Paul’s letter to the Philippians is full of hope, joy, and the upward call of God. But in Philippians 3, Paul pivots to a harder subject — warning the church about people they need to avoid. Last week we talked about who to follow. This week: who to flee.
The Warning context
Paul doesn’t deliver this warning casually. He says it “with tears.” These aren’t casual believers who stumbled a time or two — these are people described as “enemies of the cross of Christ.” They’re walking contrary to the gospel, and the end result of that trajectory is destruction.
“Brothers, join in imitating me and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many of whom I’ve often told you and now tell you even with tears, they walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.”
— Philippians 3:17–19
This warning isn’t just for the first century. Paul tells Timothy that “the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching” — that time is every generation. False teachers and those who sow division have always been a threat to local churches.
Two Actions to Watch For
Romans 16:17–18 gives us a clear, two-point checklist for identifying people to avoid:
“I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught. Avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites; and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.”
— Romans 16:17–18
1. They Cause Divisions
Division-causers aren’t simply people who disagree with you. The Greek word poieō means to be the author of division — to create factions where none existed, to recruit people to their side, to make everything about themselves and their grievances. Their life is filled with drama, and they are always drawing others into it.
Paul says to avoid them. Not debate them. Not try to reason with them. Avoid them.
This is hard because true believers can accidentally cause friction too. But there’s a difference between a believer who occasionally stumbles into conflict and someone who has given themselves over to constant division-making. When division becomes someone’s default mode, that’s when we need to take action.
2. They Create Obstacles Contrary to the Gospel
Satan’s oldest trick is adding something to the gospel. In Paul’s day, it was the Judaizers insisting that circumcision was required for salvation. Today, it might be adding rules and requirements that make people think their standing with God depends on what they do rather than what Christ has done.
Paul calls this legalism — placing obstacles in the path of believers who are running the race. Not every obstacle is about salvation; sometimes it’s about fellowship and growth. But anything that subtly shifts a person’s focus from Christ-centered living to rule-keeping is an obstacle the enemy uses to derail us.
Four Results You’ll See in Their Lives
Paul spells out what happens when someone has fully walked away from the truth (Philippians 3:19):
- Their end is destruction. This is blunt. Anyone who rejects Christ’s death and resurrection as sufficient — or leads others to reject it — faces a eternal destiny that is separation from God.
- Their god is their belly. True believers are motivated by the hope of seeing Christ face to face. False teachers are motivated by self-interest. They serve themselves, make decisions based on what satisfies them, and measure success by personal gain.
- Their glory is in their shame. This is where it gets subtle. Satan doesn’t just get people to question God’s standards — he gets them to celebrate what God calls sin. When a church begins tolerating and even praising what Scripture condemns, that’s the slide Paul is warning about.
- Their minds are set on earthly things. No fear of God. No eternal perspective. Just instant gratification and the here-and-now.
So What Do We Do?
This sermon is convicting because we can all see ourselves in it at some point. We’ve all caused unnecessary division. We’ve all let earthly priorities push out the things of God. We’ve all been tempted to question whether God really said what He said.
That’s exactly why Paul gives this warning. Not to make us suspicious of each other, but to make us diligent. The best defense against deception is being in the Word. If we know what God actually says, we’re far less likely to be fooled when someone tries to get us to question it.
And when we see division or false teaching creeping into the life of our church, we respond the way Scripture says — we avoid it, we put an end to it, and we keep pressing on together toward the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Until next week, keep your eyes open for the distractions. But most importantly, keep your eyes fixed on Christ.
Scripture References
- Philippians 3:17–19 — Paul warns about enemies of the cross
- Romans 16:17–18 — Two actions of false teachers: divisions and obstacles
- 2 Corinthians 11:13–15 — False apostles and Satan’s disguise
- Acts 20:28–31 — Wolves entering the flock
- Titus 3:9–11 — Warning about division stirrers
- 1 Corinthians 5:1–5 — The example of the Corinthian church and the sexually immoral man