Where Christianity Is Practised Yet In Opposition To The Cross Of Christ.

One of the remarkably striking & surprising texts in the epistles of the apostles is found in Philippians 3:18; A text that reveals not merely professing but practising christians, who are yet of a contrary/opposing mind to the mind of Christ and of the cross of Christ.

"for many walk of whom I have 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 the belly, and their glory in their shame, who mind earthly things."

Many walk says the apostle, they do not merely talk/profess but walk their talk, yet their walk/practice is a spiritual disaster, being consistent with earthly mindedness(a mind resolved & set upon early things) which constitutes them enemies of the cross of Christ.

The word translated as walk in the text is peripateō in the greek and it means to regulate one's life, to conduct one's self; figuratively to live, deport oneself, follow as a companion or votary(one consecrated & devoted to a religious cause).

They are not merely christians who are otherwise minded(of a different view or opinion) as spoken of earlier by the apostle in the 15th verse - "...If any be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you".

They are rather christians of a resolute mindset & established practice, which is opposed & contrary to the cross of Christ.

Of these says the apostle "I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping"...His tears pouring as he writes with his inkhorn.

Note that scripture does not say they are enemies of Christ but enemies of the cross of Christ; They take no place of open adversaries against Christ himself, they profess his lordship, profess to be his servants for workers in the vineyard they are though evil workers/workmen as earlier revealed by the apostle(vs.2). 

Beyond mere profession, they even walk/practise a form of christianity, however, a version of christianity opposed to the cross of Christ and the offence/separation from the world which it brings.

They may even make much of the cross of Christ itself in preaching, but only as seeking to employ it's graciousness to shelter them from the rightful judgment of their unholy ways; turning the grace of God into fleshly cover or license, but this will not possibly avert the end(destruction) to which such a course would lead.

Their walk(practice & pursuit) is after vanity & vain/earthly things, and it is informed by their vain, carnal & earthly mind. 

They walk after their belly, after material things which they not only seek, but also glory & vaunt in when acquired; an act they should be ashamed of yet glory in. 

Earthly things they valued, acquired/secured & prided themselves in their acquisition, but the apostle had earlier stated that we are the circumcision which worship God in the Spirit and vaunt/glory in Christ and have no confidence whatsoever in the flesh & it's attainments or acquisitions(vs. 3).

A very solemn truth of great burden is that these earthly minded/materialistic christians are leading many to destruction, and have made the work of reaching the lost with the true gospel of salvation very difficult. 

"Many walk" says the apostle and as long foretold by another apostle in 2nd Peter 2:2 "many shall follow their pernicious, wanton ways"...ways that eventually lead to destruction.

The next verse thus says that through covetousness, with fictitious(moulded or artificial) words, they will make merchandise of the many who follow their wanton ways; for whom judgment of old is not idle, and their destruction slumbers not.

It's very sad that they are not just many who walk this way but they also command a large following of people following their pernicious ways; multitudes they have espoused to a false gospel, lost & unregenerated souls they have given a false sense of being at peace with God, indoctrinated with a meretricious form of godliness, piety & devotion to God. A generation that vociferously professes Christ but has never been to the cross of Christ; knows no repentance from sin, no surrender to the Lordship of Christ, no forsaking of the world or separation from it to follow Christ.

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31 August 2025 at 12:14
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