Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
A.W. Tozer wrote, “The Christian life is a journey, not a destination.” To that I would respectfully add that the Christian life is a moment by moment, hour by hour, day by day, week by week, month by month, year by year relational journey with Jesus Christ.
Paul’s eyes are tearful as he writes the words that we are looking into today because the church at Philippi was being influenced by those whom Paul calls “the enemies of the cross of Christ” (Philippians 3:18). These enemies were spiritual frauds who were proclaiming a counterfeit gospel. One group was teaching that in addition to believing in the finished work of Jesus Christ for the full payment of our sins, it was necessary to be circumcised and keep the law of Moses. In other words, it was a works-based gospel that required a religious ritual in addition to Christ’s one sacrifice for sin in order to obtain forgiveness of sin. Beloved, adding anything to the work of Christ on the cross is not the gospel of the grace of God.
Another doctrine that was an enemy of the cross of Christ was the pseudo intellectual doctrine of Gnosticism, which taught that only the spirit mattered and what you did with your body was of no importance to God. That heresy led to either strict legalism or blatant hedonism. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a call to follow the example of Jesus as He walked on earth as Son of Man. Paul said to imitate him as he followed Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1).
Thus, the Christian is an individual who has full assurance of their salvation, because they have full assurance in what Christ has done for them. However, this full assurance of God’s forgiveness and love for them gives birth to a lifestyle of full commitment; that is, a commitment to pursue a loving, intimate fellowship with Christ. This is a commitment to pursue a lifestyle of holiness and purity that The Name of Christ and the gospel that bears His Name would be glorified. Reader, are you fully assured of your salvation? Are you fully committed to Jesus Christ? He that hath an ear, let him hear what God is saying to us today (Revelation 2:7, et.al.). Selah
