Part 9 – Pressing on in the Pursuit of Peace – Philippians 3:12-21
November 25, 2018Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Speaker: Jerry Cisar
Does it take a miracle for you to live the Christian life as you conceive it? If not, could it be that what you are trying to live is not the Christian life at all? Are you intending to live any differently because you are a Christian? Is the fact that you are a follower of Jesus relevant to how you live?
There were some in Philippi for whom the gospel had not transformed how they live. Paul has hinted at the trouble in Philippi since the beginning of the letter; now, he is getting more specific. There are some in the church living as enemies of the cross of Christ. Some for whom confidence in the flesh is the driving story of their lives.
What is the problem? The problem is that their destiny is destruction, their god is their desires, and what they glory in will one day prove to be shameful. In short, they are not heavenly minded enough to be of any earthly good. Stephen E. Fowl is right when he says, “Whoever these believers are, we must assume that as Christians they did not set out to become enemies of the cross.” That means it is possible to be enemies of the cross without intending to. We must intend something else.
What does it mean to be an enemy of the cross? How do we make sure that we are living as citizens of heaven?