Enemies Of The Cross

-These folks are not serving our Lord Jesus Christ but they are self-serving.

-They are serving their own belly.

-They want the glory.

-They want to fulfill the desires of the flesh.

-They are walking in the flesh and not the Spirit.

-According to Galatians 5:19, they are manifesting the works of the flesh.

-Notice in Romans 16:18, how these folks accomplish their goal.

-"By good words" and "fair speeches".

-These are the folks whose lips say one thing and their mind is thinking something else.

-These are the folks who seem so "lovey-dovey" (super spiritual super critical).

-They seem almost overly concern about your problem.

-They say that they want to help you and be your best buddy, etc.

-The Bible says if you fall for these "good words" and "fair speeches" then you are "simple".

-Romans 16:18, says - "...by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple."

-"Simple" means the person possess very little wisdom and spiritual discernment.

-You see this often happens when newly saved folks come into a church and one of the so-called mature Christian goes over and starts playing their games.

-Getting the babe in Christ to follow him and come to him instead of the pastor.

-These folks are self-serving, not God serving because their God is their belly.

-So, we have seen so far how a Christian can qualify as an enemy of the cross of Christ.

-I. If their end is destruction

-II. If their god is their belly

-III. IF THEIR GLORY IS IN THEIR SHAME

-Philippians 3:18 - "...whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly. things"

-These folks get their glory from their shame.

-In other words, what brings shame or disgrace to a Christian?

-Sin!!!

-We saw earlier in I Corinthians 5, that the church at Corinth was puffed up.

-They thought it was great to have "fornication among them" (1 Cor. 5:1).

-They did not mourn about this open sin in their church.

-In fact, Paul told them straight out about their attitude in 1 Corinthians 5:6, Paul said, "Your glorying is not good".

-Unfortunately, in many so called Bible Believing Churches, they are glorying in their shame.

-They think it is great that they openly tolerate sin.

-For example:

-Folks living together.

-Married folks committing adultery.

-Having sex perverts serving and members of their church.

-There favorite verses are "a friend loveth at all times" or "speak the truth in love"

-There favorite chapter in the Bible is I Corinthians 13.

-The Bible says these folks are "enemies of the cross" because "whose glory is in the their shame, who mind earthly things."

-Notice again that word "mind".

-Remember, Paul said in Phil. 3 verse 16, "let us walk by the same rule, let us mind, the same thing."

-We know that when Paul said "let us mind, the same thing".

-"The same thing" was not referring to earthly things but heavenly or spiritual things.

-The rule found in the Word of God is the mind of Christ - not the mind of the World and higher education.

-Christian are you glorying in your shame?

-Are you involved in some sin and you are not ashamed of it.