Philippians chapter 3. I'm just going to read verse 14 through 19. We're coming now to our study again in the book of Philippians. We're coming near the end of chapter 3. And today we're going to think about Paul's warning, his wisdom, his warning and his weeping regarding the enemies of the cross. And so Philippians chapter 3. verses 14 through 19, we'll ask God to help us as we pray just now. Father in heaven, we pray now as we come to the word of God. Lord, stand beside me. Fill me with the Holy Ghost and with the power of God. I pray, O God, as thy word goes forth this day, may it have free course and be glorified. Lord, challenge thy people, O God, we pray. And Father, if there be any that are not saved, Lord, may they come and put their faith in Christ alone hear and answer prayer in Jesus name. Amen. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded. And if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal this on to you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have for us an ensemble. 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, whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is their shame, who mined earthly things. Amen. We know the Lord. Well that is a blessing to the reading of his word. In Philippians chapter 3 verse 17 as we looked at last time in our study, Paul states, Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have for us an ensemble, or as the word means, an example. The word mark, as you have before you, means to observe, to consider, to spy out, to watch and to look. The idea is to examine, to inspect, to notice carefully, to pay attention. The word walk means manner of living, behaviour, one's conduct. And so Paul guided the believers at Philippi among the church, among themselves, to look out examples, good examples that live for Jesus Christ and then to mimic their Christ-like behavior because Jesus Christ himself is the supreme example and pattern to copy in walking with God. These words are very very important. We looked at, we thought how to mimic someone who has a sincere attitude, who prays and so many more wonderful things. These words are important because Paul, having taught God's people what to look out for, what good examples to search for to mimic of Christ's likeness, then immediately tells the church of what examples to avoid. Having told him, here is a good example to look out for. And when you see this good example, follow it, mimic it, copy it, because it leads to Christ. He then tells him, but also, there's another example that you must avoid. And that is another walk, another behavior, another conduct, another manner of living. Not to mimic, because it's the walk. the behavior the conduct of the enemies of the cross the word enemies as you have before you means hatred and hostility therefore the phrase the enemies of the cross then refers to sinners and religious groups whose conduct and manner of living is filled with hatred and hostility against Christ's sacrificial and substitutional death on the cross in order to satisfy, to honor God and to purchase his own church. But the issue why Paul was writing these words was because the enemies of the cross presented and disguised themselves in different ways, making error sound like truth. For instance, the Judaizers, they came among the churches stating that males be circumcised, that both male and female must follow Jewish creeds, culture and ceremonies to have their sins forgiven. And while they went around the churches and began to spread their false message, a message both of salvation by Christ and by works, they didn't say Christ's work was a failure. Because had they said Christ's work was a failure, straight away that would bring alarms. If someone came to your door and said to you that Christ died or Christ's death was a failure, straight away you would know, well that's not right and maybe shut the door. And so what happens, they then have to change their tactics. They then have to try and get around that and try to say something to make you think that Christ's work was a failure. And so these false professors, they presented their case in such a way to make believers think that when Christ died, his death was a failure. His death was not sufficient to save. In other words, that you then have to do something. You have to pray more. You have to get involved more. You have to try harder. You have to work harder. And that's when they came and said, you know what, you males, you need to be circumcised. You know what, you men and women, you need to start following Jewish cultures, get more religious, follow Jewish ceremonies. And then, if you do all these works and keep doing them, you will have assurance of salvation. Of course, that's not scripture at all. That is a false gospel, but that's what came in among the church. And so, a false teacher, let me give it to you in our day and age. A false teacher, a false professor, a false cult will tell you Jesus Christ is a mediator between God and men. And people listening, To hear those words, Jesus Christ is a mediator between God and men, they will think, wow, he believes the same thing I do, because I know somewhere in the Bible, I think it's 2 