Broadcast date: 14 Nov 1999

Enemies of the Cross

It's nice to think about God as being a God of love; a God of peace and tranquillity and harmony, when all's well with the world and with our souls. A lot of Christian hymns reflect this theme; their soothing tunes match their sweet words. However, while it is true that God is Love, and while hymns of this nature often do have their place, Christians need to remember to focus on the "whole counsel of God". That is, the Bible teaches more than just that.

Today, we're going to study a Bible passage that is very serious, yet tempting to gloss over, or even ignore. It's not as sweet a text as "God is love"1, for example. Its message, however, is profound and very important for any serious child of the Lord. This passage can be found in Philippians 3:17-19, and reads as follows:

Join with others in following my example, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. For, as I have often told you before and now say 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 on earthly things.2

No, this is not one of the upbeat, uplifting passages in Scripture. Nevertheless, it has potential for great joy, both on earth and in heaven. Indeed, contained in these verses, dear listener, is the key to eternal joy, as a beloved child of God. Nothing is sweeter than that.

What, then, is this Bible passage teaching us, this morning?

First, the apostle (Paul), who wrote this passage, is telling his readers to note the good example of those who follow Christ. No, he doesn't lay out a list of what is to be done and what is forbidden. Instead, he tells his readers to note how they are to live, "according to the pattern we gave you". That is, they are to follow the principles of Godly living, which has its focus on Jesus, as shown in the lives of good examples, such as Paul himself. Indeed, Paul is saying to his readers: imitate me because by doing so you will live a life which accords to the truth of the cross and the coming of the Lord, Jesus Christ. In other words, when the truth of the cross and the coming of the Lord are central in a person's life, then a certain pattern of living will follow. What Christians believe and what they do should be closely linked.

What, then, is the truth of the cross? Put briefly, it is that Jesus died for sinners. Jesus took upon Himself the curse of sin; he suffered the terrible, burning anger of God against sin, so that His children can once again enjoy the favour of God. No person has ever shown such sacrificial love as Jesus Christ did, and it is this truth that all Christians should never forget. Indeed, it is life-altering; the "truth of the cross" means that a Christian's life is radically changed.

Our Bible passage of this morning actually contrasts this new life, to those who are not focused on Jesus and the cross. Indeed, Paul calls this latter person an enemy of the cross.

Enemies of the cross have three distinctive characteristics:

First, "their god is their belly" - they are self-indulgent, focusing on themselves and whatever pleases them. Note, however, that Paul does not say what these self-indulgent pleasures are. They could well differ from person to person, but for everyone guilty of self-indulgence there is the underlying sin of selfishness.

The second characteristic of enemies of the cross is that of their reversal of moral standards - "they glory in their shame". These people have a topsy-turvy kind of logic, in which they do what is wrong, but call it right. Years earlier, the Old Testament prophet, Isaiah, had the following to say about these people:

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.3

Such people do not follow the standards of God's Word, as found in His holy law. They do not sing, as the writer of psalm 119 sings, "Lord, I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great treasure ... I love your law"4 Instead, they break the law, and refuse to admit guilt.

A final characteristic of enemies of the cross is that such people "set their mind on earthly things." Rather than focusing on God (and on heavenly things), enemies of the cross centre on themselves and what is happening in their little world. The Kingdom of God and all that this involves is not important to them.

Enemies of the cross, then, selfishly and arrogantly break God's law; they centre on themselves, rather than on God. Why, though, do we call them "enemies of the cross"?

It is important to note that, in essence, everyone is an enemy of the cross. All of us are, by nature, such wretched sinners that, no matter how hard we tried, we'd never be able to reconcile ourselves with God. Praise be to God, therefore, that Jesus died for His children, thus restoring God's favour for them. These people can now say, along with the (apostle) Paul, "while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son".5 Enemies of the cross, however, have not been reconciled with God; they remain in their sins.

Further, we recognise such people as enemies of the cross because they are the total opposite to the man who died on the cross. On the cross, Jesus Christ upheld the righteousness of the law; he paid for all the legal demands outlined in God's law. In this, Jesus is the perfect example of humility, of having a "heavenly mind", in which He obeyed God and unselfishly loved sinners.

Dear listener, can you see how rich today's message is? While on the one hand it contains a warning, it also lovingly presents a way of life that is pleasing to the Lord. It says: don't be like this, behaving as an enemy of the cross. Rather, if you live in contrast to these enemies, you'll be living as a child of the Lord. Children of the Lord live humbly, serving Him and others, focusing on the truth of the cross and the coming of the Lord. The implication in these verses is clear: those people who love the cross of our Lord will also enjoy reconciliation with God, and will obtain the crown of life, eternal joy in God's presence. It is a wonderful thing to no longer be an enemy of the cross but the friend of God6.

What are you, dear listener? Do you believe in the cross? Then walk as children of light. Are you an enemy of the cross? Then pay attention to the Gospel call this morning, and repent and believe, so that you, too, can joyfully confess, along with the apostle Paul in the Philippians, that your "citizenship is in heaven" and that you "eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who by the power that enables Him to bring everything under his control, will transform"7 also your life to one that is beautiful in His service.

1 1 John 4: 16

2 Philippians 3:17-19

3 Isaiah 5:20

4 Psalm 119:162-63

5 Romans 5:10

6 John 15:15

7 Philippians 3:20-21

Last modified: November 23, 1999