. The Lord is the only Savior, Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
1. He becomes our Savior by faith, Psalm 118:14-15, “The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation. 15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.”
2. He is the only way to heaven, John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
CONCLUSION
The picture that we have painted of the enemies of the cross is very real and not exaggerated at all. The Scriptures are clear about those who would pervert the truth and live in immorality. There end will be in the lake of fire.
However, the Lord has left the door open for any one who will repent of their sins and trust Jesus Christ as their Savior. That person God will forgive and save his soul and give eternal life.