This is a question not enough people even attempt to ask let alone try and find the answer too. It is sad really.
Why is it sad though?
I will tell you. For many, more than most may ever realize have made themselves the enemy of the cross of Jesus Christ.
How can I say this? How can I be so heartless and cruel to say such a statement?
To be honest it is not out of heartlessness, but out of pure love. It is not cruel, but it is painful.
Here is how this issue is approached in the book of James
James 4:4 – You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. 5 Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him. 6 And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say,
“God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble.”
7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. 9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.
Here is another perspective:
Philippians 3: 18 For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.
Now let’s look at each thing that leads to being an enemy of God and His Son the Lord Jesus Christ.
First and foremost, befriending the world.
Friend – philos – friendly; subst: a friend, an associate.
World – kosmos – the world, universe; worldly affairs; the inhabitants of the world; adornment
Secondly pride
Proud – proud, arrogant, disdainful.
Thirdly their appetite
In the KJV the word belly is used which is “koilia” meaning belly, womb, the inner man. Per the Theological Dictionary of the New Testament it appear that Paul, the author of Philippians was extremely angry at those that had at first turned to Christ and then turned their back upon the Savior.
What is important to state here is that those that made the dictionary could not say for sure what Paul meant when he used the word “koilia.” However for other references within the NT it is referenced to where sin come from, that being from within each and every person (Mark 7:18-23).
Fourth they “brag about shameful things”
Again in the KJV it reads as : “whose glory is in their shame”
Glory – doxa – honor, renown, glory splendor
Shame – aischune – shame, shamefacedness, shameful deeds
Personally I would translate this as: they take honor in their shameful deeds.
And lastly – “they think only about this life here on earth.”
So someone that is the enemy of the cross, which leads to damnation looks like someone that thinks only of their earthly lust and desires and takes pride in their actions no matter how crude it may be, for all they care about is their own satisfaction and of nothing nor of anyone save themselves. So those supporting this person that lives this way are themselves becoming this persons “friend” and so as is shown above in the verses of James are “make yourself an enemy of God.”