Don't Walk As An Enemy Of Christ

OCTOBER 13, 2021 STUDY NOTES PHILIPPIANS 3:18-19 BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES DON’T WALK AS AN ENEMY OF CHRIST INTRODUCTION In the previous verses Paul put a strong emphasis upon the spiritual walk of a Christian We learned how important a spiritual walk is, it is to be an example that others can follow The walk of your life speaks louder than the talk of your lips, so, we must walk the talk Jesus explained it, Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. The “fruits” are the results of your walk, which is why your spiritual walk is so important We are to “walk worthy” of our calling, Eph 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, Our calling is to “live for Jesus” in all that we do, in every step of our daily life At street crossings you will find signs for pedestrians that read “walk” or “do not walk” In God’s Word we have scriptures that say “walk” and scriptures that say, “Do not walk” In Ephesian 4:1, Paul said, “Christian walk,” in verse 17 Paul says, “Christian, do not walk,” Eph 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, “That you henceforth walk not” is strong in meaning, “absolutely no more” Never again walk the path of sin as you did before you were saved, Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: The “Gentiles” represent those who are lost, ungodly, live like pagans and don’t walk with God The spiritual walk of a Christian is important because too many are walking as enemies of Christ In Philippians 3:18-19, Paul points us to the walk of those who are lost and without Christ But he is warning Christians, telling us to beware, lest we walk as an enemy of the cross Then in verses 20-21 Paul motivates us to walk as Christian examples of the purpose of the cross Php 3:18 (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: Regardless of their talk we are to watch the walk of those who are doing the talking Especially those who claim to be a Christian and are regular in church attendance There are “many” whose walk conflicts with their talk? Their weekly walk does not say the same thing that their Sunday talk says “Walk” describes their lifestyle, they have chosen a worldly walk instead of a spiritual walk Not just a few, but “many walk” a path that does not identify them as a Christian Something that Paul had often warned against, OF WHOM I HAVE TOLD YOU OFTEN Paul is saying, “I have told you again and again, I have told you over and over” Why would Paul have to tell them the same thing over and over? Is it necessary in our day to hear over and over how we should be walking as a Christian? Is it necessary today for us to study the Bible in-order to hear God say, “don’t walk this way?” The answer can be found in the number of letters written to churches we find in the Bible If Christians would daily walk according to God’s will, book after book would not be necessary New Testament letters would not be repeating the same truths over and over Is the problem of living the right life any different in our day compared to Paul’s day? Does the way of the world still attract the minds and hearts of people, even Christians? Has the mind and heart of people changed that much since Paul’s day? Sin is still sin, it always has been sin, and always will be sin In our day Satan has intensified the temptation to sin through opportunities to sin (2 Tim. 3:1-5) We are now witnessing the fulfillment of scripture, 2Ti 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. As Christians today are we warning people of the dangers of a worldly walk? Are we telling them again and again, over and over, just as Paul did? Do we have the same concern that Paul had, and now tell you even weeping? Paul was grieved because of the way people were living their daily life Has the church of today reached the point that it laughs with the world walking in their sin? Sitting back, watching America promote the joy of sin and parade the streets of America in sin Where are the tears on the altar because of sin in America today? Christians must do more than mention the sin of America in a prayer at church Christians must be burdened in heart because of the sin we see in the people of today Paul was “weeping,” a sign of the pain and grief within his heart because of sinful people The “weeping” was not over his physical pain and suffering because he lived for Christ His “weeping” was not because of the way he was being treated by the enemies of the cross In our study of Philippians, we have found it to be a letter of joy, Php 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. (1:4,18,25; 2:2,17,18,28,29; 3:1; 4:1,4,10) Our rejoicing is “in the Lord,” our rejoicing is because “Christ is preached,” Php 1:18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. Paul grieved when he witnessed sin, Paul rejoiced when he preached Christ to sinners Weeping because of the sin we see in others should move us to preach Christ to them Paul does not go into detail describing their sinful walk in this verse His description is, they are the enemies of the cross of Christ Remember he said, this is not the only time I have told you this We need to remember what he is saying to the Philippians, Christians today need to hear and heed Their walk, their lifestyle revealed them to be an enemy of the cross of Christ Why does Paul call them enemies? An enemy is an adversary, Satan is our adversary, 1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Satan is antagonistic to the cross of Christ, he wants to devour all of the results of the cross One result is that through the work of the cross Satan is defeated, Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; “That through death” refers to the death of Jesus on the cross Through His death on the cross Jesus conquered death and defeated the devil The word “destroy” does not mean to annihilate or to eliminate completely It means “to cause something to be useless,” the power of Satan has been broken Through the cross Jesus brought an end to the power of Satan over those who are saved Jesus put an end to the power of Satan over those who would follow Jesus Our world needs a witness to the truth of the cross, it is time for us to be that witness Those who do not come to the cross and receive Jesus are the enemies of the cross To deny the cross of Christ is a denial of the Person and Work of Jesus on the cross Denying the purpose of why Jesus came to the earth and went to the cross To deny the cross of Christ is to accept the way of Satan and the world We know that Satan is the enemy of God We know that the demonic forces are the enemies of God But James identifies others who turn out to be an enemy of God, Jas 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. When you take your stand with the world you are standing against God When you make the world your friend, you make yourself an enemy of God James speaks of “spiritual adultery” which is often found in Scripture Spiritual adultery speaks of the unfaithfulness of God’s people As Christians we must be sure that we glory in the cross and do not become an enemy of the cross Gal 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. To glory in the cross is to preach the truth of the cross To glory in the cross is to live the life that is ours through the cross Paul now describes those who walk as the enemies of the cross of Christ Php 3:19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) The word end does not refer to a chronological end, meaning that life has come to an end The end is a consummation, it refers to the ultimate state or fate of a person People should give serious thought to the “end,” but many are only