Timothy 2, verse five, it says Jesus Christ is a mediator between God and men, and so they're on the same path as me. And you think they speak the truth, but remember, it's how they present themselves. You see, by teaching Jesus Christ as a mediator between God and men, what they really mean is that Jesus Christ is one of many mediators between God and men. When someone tells you Jesus Christ is a mediator between God and men, it's because they believe also Mary is a mediator between God and men. Or some religious head is a mediator between God and men. The point is this, the Bible doesn't teach Jesus Christ is the mediator between God and man. The Bible teaches Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man. That excludes all others, and that's the big fundamental difference. But that's what catches people out, you see. And that's why you have to be so, so careful. You see, these false teachers, these cults, they're very good at getting their point across by dilution, by getting another way around things to make you think that they actually believe the same thing. when they don't. And so when someone says to you, Jesus Christ is a mediator. Oh yes, I believe he's a mediator between God and man. It's because they also believe Mary is a mediator. I talked to someone and they told me they have at least 30 mediators between them and God because they just see Jesus Christ just as one of many. But when you tell them, no, he's the only mediator, oh, they don't like that. And yet the same people will come and try to be religious to you. Come and follow the Bible with me. Oh, come to learn the Bible from me. Well, do you believe Jesus Christ is the only mediator? Certainly not. Well, how can you tell me the Bible? How can you teach me the Bible when you don't even believe what the Bible says? And so, that's how people get caught up. And that's what was happening here in the church at Philippi. These false teachers were coming along. And as you do, you get people who come along, wrap your door, and they will sound spiritual. They know all the right phrases to get you in. But when you start digging a bit deeper, what about this? Well, hold on, get off that. What about that? Oh, it's all exposed. Again, there was also legalism, known as antinomianism, which means no law. And they claim that since your sins are fully forgiven, the moral law, the commandments, do not then apply because they come across and say, you know what, you're not under law, you're under grace. your sins are all forgiven. And so you have a freedom to let go and let God. You have a license to sin. And again, that's not true at all. Because why? You're not under the law as a way of salvation. You're under the law as a way to live for God, to obey the Lord. See, the first word says, thou shalt have no other gods before me. You have not been taken away from that. That's still obligated. We are to have no other gods but the Lord. Where it says thou shalt not use the name of God in vain. Just because you're Christian doesn't mean that all doesn't apply to you anymore. You're still not to use the name of God in vain. But the point is this. We do it not to earn salvation. We do it as a way of life to please the Lord. And so always remember that. Paul said in Galatians chapter 5 verse 13, Use not liberty as an occasion for the flesh. There's no such thing as Christian liberty. You're either casual or you're not. See all this, I'm free to do this and not to do that, or it's just my freedom. That's a load of nonsense. Biblical spiritual freedom is that you have been saved from the bondage of sin. That you've been saved from working your way to heaven. That's what you've been set free. That's spiritual liberty. You have been set free from working your way to heaven because Christ has paid the debt. He's now opened that way between you and God. So your spiritual freedom is that when you're in Christ, sin no longer has dominion over you. Sin no longer controls you. You've been set free. For whom the Son sets free is? Tell me. Free indeed. And so that is your liberty. You've been set free by the power of the gospel. But Christian liberty is not I'm free to do this or free to do that. I'm free to steal or free not to steal or free to whatever you want to use. That's not Christian liberty. That's just somebody trying to live a double life. And so, all this goes round in churches today. I listened to a preacher one day, and I was doing a subject, and here's what he said, a gangster, but here's what he said to the congregation. He said, we all have a Christian liberty. I smoke, you don't. And I know some of you don't like me smoking, but it's just my Christian liberty. I thought to myself, Gangster, get that boy out of the pulpit. And then he went through, and some of you drink and some of you don't. And I don't do that, but it's just your liberty. That's just called casual Christianity. That's all that is. And that's what was going around the churches. And I make that point. we have to get back to the Bible. And so spiritual freedom is knowing Christ as your saviour. