June 27 2026

Saturday June 27

"When Tears Warn Us"

Philippians 3:18-19

Welcome to Pastor's Chat. Yesterday we learned from verse 17 that God has given us godly examples to follow. Paul challenged us to imitate believers whose lives consistently point us to Jesus Christ. But today, in verses 18 and 19, Paul gives the other side of that truth. He warns us that there are also people we must not follow. Listen to what he writes: "For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame--who set their mind on earthly things.”

One word in this passage immediately captures my attention. It is the word "weeping." Paul doesn't write these words with anger. He doesn't speak with bitterness or hatred. He writes with tears. This reminds us of the heart of Jesus. As He approached Jerusalem, Luke 19:41 tells us, "And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it." Jesus looked upon people who had rejected Him, and His heart was broken. The Apostle Paul had that same heart.

He had warned the Philippians about these people before. In fact, he says, "I have told you often." This wasn't a new warning. It was a repeated warning because the danger was so great. False teaching has always been one of Satan's greatest weapons against the church. Who were these people? Paul calls them "the enemies of the cross of Christ." Most Bible students believe Paul is still referring to the Judaizers that he warned about earlier in this chapter. They were religious people who insisted that faith in Christ was not enough. They taught that a person also had to keep the Law of Moses and be circumcised in order to be saved.

Whenever anyone 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 was complete. Salvation is not Christ plus our works. It is Christ alone.

Paul then gives four characteristics of these false teachers. First, "whose end is destruction." No matter how sincere they may appear, everyone who rejects the true Gospel is headed for eternal separation from God. Religion without Christ has never saved anyone.

Second, "whose God is their belly." In other words, their appetites controlled their lives. They lived to satisfy themselves rather than to please God. Whether it was pride, greed, popularity, comfort, or personal gain, self had become their god. That sounds very much like our culture today. We are constantly told to satisfy ourselves, indulge ourselves, and put ourselves first. But Jesus taught the very opposite. He said, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me."

Third, "whose glory is in their shame." What a tragic statement! They boasted about the very things that should have brought them shame and repentance. Isn't that exactly what we see in our world today? Things that God calls sin are often celebrated and applauded. Isaiah warned, "Woe unto them 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 is always the difference between a believer and an unbeliever. The believer asks, "How can I please Christ?" The unbeliever asks, "How can I please myself?" The believer lives for eternity. The unbeliever lives only for today. As believers, we must be careful not to let the spirit of this world shape our thinking. Romans 12:2 reminds us, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind."

Today, Paul's tears remind us: That truth matters. The Gospel matters. People's eternal destiny matters. May God give us hearts that love people enough to tell them the truth with compassion and grace, just as Paul did.

Let's pray. Heavenly Father, give us hearts like the Apostle Paul—hearts that love people enough to warn them of error and point them to the truth of the Gospel. Keep us faithful to the message of the cross, and guard us from anything that would draw our hearts away from Christ. Help us to live for eternity and not merely for the things of this world. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

God bless and may you have a wonderful wonderful day!