Enemies of the Cross of Christ

1
Enemies of theCross of Christ

• Philippians
• 318-19

2
Philippians 318-19

• For many walk, of whom I have told you often,
  and now tell you even weeping, that they are the
  enemies of the cross of Christ 19 whose end is
  destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose
  glory is in their shame who set their mind on
  earthly things.

3
Matthew 543-44

• You have heard that it was said, You shall love
  your neighbor and hate your enemy. 44 But I say
  to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse
  you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for
  those who spitefully use you and persecute you.

Enemies of Christs disciples had cursed, hated
and abused them.
4
Matthew 1325, 28, 39

• (23), But while men slept, his enemy came and
  sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.
• (28), He said to them, An enemy has done this.
  The servants said to him, Do you want us then to
  go and gather them up?
• (39), The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the
  harvest is the end of the
  age, and the reapers are the angels.

5
Luke 1927

• But bring here those enemies of mine, who did
  not want me to reign over them, and slay them
  before me.

Parable Those who were unwilling to submit to
the rule of the noblemen. The rebellious are
unwilling to submit to the rule of Christ.
6
Acts 138-10

• But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is
  translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the
  proconsul away from the faith. 9 Then Saul, who
  also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit,
  looked intently at him 10 and said, "O full of
  all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil,
  you enemy of all righteousness, will you not
  cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?

Sought to prohibit Sergius Paulus at Paphos from
hearing the gospel.
7
Romans 1128

• Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your
  sake, but concerning the election they are
  beloved for the sake of the fathers.

• These enemies (rebellious of Israel) were
• Blinded (vs. 7)
• Fallen (vs. 11)
• Prideful unbelievers (vs. 20)

8
Galatians 416

• Have I therefore become your enemy because I
  tell you the truth?

If they were resentful of Paul because of his
telling them the truth, it is because they are
unwilling to stand for the truth.
9
Colossians 121-22

• And you, who once were alienated and enemies in
  your mind by wicked works, yet now He has
  reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through
  death, to present you holy, and blameless, and
  above reproach in His sight.

They had been enemies because of wicked works.
10
2 Thessalonians 315

• And if anyone does not obey our word in this
  epistle, note that person and do not keep company
  with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet do not
  count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a
  brother.

What would cause any to even consider a brother
in Christ as an enemy? Disobedience!
11
James 44

• Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know
  that friendship with the world is enmity with
  God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of
  the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Anyone who is a friend of the world is an enemy
to God.
12
Conclusion

• It may be easier to to identify the enemies of
  the cross of Christ than we think
• It may be easier to to be an enemy of the cross
  of Christ than we think!
• The end of the enemies of the Cross of Christ 1
  Corinthians 1525-26

13
1 Corinthians 1525-26

• For He must reign till He has put all enemies
  under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be
  destroyed is death.

Any enemy of the cross of Christ will be defeated.