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. Matthew chapter 12, verse 30. He that is not against me, the Lord said, or he that is not with me is against me. So that is simple. He that is not with me is against me. To be against Christ's person and work, and his teachings reveals that you are included as an enemy of the cross. You either are or you're not. There's no two ways about it. As I said, I've done open-air work before and I've had people come and shout at me and they don't mind hearing about Jesus being love and Jesus being a giver and Jesus being good. But when you tell them, but what about Jesus who died to take away? They say, no, don't tell me about that Jesus. and they get agitated and they get angered because their Jesus is just one who loves everybody. And so to be against Christ's person, his work, his teachings, shows that you are an enemy of the cross. That was going around in Paul's day. And that was the walk, the behaviour, the manner of lifestyle that Paul said to avoid. Follow a good example. mimic a good example, but there's also people and examples to avoid. And Paul is showing those who, to avoid, they are the enemies of the cross. So we'll look at that briefly just now under three headings. First one, really, Paul's wisdom regarding the enemies of the cross. Paul's wisdom regarding the enemies of the cross. Paul was a great detector of the enemies of the cross. Why? Because he himself was once an enemy of the cross, as we all were. But he naturally and religiously sought to do many things against the name of Jesus Christ. So Paul himself regarding these Judaizers, who were the Jews, regarding the antinomious, those of no law, legalists. He knew exactly what to look out for. He knew exactly the angle they were getting at. He knew exactly how to expose them, what to look out for. And so he said this, for many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping. They are the enemies, the haters of the cross. I told you often that word is in the perfect tense, meaning Paul continually time and time again was warning the church at Philippi. These enemies won't go away because their purpose is to divide the work of God. Their purpose is to bring you into by path metal. Their purpose is to stop you from hearing the truth of the gospel. And so they make it a casual gospel. They make it an attractive gospel. They make it a gospel that depends upon you. And so Paul shows their neared hand and he kept on warning them about the enemies off the cross. It's the same with parents who give wise counsel to their children to stay away from certain places or people that are up to no good or to remind their children that if the consequences of a decision made without seeking God. While young people you may not be able to see it but God has placed parents in your life that they can detect when trouble is coming, and when you've maybe not made the best decision. It's the same with the minister of the church. He can detect the enemies of the cross near at hand. He's called to be a watchman for your soul, to protect you, to spare you from going in the wrong direction, and to make you strong, that you're rejoicing, maybe more abundant in Christ Jesus. What did the Lord Jesus Christ say himself? He said about the enemies of the cross, in Matthew chapter 7 verse 16, ye shall know them by their fruits. That's the exact same as Paul saying, you'll know them by their manner of living, their behaviour. And so the Lord says, ye shall know them by their fruits. And the word fruits simply refers to that which is natural. He said in verse 17, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. And so the walk of the enemies off the cross will bring forth corrupt fruit because it's in keeping with their very nature. Now we understand why Paul said, brethren, be followers together of me or with me and mark them, search out, look out them which walk as you have for us an example, a godly example. Because Paul was pressing toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. But the walk of the enemies of the cross, it was leading to destruction. Jesus said himself, follow me. Therefore believer, keep following. And sinner, obey his word. Come to him for salvation. Notice secondly, Paul's warning regarding the enemies of the cross. Regarding the enemies of the cross. So we've looked at his wisdom. Notice his warning. Certain thoughts. Paul warns of their destruction. Paul says about the enemies of the cross, whose end is destruction. Now that's interesting, isn't it? You might expect Paul maybe to end with these words, saying all this stuff and then saying, here's the conclusion, it ends with their destruction. But he starts, here's the end, it's destruction. And this is why it is. He's warning them about the end of the ungodly. He sets it straight, here is the end of those who obey not the gospel. No matter what name or what form these enemies take, their end is destruction. The word end means termination point. It means they've reached their destination. It's the last stop. You think of the London tubes or the London trains. If you've been on them, sometimes, depends what train you're on, you'll hear the words, this train terminates in the next stop. Everyone must get off. And what's it saying? Here is the end. Here is the final stop. And so that's