In Philippians 3:18-19, the Bible says, “For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction…who set their minds on earthly things”. God is love, and the cross of Christ is the ultimate expression of God’s love to us (John 15:13; Romans 5:7-8; Romans 8:32). Therefore, to set yourself as an enemy of the cross of Christ is to set yourself as enemy of who God is. This is to oppose God’s purposes and fight His will. This is to be a stumbling block and an offence to God. For those who set themselves to be stumbling blocks to any of God’s little ones, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea (Mathew 18:6). How much more terrible will it be for those who set themselves as offence to the Lord Himself?
One would think that it must only take a denial of Jesus or involvement in gross acts of evil to be an enemy of the cross of Christ. However, the Scriptures teach that those who become the enemies of the Cross of Christ are those who set their minds on earthly things (Philippians 3:18-19). This was the same sin Peter got into when he attempted to stop Jesus from going to the cross: “But He (Jesus) turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block (offence) to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s (Matthew 16:23)”.
As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he (cf. Proverbs 23:7). Again, we are transformed according to what we set our minds on (cf. Romans 12:2), and into the image of the things we behold (2 Corinthians 3:12-18). Even so, when we do not set our minds on God’s interests but on earthly things, we are transformed into the very image of the things we mind and inevitably pursue the things that are contrary to Christ. When we set our minds on earthly things, our stomach and appetites would become our god and our glory will be in our shame (cf. Philippians 3:18-19). In this way, we fail to be transformed into the image of Christ, which is our ultimate calling (Romans 8:29-20, Philippians 3:7-14) and become enemies of the cross of Christ. The end of such is destruction (Philippians 3:18-19).
Because we have died with Jesus and have been resurrected with Him through faith (Galatians 2:20, Romans 6:3-4, Colossians 3:1), the Bible gives this admonition: Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth [which have only temporal value] (Colossians 3:2)”. This is not an option but a command. And obedience to this command is the way we save ourselves from becoming enemies of the cross of Christ to being those who look unto Jesus and seek first His kingdom and righteousness (Hebrews 12:2; Matthew 6:33).
Kwadwo Omari, PhD
Dec 16, 2018.