Enemies and Friends of the Cross
“For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things." (Philippians 3:18-19) So who are these “enemies of the cross” Paul was referring to? Paul was talking to the Jewish leaders who did not believe that their Messiah would or could die on a cross. The “enemies of the cross” among the Jews are those who refuse to believe that the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, and not obedience to the law of Moses, would save them from their sins. Today the “enemies of the cross” are those who insist salvation is limited to a few who wisely accept God’s offer to save. That it takes the cross PLUS something else, whatever their particular denomination adds. This doctrine of limited salvation is destined to be destroyed when the cross is shown to have accomplished the “finished” wor...