what Paul is getting at. The end of the enemies of the gospel. Where does their path lead to? Where does their life lead to? It is destruction. To perish. It is to ruin. And so put it all together, Paul exposes and identifies the enemies of the cross. He shows their walk, their manner of lifestyle, their living in hostility against Christ ends in them perishing for their sin. Their last stop, their final destination is the lake of fire, eternal torment. Therefore, men and women, don't follow their example, don't learn their ways, don't walk as they walk, don't listen to their teaching, because they are the blind leading the blind. They walk on the road that leads to eternal destruction. Now while a born again believer can never perish, Yet in following the example of the enemies of the cross, it just simply means that you will not live a blessed Christian life. You will not get the best out of your Bible. You will not enjoy the blessings that have been purchased for you. Therefore, men and women, you may be a faithful spouse, a loving parent, an obedient child, a good friend, a respectful citizen, a religious attender at God's house. But if you have not been spiritually circumcised in heart, born again by the Spirit of God through faith alone in Christ alone, having all your sin forgiven on the basis of Christ's work alone on the cross, then God calls you an enemy of the cross and your end, your destination will be the lake of fire with its darkness, not seeing any other suffer but hearing every other suffer with wailing and gnashing of teeth who hear the gospel, whosoever believeth on Christ should not perish, but have everlasting life. Paul also warns, not only of their destruction, but of their desire. He said, whose God is their belly. Now the word belly is the word meaning appetite. So if you keep with this word, it refers to a natural hunger. An appetite for food, and no doubt we all have an appetite for food. Maybe you have, later on, what you're going to cook. Maybe some people are going back to that nice rice and fish, things that I like and you like as well, and you're looking forward to that. You have that appetite for food. Well, that's basically what this word refers to. You think of children. When children get hungry, or they get restless, they begin to get tired, or they begin to cry. When an adult becomes tired or weak or hungry, they begin to slow down and they need food to be re-energised. And that's what this word, belly, or as it means, appetite. In the context of these words, their belly refers to that which keeps with their natural craving. What feeds? What fuels? What drives sinners on? It's their love for all that is in the world. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. That's what feeds them, that's what fuels them on. A desire to be involved more and more in sin. and the inventions of men because they are the enemies of the cross. They live for everything that is for sin and against the gospel. They live for the temporal things of the world. They are enslaved to the desires of the lusts. They are guided by their desires. They're guided, fueled by what pleases self. They're walking in their own ways, which are the ways of death, as Solomon says. Notice Paul warns about their disgrace. Paul says, and whose glory is their shame. The word shame means disgrace. But the word glory is an interesting word because we've noted it many times in this book of Philippians. It has different meanings. Sometimes it means joy, sometimes it means to boast. Well, This word glory here is not that word meaning to boast or rejoice, but rather it's the word that means praise. It's the word that means worship. The original word is doxa or doxology, means to honour, to praise and to worship. And so Paul is saying the enemies of the cross, they honour, they praise the lifestyle that they live. You may have heard the phrase before when applied maybe to unpleasant scenes. Someone may say, someone, is there no shame? Or have you no shame? And the point is this, the enemies of the cross don't see their sin, their rebellion and their hatred against Christ as a disgrace or shame, rather they glory in it, they praise it. Paul, when he persecuted the church, didn't see it as shame. He gloried in it. It was praise to him because the more he attacked the church, the more he persecuted Christians, the more he consented to the death of Christians, he believed him to be praising God. And that's what false religion does. They get into all these things believing it's praise to God when it's not. Again, Isaiah 5 verse 20, Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil, that put darkness for light, and light for darkness, that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter. John Newton, he testified of his sin and disgrace when he wrote his hymn, In evil long I took delight on awed by shame or fear. You see, in his ungodly day, he did not see his sin as a disgrace. In fact, Paul said in Ephesians chapter four, verse nine, who being past feeling have given themselves over onto lasciviousness, which means lust, to work all uncleanness with greediness. Now that phrase past feeling Means to become insensitive to pain. Means to