How can I tell if I am a friend of the cross of Christ?

Being a friend of the cross of Christ is reflected in one's affection for the message of sovereign grace and a posture of complete dependence on Christ for salvation. This is illuminated in Philippians 3:20, where believers are reminded of their citizenship in heaven and their hope in the returning Savior, Jesus Christ. A genuine friend of the cross finds joy in acknowledging that they are helpless without God’s grace and that Christ's finished work alone secures their eternal destiny. They also appreciate the preaching of the gospel, which conveys Christ's glory, and they eagerly share that message with others.