April 11, 2025 -- Philippians 3:18 -- Frenemies

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.
Philippians 3:18 ESV
 
So, Paul makes it clear there are two kinds of walking. Those who walk according to the example they have in Paul, Timothy and faithful leaders. Then there is walking according to the standards of the world, that is walking as enemies of the cross. Note that Paul is telling the Philippians this with tears. In fact, the word tears is much stronger, it can be translated lament and wailing. These are likely people he knows, and people the Philippians know. These are people who seemed, for all to appearances, to be fellow Christians and part of the assembly. But their words and their actions prove them to be enemies.
 
The word enemies mean people whose actions are odious, hateful, and strongly opposed to. They are engaging their strength, their minds and their words towards undoing the work of Christ. Where Christ brings reconciliation and peace, these enemies are sowing discord and violence and disagreements. You know the expression “walk the talk”, right? That is what Paul is expecting. Christians are supposed to walk the talk. Hard times and good, lean times and fruitful, riches and poverty, freedom and persecuting times Christians are to walk in close fellowship with God and with one another.
 
But over the long term, a man or a woman who appears to be a Christian, but is an enemy will, by their lack of faithful commitment to Jesus, especially when the going is tough, show they are enemies. Paul laments this because such faithlessness means there has been a betrayal. Where there’d been a closeness now there is fracturing, tearing at the wound where once there’d been sweet fellowship together in Jesus Christ. Snide words. Giving withheld. Refusal to be reconciled. Unwillingness to be faithful to the clear directives of the word of God. Neglecting the fellowship. All signs of those who are haters of the cross of Christ.
 
The cross of Christ is supposed to be the focal point. The cross of Christ is where our sins are imputed to Jesus and in exchange His righteousness is given to us. The cross of Christ is precisely the place where believers put to death their rebellious attitudes. Paul wept and continues to groan with tears because those who were supposed to be reconciled and had for a time appeared to be followers of Christ, now show hardness and unwillingness to receive the grace of Jesus. Their wickedness ripples through the congregation as believers strive to be faithful to Jesus despite fighting the works of the devil outside and now even within the fellowship. Such rebellious people are either shepherded back to Christ or are cast out of the sheepfold as wolves in sheep’s clothing.
 
Father in heaven, thank You for Jesus, our Good Shepherd. Thank You, Spirit of the Living God, for the ways in which You have conquered our rebellious hearts and renewed our minds so that the cross of Christ is sweet and beautiful to us. As enemies to the cross of Christ are exposed among us, or even our own actions are exposed as odious, Spirit of God bring us to our knees in humble repentance. May all our tears be wiped away and replaced with an abiding joy in the Lord which reinvigorates whole-hearted, committed service to Jesus. Amen.
 
https://youtu.be/9zGbdg1YCYY?si=nAAJU5HIUBDUOwrG Afflicted Saints to Christ Draw Near
 
 

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