ENEMIES OF THE CROSS

Paul was heartbroken over the way professed Christians were living ...

For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. Philippians 3:18-19

Though Paul had a physical infirmity, was imprisoned by Herod, and suffered torturous beatings at the hands of the Jews ... his tears were not for himself. They were shed over so-called 'believers'. 

Jesus made the cost of discipleship clear … If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's shall save it. (Mark 8:34-35) 

Self-denial was not something these men sought to practice. Their lifestyle was in direct opposition to Jesus' teachings. Refusing to separate themselves from the world system, they became 'enemies of the cross of Christ'. Instead of living a crucified life in order to serve God and others, they lived for pleasure.

The ultimate 'destiny' for a liberal-minded religionist is ... 'destruction'. The term does not refer to annihilation or extinction (one's soul exists for eternity) but instead represents an 'end' with no hope for salvation. It is not a loss of 'being', but a loss of 'well-being'.

Bolton - Man's way leads to a 'hopeless end' - God's way leads to 'endless hope'.

When men seek only to satisfy the 'stomach', they have made a god out of their worldly appetites. Rather than living for Christ and proclaiming the Gospel, they are self-indulgent. 

Remember ... 'Christian liberty' can degenerate into 'religious license'. For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (Galatians 5:13) They did not understand God’s grace and thus took living in sin lightly.  

'Shame' should be a painful emotion caused by the consciousness of guilt, yet today's church seems immune to its impact. 'Glorying in shame' is an apt description of religion these days … and they, having become callous (insensitive to shame), have given themselves over to sensuality, for the practice of every kind of impurity ... (Ephesians 4:19)

MacArthur - This is the most extreme form of wickedness - when the sinner’s wretched conduct before God is his highest point of self-exaltation. 

We have arrived ... 

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good. Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.  2 Timothy 3:1-5

Men love what they should hate, and hate what they should love; they glory in their shame, and are ashamed of His Glory; abhor what they should desire, and desire what they should abhor.