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Enemies of the Cross
Philippians 3:15–19
Introduction: Paul began his key message of the letter in 3:1 with the words, “Rejoice in the Lord.” We have been examining how we are to accomplish this command. It is not a superficial, “Be happy that you have Jesus” command. The question before us has been, “What does it look like to rejoice in the Lord and on what basis would we do so?” Paul’s answer through verse 15 has been, (1) we glory in Christ and put no confidence in the flesh. (2) We count all our previous accomplishments as rubbish in order to gain Christ. And (3) our overriding desire is to know Christ, share in his sufferings, and by any means possible, attain to the resurrection of the dead. Those who are mature, think this way (vs. 15).
Therefore, to this point, the key to rejoicing in the Lord is on the basis of the great deliverance we have in Christ. As Paul said, “The surpassing worth of knowing Christ,” and thus the joy of gaining him is worth whatever loss necessary. Cf. “The Pearl of Great Price”
“Join in Imitating Me…” (17-18)
Verses 17-18 are contrasts in thinking and lifestyles (“walk”).
The context emphasizes how we “think.” Paul has stressed this throughout the letter. The mature “think this way” – summarized by verses 8-11. We must be careful that we maintain balance in our Christian walk. We put emphasis on “right and wrong, truth and error” – and well we should! But note that the mature think this way and reflect this thinking in the way they “walk” – a lose everything for Christ lifestyle.
So important is this way of thinking and living, that we are urged to not only mimic (Greek: mimetes) Paul’s way of thinking, but even “keep your eyes on” others how are living by the same pattern taught by Paul (think Timothy & Epaphroditus).
But then the contrast: there are others who “walk” differently, and it is the reason Paul wants us to keep our eyes on him and others who think maturely. They walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. There are certain observations we need to note carefully from this text:
Paul does not say they are enemies of Christ, but enemies of the “cross of Christ.” The way Paul talks about the cross restructures our understanding of the cross’s purpose. Jesus could have died many ways, but he chose the cross because of the strong message of a lifestyle of suffering, self-denial, and sacrifice that must be lived to follow him. The Corinthian false preachers were preaching a “gospel” of comfort, convenience, and wealth, to which Paul said they had “emptied the message of the cross.”
Remember, the message of the cross was an “offense” to many because it carried with it persecution and a life that is counter to the way of the world. Gal. 5:11, “But if I still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed.” Teaching circumcision was the way of the Jewish culture of which Paul had been a part and the way Jewish Christians avoided persecution. Cf. Gal. 6:12, “It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.”
How easily we can glory in the salvation of the cross both in our songs and in the Lord’s Supper, while denying its power by refusing to live the message of the cross.
That brings us to the second conclusion: these are not “outsiders.” Paul isn’t suddenly cranking on unbelievers. No one expects an unbeliever to become like Jesus in his death. Paul even refers to the “tears” he has over those who think and walk in such a way that “minds earthly things.” No, these are believers, which also reminds us that even in the 1st century, there were believers who fell back, who did not continue to pursue the standard of serving Christ.
This should be a grave warning to us. Paul is concerned that the church will compromise in their approach and thinking concerning discipleship. If they dealt with it, we can deal with it all the more. We must remind ourselves that every life decision we make must have the cause Christ as our first consideration.
The “tears” reminds us of Paul’s words to the Ephesian elders: “Therefore, be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears” (Acts 20:31). Paul’s tears emphasizes both his great concern for the souls of these people and the damage they are doing to the cause of Christ. These are enemies of the life that is to reflect Christ. Any other thinking and lifestyle destroys the purpose for which Christ died. Satan is only defeated when the disciples of Christ are themselves carrying a cross and dying so others might live (2 Cor. 4:12). Eternal life is only found through the message of the cross and the way of the cross.
Paul alludes to these kind of “disciples” in 2:20-21 when he talks about Timothy: “For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.”
Before we see a picture of these enemies I want you to look back at verse 15 and make a comparison. Paul admitted in that verse that though the mature were to think this way, not everyone had yet come to that understanding. Instead, he was charitable with them stating in essence that as they grew in Christ, God would reveal this also to them. However, in verse 19, there is a different kind of person, who instead of growing toward to the goal and did not understand everything yet, were those who pursued a worldly standard of following Christ. This is a good message to us that we do not draw lines too sharply on one another. There are growth matters, of which we are all in need of, and then there are those who clearly pursue their own appetites. Each are treated quite differently. For one, growth is allowed. For the other, they are enemies of the cross.
Description of the Enemies of the Cross, vs. 19
Paul begins with their destiny: their end is destruction. Considering the culture of the 21st century, those are shocking words. Paul, how could you be saying that these “Christians,” these “believers” will end up in hell? Okay sure, they are not “sold out” like you are, but how could we possibly believe God would condemn them?
This is where we need to understand something critical to the gospel of Christ. Jesus has always insisted on high expectations from his disciples. We live in a religious culture where expectations of believers are mediocre at best. People join “Christ clubs,” and while they may live morally, their minds are set on earthly things, “not those of Jesus Christ.”
We do not have to go far to see Jesus insistence on the high expectation of a life of the cross. The Rich Ruler desired salvation but went away sorrowful when Jesus said he needed to sell everything. In Luke 9:57-62, Jesus insisted on radical focus on his cause and sacrifice of the earthly to be his follower. In Luke 14, three times Jesus said that those who were following him could not be his disciple unless, (1) he “hates his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life” (2) he “does not bear his own cross and come after me,” and (3) he “does not forsake all that he has.”
Please consider, this is a foundational principle for the growth of a church, that is, a group of disciples who will honor and glorify Christ. For one, we must insist on the same expectation of the Lord. Two, any other expectations, any other standard, will not save us or those who come to Christ. Three, any other standard will make us enemies of the cross of Christ, and our end is destruction!
Second, they are idolators; their god is their belly. Simply put, their personal passions and desires are what come first. By using “belly” or “appetite” Paul is highlighting an inordinate pursuit of food as Israel did when God gave them quail and they spent 36 hours gathering and gorging. It is also true that the belly represents other fleshly appetites. This is a subtle idolatry because it does not have to include immoral sins. In fact, many live a quite moral lives but still live to pursue personal interests.
Third, they “glory in their shame.” These also participate in shameful practices, but worse, they boast in it. We may be shocked, but that is easy to do when those shameful practices are an accepted part of the culture.
Finally, “their minds are set on earthly things.” That description is the foundation for everything else. It begs a simple question of all of us: where are our minds? What do we love to think about and long for? What is our passion? Jesus illustrates this in the thorny ground: “but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful” (Mark 4:19).
Conclusion: Paul began this section with, “Rejoice in the Lord.” A person who rejoices in the Lord, lives and thinks the way Paul has described. There is no way we can rejoice in the Lord and then have our minds set on earthly things or pursue our own comfort and ease instead of becoming like Jesus in his death. This is radical, yes, but it is radical because that is what we are willing to do to know Christ. We rejoice in it!
Berry Kercheville