THE ENEMIES OF THE CROSS OF CHRIST (Part 2)

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:1-2 NKJV)

The Bible commands Christians to walk in love and pursue peace with all people (Ephesians. 5:1-2, Romans. 12:16-18). However, the Bible cautions Christians on friendship, fellowship, or association. While Christians should love and seek to live peaceably with all people, we are not expected to befriend, fellowship, or keep close company with all people.

Proverbs 12:26 – NKJV

26 The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray.

Proverbs 22:24-25 – NKJV

24 Make no friendship with an angry man, And with a furious man do not go,

25 Lest you learn his ways And set a snare for your soul.

In all his epistles, Apostle Paul seriously warns Christians to note and separate from those among them who are not walking or living according to Christ’s teaching and example, which he had set for them (Romans. 16:16-18).

2 Thessalonians 3:6-7 – NKJV

6 But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.

7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you.

In the first part of this piece, we began to examine Paul’s description of the professed believers and ministers who are “the enemies of the cross of Christ” by their doctrine and lifestyle.

Paul describes them as those “whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame–who set their mind on earthly things.” (Philip. 3:19 NKJV). He, therefore, admonished true Christians to note and avoid or withdraw from such lest they follow their evil doctrine and lifestyle.

First, Paul describes the enemies of the cross of Christ as those “whose god is their belly.”

This implies that they are professed believers who trust in themselves, in their self-righteousness, goodness, performance, or good works, but not in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

The enemies of the cross of Christ are those who profess to be in Christ but are still clinging to their righteousness, which is from the law, and not the righteousness from God through faith in Christ and his finished work (Philip. 3:9 NKJV).

Moreover, the enemies of the cross of Christ are those who profess to belong to Christ but will not submit to His lordship or live like Christ and for Christ.

Paul states, “Christ died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” (2 Cor. 5:15 NKJV).

Rather than living for Christ, the enemies of the cross of Christ live only for themselves, pursuing, fulfilling, and gratifying the flesh’s desires, lusts, or passions. Paul warns genuine Christians to note and avoid such believers (1 Cor. 5:8-13).

Second, Paul describes the enemies of the cross of Christ as those “wekhoecse glory is in their shame.”

These professed believers delight in iniquities, boast in the flesh, and glory in their self-righteousness or good works but not in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Like the immoral believers in Corinth, the enemies of the cross of Christ trivialize or make light of sins and rejoice in those things they should be ashamed of

similarly, some professed believers today VA can relaxed and comfortable in unrighteousness, even vaunting their achievements, possessions, or riches amassed through ungodly means. They are simply the enemies of the cross of Christ. Why?

Because they belittled and despised the huge price Christ paid for sins at the cross by their attitudes toward sins!

Lastly, Paul describes the enemies of the cross of Christ as the believers “who set their mind on earthly things.” (Phil. 3:19 NKJV).

The born-again believers are crucified to the world, and the world is crucified to them through the cross of Christ.

Galatians 6:14 – NKJV

14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Any believer who boasts of anything other than the cross of Christ is ignorant of the power and blessings of the cross of Christ. The cross of Christ releases the believers to walk in the newness of life, to live as one who is truly dead to sin, the flesh, and the world, but alive to God in Christ Jesus (Romans. 6:1-6).

Having been dead, buried, and raised with Christ, you are expected to seek and set your mind on heavenly things, not earthly things.

Colossians 3:1-2 – NKJV

1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.

2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

Any believer who continues to seek and live for the perishable and fleeting material things of this world is demeaning and denying the power of the cross of Christ in his life.

Beloved, pursuing and clinging to the things of this world, chasing after the current trends of this world, or seeking to be conformed to the fashions or modes of this world is disrespect or contempt of the cross of Christ. Why? Because you are crucified to the world and the world to you through Christ’s death on the cross (Gal. 6:14)!

Therefore, seeking to be conformed to this world or setting your mind on earthly things is an utter denial, rejection, or belittling of the victory Christ won for you over the god of this world through His sacrificial death on the cross.

That is why Paul refers to believers who pursue, love, cling to, or set their minds on earthly things as the enemies of Christ’s cross and warns you to note them and not walk like them (2 Thessalonians. 3:6-15).

Friend, it is wise to heed this warning!

Prayer:

My Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for crucifying me to the world and the world to me through the cross of Christ. Dear Holy Spirit, teach and help me to always set my mind on things above and not on things on earth, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

OUR mandate is to preserve the faith of the Apostolic Generation.

Eniyekpemi Fidelis Oyinpreyebi.

AWH, Blogs.

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