Be Warned. Philippians 3:18. “(For many walk of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ;” The people mentioned in this verse were clearly in contrast to the truth of the Gospel, along with the preaching and behavior of the apostle Paul. Paul wept as he considered the chaos and harm they could cause to the work of the Lord in Philippi and the sorrow they could bring to the believers there. Probably, he also wept for them and the severe consequences that would befall those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ.
Enemies of the cross of Christ are those who believe that Christ's sacrifice on the cross was not enough to cleanse our sins. They try to earn their own salvation through their efforts but reject the cross-bearing that is necessary for those who follow the Lord. Self-indulgence does not characterize God's servants, like Paul and others who deny themselves, follow his example, and identify with the Savior. Those who love the world do not want to be associated with the cross, along with the shame and suffering our Lord Jesus Christ endured.
They come in many forms and for various reasons to try to undermine God's work and the testimony of His name. Their hostility is not always obvious at first because it doesn’t follow a clear pattern of opposition. It seems that whenever God or His Word is given respect in public, they quickly reveal their true colors and focus on God, but their attention is not positive.
It soon becomes clear that they oppose anything we say when the Gospel is clearly preached or fundamental and practical teaching is given. Not hiding their hostility, they challenge God and His people by asking, “Where was God when my mother was sick? If there is a God, why did she suffer so?” Or, “Why are there wars and hungry people? If there’s a God, where did He choose to go when all this is happening?”
Enemies of the cross of Christ can also be people of religion. Many dislike the idea that grace alone is the only way of salvation without any works or merits of their own contributing or adding to Christ's sacrifice on the cross. They want their sin-stained personal acts of religious activity, forms they fill out, or sacraments they partake in to be included with God’s saving grace. Learning that “works” are like filthy rags in God's eyes disrupts their false sense of peace.
Instead of feeling humbled and grateful that God is satisfied with the sacrifice Jesus Christ made on their behalf, the enemies of the cross unite and treat the blood of Christ as something to be trampled under their feet. Instead of embracing the Gospel of grace and believing in the Lord Jesus Christ by faith, they band together to fight against God's truth and the light of the Gospel. They deny and oppose until the message of salvation by grace is silenced or until they are lost in hell.
We may mourn for their souls as the apostle Paul did and feel that our words are in vain, but we must remember that it is God who saves souls. The Holy Spirit brings them to new life if they believe the word of God and trust in the Lord Jesus as their Savior. The best way to help such people is to continually preach and pray that the word of God, empowered by the Spirit, will convict them of their sins and lead them to true repentance and faith in Christ. Perhaps God will allow something to happen in their lives to wake them up so they will listen to what we say.
This is our training time. Here, we can suffer for Christ and with Him. This privilege of suffering for His sake will end when He comes. We are called to live out what we teach, just as Paul did. The enemies of the cross don't care much for religion, religious things, religious songs, or even the Gospel, as long as there's reproach for the cross. They care more about "earthly things" that are popular with the majority. Even evangelical Christianity has become popular as long as people "feel comfortable" and "are excited" about what’s happening. The cross means I have died to the world. It does not permit self-indulgence or comfortable living. The cross strips everything down to the basics that contrast what is false and true, light and dark, heavenly and earthly.