18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.
What a tragic statement for Paul to have written, such a complete, final declaration. Maybe the weight of this kind of assessment was a part of what he meant earlier when he wrote: “Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches” (2 Cor 11:28). Of all the concerns he had, this one must have been one of the heaviest. And Paul was warning the Philippians that in following his example and others like him (Phil 3:17), they should avoid following the example of these “enemies of the cross of Christ.” But who were the people to whom Paul was referring?
He was probably not referring to pagans in general, because exemplary living would not be expected of them. Neither would these be from the rank and file of the Philippians, for the whole tenor of the letter would then have been different. They could have been the Judaizers who frequently posed as Christians but attempted to bring believers under the Law—yet in reality were self-exalting. Another possibility is that they were “antinomians,” that is, people who went to the other extreme from legalists and lived a life “free” from all laws and restraints. Certainly Christians should avoid both extremes. At any rate, the warning seems to be about “professing” Christian teachers who were trying to gain a following among the Philippians.
Paul describes them in five ways: 1) They are enemies of the cross of Christ, completely opposed to everything He is about. Christianity is not simply about following the teachings of Jesus, it is about His propitiatory, substitutionary death for sinners. To minimize or ignore this is tantamount to being an enemy of God Himself. 2) Their destiny is destruction. This refers to judgment in hell forever. 3) “Their god is their appetite,” they worshipped at the altar of unrestrained self-indulgence. Their lives were focused supremely on their own desires. 4) Their glory is their shame. The very things they were proud of will bring them enormous shame for eternity, though they may not yet realize it. 5) Their minds were set on earthly things. There was absolutely no hint of any kind of spiritual sensitivity or concern.
The thought of “professing Christians” like that is what makes Paul weep, and the Philippians should avoid their life style.
Father, thank You for regenerating me into a new creation in Christ. I affirm to You that Jesus and His death on the cross is central to my salvation and my life.
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