Read Philippians 3:17–19
As I have often told you before and now say again even with
tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.
Philippians 3:18
The cross of Jesus Christ is the theme of the Bible, the heart of the
gospel, and the chief source of praise in heaven. The cross is the proof
of God’s love for sinners and God’s hatred for sin. In what sense were
the Judaizers the “enemies of the cross of Christ”? For one thing, the
cross ended the Old Testament religion. By His death and resurrection,
Jesus accomplished a “spiritual circumcision” that made ritual
circumcision unnecessary (see Col. 2:10–13). Everything the Judaizers
advocated had been eliminated by the death of Christ on the cross.
Furthermore, the cross condemned everything that they lived for.
Jesus had broken down the wall that stood between Jews and Gentiles
(Eph. 2:11–18), and the Judaizers were rebuilding that wall.
True believers crucify the flesh. They also crucify the world. Yet,
the Judaizers were minding “earthly things” (Phil. 3:19). It is the cross
that is central in the life of believers.
Something to Ponder
How much thought have you put into the significance of the cross? In
what ways do you “glory” in the cross?