According to SCRIPTURE, who are the "Enemies of the Cross"

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Who ARE the Enemies of the Cross? What does this mean?

Great Question!

(Excerpt taken from the book: "Enemies of the Cross of Christ "by Fred Bachand and used with permission from the author)

In Phil. 3:17-19 and in Rm 16:17,18, Paul is writing to the members of the Church of this present dispensation: those who are the "saved", saints of God. He is writing concerning other members of this Church, other saints of God, who are walking either "according to", or "contrary to" the doctrine of the Cross of Christ.

He is NOT writing about "...them that are without.." (Col. 4:5), who are not members of this Church. He is NOT writing to the "lost", "for the preaching of the Cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unot us which are saved it IS the Power of God" (I Cor. 1:18)

How can a saved, saint of God be an enemy of the Cross of Christ? Thats the pressing question here, isnt it?

Most would dare not admit it. Few would even realize it. Yet many, indeed the great majority of the members of God's Church today have become Enemies of the Cross of Christ. We realize that there are few beleivers in Christ who would willingly, knowingly join ranks with enemies ,and fight side by side with the adversary against the doctrine of the Cross and its results as it is preached by the apostle Paul. Yet, the majority of believers in Christ are doing JUST THAT.

We are told by the apostle Paul to "mark", or to take notice and IDENTIFY two classes of persons. These persons ARE members of Gods Church today.

1. In Phil 3:17, we are told to mark them which walk according TO the doctrine. (those who agree with Pauls gospel)

2 . In Romans 16:17 we are told to mark them which cause divisions and offences CONTRARY to the doctrine.(those who dont agree with Pauls gospel)

Of the first class, the ones who walk ACCORDING TO the doctrine, it is sad to say that there are very few. And so, for the most part, they go unnoticed. But of the second class, the ones who cause divisions and offences CONTRARY TO the doctrine, the numbers are so great and the visible Church has become so terribly divided that it and its HEAD, the Lord Jesus Christ, are the subject of ridicule by both the religious and the non religious alike.

I am sure that anyone who knows the doctrine of the Cross, and is honest, will admit that each one of us, at least to some extent, is , or has been an enemy of the Cross of Christ.

The Enemies of the Cross of Christ are to be identified by certain characteristics, as stated by the apostle Paul. They are BELIEVERS in Christ who cause divisions CONTRARY TO the doctrine taught by Paul. They are saints of God who cause offences CONTRARY to the doctrine taught by Paul. The Enemies of the Cross of Christ are members of the Church, Christs Body, with a heavenly calling, a heavenly hope, a heavenly citizenship, who..."mind EARTHLY things: they mind those with an earthly calling/ISRAEL, and earthly hope -Christs return to set up a "Kingdom", an earthly citizenship.

We are to evaluate our beliefs and practices as members of the Church which is His Body, and by testing them OBJECTIVELY, we might be able to walk worthy of our calling in Christ.

In Phil. 3:17-19 and in Rm 16:17,18, Paul is writing to the members of the Church of this present dispensation: those who are the "saved", saints of God. He is writing concerning other members of this Church, other saints of God, who are walking either "according to", or "contrary to" the doctrine of the Cross of Christ.

He is NOT writing about "...them that are without.." (Col. 4:5), who are not members of this Church. He is NOT writing to the "lost", "for the preaching of the Cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unot us which are saved it IS the Power of God" (I Cor. 1:18)