feel numbness. Maybe you've gone to the dentist. You get to a certain stage where you have to get to a dentist. And I've gone to a dentist plenty of times. And there's times the dentist has given me a needle in my mouth and I haven't felt anything. But there's a time I went and she was doing something to my tooth and she didn't give me a needle. She said, listen, you'll not need it. It'll be fine. Well, she couldn't have been more wrong because it was sore. And I tell you, you felt it all right. Holding on to the seat with this here. So she said, well tell you what, I'll give you a needle. And so she got that, put it in my mouth, and do you know what? It numbed it, I didn't feel it. She was doing the exact same thing, and I didn't feel anything. And that's what that word means. When Paul says, who being past feeling have given themselves over onto lasciviousness or lust to work on cleanliness with greediness, it simply means that they become numb to their sinful living. That the enemies of the cross don't see their sin as shame. They don't see their sinfulness as sin. They become numb to it. It's their dwelling, their natural dwelling. Notice Paul warns of their distractions. Paul says, who mind earthly things. The word mind means thoughts, attention, to focus. It's the complete opposite to the people of God. Where Paul said in Colossians 3 verse 2, set your affection, your thoughts, your motives on things above, not on things off the earth. Whereas the enemies of the cross, they focus on the things off the earth. Their affections are upon the course of this world. Therefore turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face, and the things of earth will go strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace. Paul is showing by his wisdom, here are the enemies of the cross, here's how you detect them, and he warns them. about these different things that we've gone through. But notice finally, very, very briefly, Paul's weeping regarding the enemies off the cross. Paul said, I told you, even weeping. They are the enemies of the cross. The word weeping is a strong expression. It means to mourn. It means pain. It means to cry out loud. It's used in Matthew chapter 2, verse 17 and 18 about Rachel weeping for her children. The idea is when someone has died, there's just wailing. There's just emotion. There's heartbreak. And you can sense it. Paul was heartbroken. He was distressed over the enemies of the cross. In other words, he was heartbroken that there were his own kinsmen were such a hatred against Christ because that's where he once was. He said in Romans chapter 9 verse 3, I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. He said in Romans chapter 10 verse 1, Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved. Paul was a broken hearted preacher. He was mourning. Weeping, crying, my kinsmen are going to hell. They are the enemies of the cross. I was there as well. I was numb to it, blind to it. I was on that road, but God saved me. And now I look at them, their behavior, their lifestyle, their culture, their traditions of men, their religion. It's taking them to destruction, and it breaks my heart. Paul would preach to them and they would stone him. They threw him into prison. Acts chapter 20 verse 31, by the space of three years, I cease not to warn every man night and day with tears. Paul was broken hearted. My own kinsmen are going to hell. They are the enemies of the cross. They may think they're pleasing God. They may think they're honoring God, but they're going to a lost hell. And there may be some here in this room You're so filled with religion, you think you're going to heaven, when in fact you're going to hell, because you've not Christ as your Savior. You think by coming to church or by getting a little more religious makes you better. I tell you, you're still lost in sin. You are an enemy of the cross. Oh, you say, preacher, stop calling me that. That's too far. That is offensive. But I remind you, that's what God calls you, and that's what God sees you, and that's how God will judge you. Not for all the things you think you've done. He will judge you as an enemy off the cross of His dear Son. Therefore, come to Christ now by faith. Have your sin fully forgiven, and you become men to the family of God. You can cry unto Him, Abba, Father. Believer, among our family, our friends in London, there are souls to rescue, there are souls to save. Send the blessed gospel light. Each one of us have a family member, no doubt. I know I do. Have maybe friends that are on the road leading to eternal damnation. And they think they're going to heaven by what they do, by their performances, and they're not. I ought to break our hearts to pray for them, to get them in under the sound of the Word of God. to see them saved. Oh, Psalm 126, verse 5 and 6. He that goeth forth weeping, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. My trust today, the Lord will write his word upon our heart, that next time the enemies of the cross come near you and try to brainwash you, that you will stand firm in the gospel. And if you're here not saved, that you will come to faith in Jesus Christ. May the Lord write his word.