In writing to the church at Philippi, Paul refers to some people who are “enemies of the cross” of Christ. My guess is that many people who read this description automatically assume Paul is talking about nonbelievers. I know that many Calvinists and Lordship Salvation teachers take that position. They find support for this view in Paul’s further description of these people as those “whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly,” and who set their mind on things of this world (v 19). Many Bible teachers would say that destruction here refers to hell and that no true believer loves the things of this world.
It is a little difficult to determine from the letter itself who Paul might have in mind. A few verses earlier he refers to those who boast in Jewish religious rituals (3:2). They were what we would call legalists. Some have suggested that Paul has perfectionists in mind because of his comment in 3:12 about not being perfect. Others are of the opinion that he is referring to a completely different group, one that said Christians can just sin all they want, and that sin has no consequences. This group would be called libertines.
Whichever group we may decide Paul is referring to as “enemies of the cross” does not absolutely identify them as believers or unbelievers. For example, some of the legalist teachers were undoubtedly unbelievers. Other Christians, persuaded by the arguments of these Jewish legalists, could abandon grace and begin to teach and practice the same things. Christians could also be duped and adopt the views of libertines or perfectionists.
But I do not think there is any doubt that Paul is talking about Christians as those who are enemies of the cross. He says that as he thinks about their lifestyle it causes him to weep. Paul would not be emotional about the false beliefs and sinful activities of unbelievers. It would not surprise him if nonbelievers set their minds on the things of this world or if they worshipped their own desires (bellies).
But can Christians actually be described in these ways? Absolutely. A Christian can live for the applause of this world. He can decide not to lay up for himself things in the world to come and to live for rewards in the kingdom of God. Our “god” can be our own appetites.
But how can a believer be an enemy of the cross? In the Book of Philippians Paul speaks of the cross as the ultimate example of being a humble servant (2:5-11). A believing legalist who judges those who don’t measure up and who considers himself as superior to other Christians would live in such a manner that he denies what the cross represents.
A believer who later denies the grace of the gospel of eternal life by demanding legalistic law-keeping in order to obtain eternal life–or to keep that life–is also an enemy of the cross. The cross of Christ paid for the sins of the world. This payment guarantees that all who believe in Him for eternal life receive it. Paul weeps when he describes these enemies of the cross precisely because they are Christians who have forgotten about the grace of Christ and what He did on that tree.
Such a life lived by a believer is one that indeed ends in destruction. It is a life that will experience the discipline of God in this life and the loss of eternal rewards in the world to come.
It is a sobering thought, isn’t it? We as believers—those who have believed in Jesus for eternal life—can actually become enemies of what made that wonderful gift possible. We do that if we do not preach the gospel of grace. We do that if we live arrogantly. We do that when we do not serve other believers but look for others to praise and serve us.
May we ask for the grace to always speak and act in ways that reflect what Christ did for us on the cross. May we strive to be friends of the cross.