concerned about the present The end for the enemies of the cross of Christ is destruction Destruction does not mean annihilation, it does not refer to extinction, it is not the end of being Destruction describes a complete loss of the things the enemies of the cross lived for Destruction is the opposite of all that salvation through the cross will experience Our salvation through the cross begins the very moment we accept Christ We immediately experience: God’s sufficient Grace; Peace that passeth all understanding; Joy unspeakable and full of Glory; and all spiritual blessings, Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: Destruction for the lost also has its beginning within the time of earthly life The Prodigal son is an example, read Luke 15:11-32 and you will see how he wasted his life The Prodigal son disregarded the will of the Father and life became a miserable loss Life was a total ruin until he came to the Father, life is a total loss until you come to the cross Paul describes the present life of the enemies of the cross of Christ, whose God is their belly, Belly does refer to the stomach, but the thought is one’s selfish appetite or selfish desires Paul is pointing out the appetite of sinful people, they have no desire for God It is the sins of the world that nourishes their soul and satisfies their physical desires They are living in bondage to the desires of the flesh, they are possessed by selfishness James describes the rich who are living in luxury and self-indulgence, Jas 5:5 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. The rich are not the only ones who are living in pleasure on the earth today Many are living a selfish life, doing their own thing, living for the selfish desires of their heart “On the earth” indicates a life of worldliness, living only for the things of this world The life that is advertised as the “live it up” lifestyle, have fun with the rest of the world James describes the results of the selfish life that people live as, been wanton; Describing a life of self-pleasure, self-indulgence, self-gratification, satisfying every whim The original word that James used is found one other time in the NT, 1Ti 5:6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. It is translated “she that liveth in pleasure,” which is the same way that James uses the word Describing a life that is-in contrast to a Godly lifestyle, which is a life that is spiritually empty Scripture explains that living in selfish pleasure is not living at all, it is a life of death Living a sinful, selfish life will put true life to death, not allowing you to really live life at its best James describes that death, ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. What an example this is, what an example he gives, James makes his point very clear You have fattened yourselves by indulging in everything you wanted You have done everything exactly the way you selfishly wanted to do it James compares that life of self-indulgence to the calf being fattened for slaughter Fill up the creep feeder and let them eat all they want to eat The calf keeps on eating all they want right up to the day of slaughter The “Day of Slaughter” is often referred to in Scripture, Jer 12:3 But thou, O LORD, knowest me: thou hast seen me, and tried mine heart toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter. The time will come when sheep that have been fattened for slaughter will be slaughtered There is also a day of slaughter coming for those who have refused to live for Christ James describes them as those who have filled their heart with worldly pleasure Which is characteristic of those living in the last days, 2Ti 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; “Lovers of pleasure” is very easy for us to identify in our world today There is nothing wrong with good clean pleasure until it becomes your god Personal pleasure is the number one false god of our society today Self must be pleased regardless of the cost, everything else can wait, even God It is easy to evaluate the love of America today, they love pleasure more than they love God Church attendance in America today reveals the truth of this verse If people don’t have any personal pleasure planned at the time, then they can go to church Pleasure lovers can organize their time and work out their schedules to please their pleasures But they don’t have time to go to church, work in church, minister to others, or witness to the lost They cannot change their calendar of personal pleasure in-order to find time for church or God The church calendar is never considered in their weekly planning But they make sure their sensual pleasures are on their calendar Their weekly schedule is scheduled around personal pleasure and church is not scheduled We often hear, “I wish I could come this Sunday, but I already have something planned” They cannot see the One and Only True God because of their many false gods They glory in their gods, and whose glory is in their shame Their pride is in things that should bring shame, humiliation, and disgrace They should be ashamed because they have sinned against God Instead, they delight in their sinful ways, their values are reversed, their life is twisted What they call good, God calls evil, Satan has blinded their mind, 2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. They have a reprobate mind, Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Things which are “not convenient” are described in the following verses, Rom 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers Rom 1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Rom 1:31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: These verses perfectly describe what Paul said, whose glory is in their shame Paul shares the same truth in, Rom 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. They do not know shame or disgrace, why? Paul tells us what they are doing WHO MIND EARTHLY THINGS They love the lifestyle of this world, they delight in their sinful ways They love the things that God says we should hate They rejoice in that which God says we should mourn, Rom 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Their mind and their heart is set upon this present earthly life, Rom 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. The mind and heart of the Christian must be set upon things above, Col 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth Now pay close attention to the next verse, Col 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. How does that compare with what we read in, 1Ti 5:6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. Which means that living in selfish pleasure is not living at all, it is a life of death Living a sinful, selfish live will put true life to death, not allowing you to really live life at its best Colossians 3:3 describes a life that is dead to sin instead of living for sin The difference is life today, the glory of life is not in sin, it is in Christ Life in Christ is a glorious earthly life and a life of eternal glory with Christ, Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Christians are going to experience glory in Christ, now and throughout eternity The enemies of the cross are going to face the wrath of God, Col 3:6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: What a contrast between those who mind earthly things and those described in, Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Those who mind heavenly things are identified in, Php 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Those of a heavenly mind will experience, Php 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. Next week we will study Philippians 3:20-21