Philippians 3:18

1
Enemies of the Cross

• Philippians 318

2
Enemies of Jesus Christ

• Jesus had his enemies among the Jews
• The Apostles who preached Jesus had their enemies
  among the Jews and the Gentiles
• The Lords archenemy is the devil who sows the
  seeds of destruction (Mt. 1339 Acts 1310)
• Paul, one of the greatest enemies of Christ, was
  converted and became a friend of Christ

3
Enemies of the Cross

• Philippians 317-21
• 17 Brethren, be ye imitators together of me, and
  mark them that so walk even as ye have us for an
  ensample.
• 18 For many walk, of whom I told you often, and
  now tell you even weeping, that they are the
  enemies of the cross of Christ
• 19 whose end is perdition, whose god is the
  belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who
  mind earthly things.
• 20 For our citizenship is in heaven whence also
  we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ
• 21 who shall fashion anew the body of our
  humiliation, that it may be conformed to the body
  of his glory, according to the working whereby he
  is able even to subject all things unto himself.

4
Enemies of the Cross

• Paul encouraged Christians to imitate and walk
  after the Apostolic example (v. 17)
• Paul spoke often and weeping about the
  enemies of the cross (v. 18)
• The enemies of the cross (vv. 18-19)
• many walk (Mt. 713-14)
• whose end is perdition (2 Thess. 18-9)
• whose god is the belly (2 Tim. 32)
• whose glory is in their shame (Eph. 512)
• who mind earthly things (Phil. 221)

5
Enemies of ChristianityMan-Made Religion

• The way of Christianity is the way of a unified
  body one church of Christ (Eph. 216 Col.
  120 214)
• All who promote a religion other than that of
  Jesus Christ are enemies. All world religions
  (Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, etc.), Protestant
  denominations (Baptist, Methodist, etc.),
  Catholicism, pagan religions (Wicca, etc.) are
  enemies.
• Like Paul, we must be truly converted and become
  a Christian, a member of the Lords body (Acts
  2629 Phil. 37-10)

6
Enemies of ChristianityFalse Teaching

• The way of Christianity is the way of the NT
  gospel the word of the cross (1 Cor.
  117-18,23 Gal. 511 612)
• All those who teach something other than the NT
  gospel are enemies (Rom. 1618 2 Cor. 43-4).
  All errors taught are enemies m-d-r errors, plan
  of salvation errors, work and worship of the
  church errors, false science, unbelief,
  ignorance, etc.
• Like Paul, we must preach nothing but the NT
  gospel (1 Cor. 22)

7
Enemies of ChristianitySelfishness

• The way of Christianity is the way of
  self-denial, suffering, and sacrifice (2 Cor.
  134 Phil. 28 Heb. 122 Mt. 1038
  1624 Mk. 834 Lk. 923)
• All those who are selfish are enemies (Phil.
  319). All acts of selfishness are enemies
  indifference, apathy, self-satisfaction,
  lukewarm, misplaced priorities, preeminence, etc.
• Like Paul, we must crucify self and act
  selflessly (Gal. 220)

8
Enemies of ChristianityWorldliness

• The way of Christianity is the way of separation
  from the world (Rom. 66)
• All those who are worldly are enemies (Phil.
  319 Jas. 44). All acts of worldliness are
  enemies lust, sexual immorality, materialism,
  idolatry, improper language and dress, works of
  the flesh, strife and division, compromise, etc.
• Like Paul, we must crucify the worldly flesh
  (Gal. 614)

9
Enemies of Christianity

• The Cross of Christ
• One body (church)
• Word of the cross
• Self-denial
• Crucify the old man

• Enemies of the Cross
• Man-made religion
• False teaching
• Selfishness
• Worldliness

10
Enemies or Friends?

• Like Paul, all are enemies of Christianity prior
  to obeying the gospel (Rom. 510 Col. 121)
• All the Lords enemies will be put under his feet
  (Mt. 2244 Mk. 1236 Lk. 2043 Acts 235
  1 Cor. 1525 Heb. 113 1013)
• Like Paul, will you become the Lords friend by
  doing what he commands (Jn. 1514)?