More From Philippians Lesson 4 Overcoming Enemies of The Cross of Christ Phil. 3:17-21 Two Brothers Who Had The Mind of Christ 1. Timothy, Paul s son in the gospel 2. Paul hopes to send Timothy to encourage the Philippians 3. Epaphroditus, Paul s fellow worker and brother in Christ 4. Epaphroditus showed willing sacrificial love in serving Christ 5. Timothy and Epaphroditus had the mind of Christ as we should 2 Introduction Introduction Paul not only preached the gospel but he modeled it before others admonishing them to follow his example He also warned about many false teachers whom he calls enemies of the cross of Christ Specifically, these are some Jews who insisted Christians must follow the gospel plus the Law of Moses including To follow them would mean falling away from Christ Identifying them and other false teachers and taking the proper actions was essential for them and us to stand firm in the gospel Contrast this picture of Truth and error to the multiplied different false teachings of denominationalism today that are circumcision 3 promoted as acceptable to God 4 Php 3:18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, Php 3:19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. 5 Php 3:1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you. Php 3:2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision; Php 3:3 for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh, 6
Gal 1:6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; Gal 1:7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. Gal 1:8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! Gal 1:9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! 7 8 2Pe 2:1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. 2Pe 2:2 Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; 2Pe 2:3 and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. 9 10 Mat 7:15 "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. Mat 7:16 "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? Mat 7:17 "So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 11 Php 3:17 Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 12
Php 4:9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. 13 1Co 4:16 Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me. 1Co 4:17 For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, just as I teach everywhere in every church. 1Co 11:1 Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ. 14 1Th 1:6 You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 1Th 1:7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 1Th 1:8 For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything. 15 16 1Th 1:9 For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, 1Th 1:10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come. 17 Rom 16:17 Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. Rom 16:18 For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. 18
2Ti 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. 2Ti 2:16 But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, 2Ti 2:17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 2Ti 2:18 men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the faith of some. 19 20 Act 17:11 Now these were more nobleminded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. Jud 1:3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. 21 22 Jud 1:4 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. 2Jn 1:9 Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. 23 24
2Jn 1:10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; 2Jn 1:11 for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds. Php 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; Php 3:21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself. 25 26 Col 3:1 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Col 3:2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. Col 3:3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Col 3:5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. 27 28 Col 3:6 For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, Col 3:7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. 29 Overcoming Enemies of The Cross of Christ 1. Repeated New Testament warnings about false teachers 2. Observe, learn and follow the teaching of Christ modeled by Paul and others 3. Observe, expose, contend with and withdraw from enemies of the cross 4. Our citizenship is in heaven and eternal glory awaits us 30