A. The importance of this evidence:
"For many walk....who are the enemies of the cross of Christ (3:18)".
There are "many" who "walk", who claim to be believers, but their trust is in religion instead of Christ and His death on the cross to pay the penalty for their sin. These are the ones Paul warns about in verse 2.
B. The evidence: (3:3)
1. "Who worship God in the spirit"
John 4:19-24, "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth".
Not just in certain places.
Not just at certain times.
John 10:27, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me".
True believers have a personal, intimate, moment by moment relationship with Christ.
Philippians 3:10-12, "that I may know Him...that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has laid hold of me".
2. "Rejoice (glory) in Christ Jesus"
a. For what He has done for us.
"not having my own righteousness, which is from the law (religion), but that which is through faith in Christ" (3:9; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
b. "Our citizenship is in heaven" (3:20).
c. For what He will do for us in the future.
"We eagerly wait for the Savior... who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body" (3:20-21).
3. "Have no confidence in the flesh".
Romans 8:5-8 "those who are in the flesh cannot please God".
Philippians 4:19 "I can do all things through Christ"
C. Contrast 3:19, "Whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, whose glory is in their shame, who set their mind on earthly things".