Philippians 3:18-19 - "When Tears Warn Us"

Yesterday we learned from verse 17 that God has given usgodly examples to follow. Paul challenged us to imitate believers whose livesconsistently point us to Jesus Christ. But today, in verses 18 and 19, Paulgives the other side of that truth. He warns us that there are also people wemust not follow. Listen to what he writes: "For many walk, of whom Ihave told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemiesof the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, andwhose glory is in their shame--who set their mind on earthly things.” Oneword in this passage immediately captures my attention. It is the word"weeping." Paul doesn't write these words with anger. He doesn'tspeak with bitterness or hatred. He writes with tears. This reminds us of theheart of Jesus. As He approached Jerusalem, Luke 19:41 tells us, "And whenhe was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it." Jesus looked uponpeople who had rejected Him, and His heart was broken. The Apostle Paul hadthat same heart.  Hehad warned the Philippians about these people before. In fact, he says, "Ihave told you often." This wasn't a new warning. It was a repeatedwarning because the danger was so great. False teaching has always been one ofSatan's greatest weapons against the church. Who were these people? Paul callsthem "the enemies of the cross of Christ." Most Bible studentsbelieve Paul is still referring to the Judaizers that he warned about earlierin this chapter. They were religious people who insisted that faith in Christwas not enough. They taught that a person also had to keep the Law of Moses andbe circumcised in order to be saved.  Wheneveranyone adds human works to God's grace, they become an enemy of the cross. Why?Because the cross declares that Jesus paid the full price for our salvation.When our Lord cried, "It is finished," the work of redemption wascomplete. Salvation is not Christ plus our works. It is Christ alone.  Paulthen gives four characteristics of these false teachers. First, "whoseend is destruction." No matter how sincere they may appear, everyonewho rejects the true Gospel is headed for eternal separation from God. Religionwithout Christ has never saved anyone. Second,"whose God is their belly." In other words, their appetitescontrolled their lives. They lived to satisfy themselves rather than to pleaseGod. Whether it was pride, greed, popularity, comfort, or personal gain, selfhad become their god. That sounds very much like our culture today. We areconstantly told to satisfy ourselves, indulge ourselves, and put ourselvesfirst. But Jesus taught the very opposite. He said, "If any man will comeafter me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and followme." Third,"whose glory is in their shame." What a tragic statement! Theyboasted about the very things that should have brought them shame andrepentance. Isn't that exactly what we see in our world today? Things that Godcalls sin are often celebrated and applauded. Isaiah warned, "Woe untothem that call evil good, and good evil." Finally,Paul says they "mind earthly things." Their thoughts,ambitions, and priorities are fixed on this world instead of eternity. That isalways the difference between a believer and an unbeliever. The believer asks,"How can I please Christ?" The unbeliever asks, "How can Iplease myself?" The believer lives for eternity. The unbeliever lives onlyfor today. As believers, we must be careful not to let the spirit of this worldshape our thinking. Romans 12:2 reminds us, "And be not conformed tothis world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind." Today,Paul's tears remind us: That truth matters. The Gospel matters. People'seternal destiny matters. May God give us hearts that love people enough to tellthem the truth with compassion and grace, just as Paul did.