Loath the Enemy's Lies

Scripture: Philippians 3:18-19

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, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.

Insights: Today’s verses are a review of verse two from this same chapter.  It reads, “Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision.”  When I wrote about verse two I mentioned these we Judaizers who were religiously lost.  They were lost individuals in need of the Savior, but they were also very religious in nature.  I stated the proof of their being lost was the word dogs, because it was often used of those outside of God’s chosen people.  Well, when we get to today’s verses we see some expounding being done by Paul which gives us proof these individuals were indeed Judaizers and they are heading toward a sinner’s hell.  For in today’s verse Paul wrote, “whose end is destructions” and just before that, “are enemies of the cross of Christ.”  Let’s see if we can unwrap these phrases quickly.  The reason they are enemies of the cross of Christ is because they are adding the Law of Moses to the requirements for salvation.  It is Jesus plus the Law for salvation to be obtained.  This thought is obviously false.  Salvation is found in Jesus alone, period!  Their obedience to the Old Testaments dietary laws would have made a “god” out of their bellies.  This phrase is not saying they were obese, but rather that they were still bound by the Law of Moses.  The next phrase is regarding circumcision itself.  These Judaizers were finding their glory in their circumcision and Paul was stating this in fact ought to have been their shame.  Because these Judaizers were so dogmatic about Jesus plus the Law, they were bound to their earthly mind which is what the last phrase states.  Beloved, we today have religiously lost individuals in the church as well.  Now they are not going around trying to circumcise people or make them follow the dietary laws of Moses, but they do hold to earthly traditions of men to such an extent that the vibrant and living relationship found in Christ is not present.  These verses today are a warning to us to make certain we have an abiding relationship with Jesus and not merely with traditions.

Questions:

1. Are you adding anything to your “salvation”?
2. Have your traditions become more important to you than your true Savior?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You and You alone are my salvation.  May I not place traditions of men above You in anyway.  Protect my heart from the trappings that so easily entangle us mortals of flesh.  May my views and attitude toward sin be the same as Yours and may I walk holy as You are holy.  Lord, be pleased with my life.  Amen.