The Fifth Sunday in Lent (NT)

Philippians 3:17-4:1

¹⁷ Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. ¹⁸ For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. ¹⁹ Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. ²⁰ But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

4 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

There are many enemies of the cross of Christ. There are many people who will teach us Jesus did not die on a cross. There are many people that will even claim that he was not God. There are others who will claim he was just a good teacher and it did not matter how he died.

We should be in sorrow for those who do not believe in Jesus Christ. It is so easy in our modern day to see people as indifferent. There are people who are happy to say Christ may or might not have died for sins. There are others who will say there may or may not be a Hell. Others adamantly state that people will not go to Hell.

The truth must be stated, that those who stand in opposition to the truth, “Their end is destruction.” Their god may not be their belly, but they do set their minds on things of this world. They set their mind of worldly philosophies and science. They set their minds on things they see, and not the truth of God.

God sent his Son into the flesh to die for the sin of the World. He died as the perfect sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin. He died to make full atonement for our poor example. He dies for St Paul, and likewise dies for you. He dies to save people from destruction. But it is sad that there still stand enemies to this truth.