Friday, July 28, 2017, 7:22 a.m. – The Lord Jesus put in mind the song “Oh, To Be Like Thee, Blessed Redeemer.”
Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Philippians 3 (NASB).
Beware of Dogs
(vv. 1-6)
Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write
the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.
Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware
of the false circumcision; for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the
Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh,
although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a
mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: circumcised the eighth day, of
the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the
Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the
righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.
So, what is meant here by “dogs”?
The term “dog” is used of humans who are contemptible and spiritually unclean,
and/or who are false teachers and persecutors of Jesus’ followers. It is used as
a term of reproach. These are those who may profess faith in Jesus Christ, but
it is profession only. They do not have the promise of eternal life with God,
but a fearful expectation of hell’s fires. Yet, since they often disguise
themselves as apostles of Christ, and as servants of righteousness, we must be
very discerning so as not to get trapped in their snare, for they can be very
charming and convincing.
Some of these dogs will add human
rules on to the gospel message, and others will remove critical components from
the gospel message. Whether adding or subtracting, still what they teach is based
in human philosophy and not in the Word of Truth. They will include much of the
truth, though, but will twist it to their advantage. But, truth mixed with lies
is still lies. We can do nothing to earn or to deserve our own salvation. No
amount of external works of the flesh can add anything to our salvation. Yet,
our salvation is not absent of works, but they are the works of God’s Spirit in
our lives, which he prepared in advance for us to do (See: Eph. 2:8-10).
So, if we say we have
fellowship with God, but we walk in darkness (sin), we are liars who do not
live by the truth. Jesus died that we might die to sin and live to
righteousness; that we might no longer live for ourselves, but for him who gave
his life up for us. His grace to us is not a free license to continue in sin
without guilt or remorse. His grace teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and
worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives while we
await his return (1 Jn. 1:6; 1 Pet. 2:24; 2 Co. 5:15; Tit. 2:11-14).
Counted as Loss
(vv. 7-11)
But whatever things were gain to me, those things I
have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things
to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for
whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that
I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my
own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the
righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him
and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being
conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the
dead.
It doesn’t matter how smart
we are, or how gifted and talented, or how much Bible knowledge we have, or our
social or financial status in life. What matters to God is that we have been
crucified with Christ in death to sin so we might live with Christ to newness
of life, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness (See: Ro.
6:1-23; Eph. 4:17-24). For, this is why Jesus gave his life up for us on the
cross. He did not die merely to give us the hope of heaven when we die or to
deliver us out of the pit of hell. His purpose in saving us from our sins was
that we would no longer be slaves to sin, so that we could now become
bond-slaves of his righteousness.
Press On
(vv. 12-16)
Not that I have already obtained it or have already
become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I
was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having
laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and
reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize
of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are
perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude,
God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same
standard to which we have attained.
When we believe in Jesus
Christ as Lord and Savior of our lives we do not become instantly perfect so
that we never sin again (See: 1 Jn. 2:1-2). Yet, lack of perfection should
never be used as an excuse for continued and willful sin against God, for if we
walk according to our sinful flesh, we will not have the hope of eternal life,
but we will die in our sins. But, if by the Spirit we are putting to death the
deeds of the flesh, we will live with Christ for eternity (Ro. 8:1-14).
Our salvation is not a
one-time experience where we live however we want, and then one day we go to
heaven when we die. We are saved (past), we are being saved (present), and we
will be saved (future) when Jesus Christ returns to take us to be with him
forever. We are being sanctified and made holy. We are being conformed into the
likeness of Christ. Daily we die to sin and self and we follow (obey) Jesus
Christ with our lives. By the Spirit we are putting to death the deeds of the
flesh. And, we walk, not according to our sinful flesh, but we walk (conduct our
lives) according to the Spirit. It is a process, yet if we keep practicing sin,
we are not part of that process, for we don’t have the hope of eternal life
with God (Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:3-6).
How we Walk (vv.
17-21)
Brethren, join in following my example, and observe
those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. For many walk, of whom
I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the
cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and
whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. For our
citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the
Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity
with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to
subject all things to Himself.
It is a sad reality here in
America that we don’t have many preachers of the Word we can emulate today. So
many professing Christians, or those who are in positions of spiritual
authority within the church, have fallen prey to deceiving spirits and are
themselves teaching what is false, i.e. a diluted gospel and a false grace
which gives free license to continued sin against God. So many of the “greats”
of the faith here in America have died off, and there has been such a rise in
the number of “dogs” now serving in positions as pastors (shepherds) of church
congregations. So, we must be careful that we don’t follow the wrong examples,
thinking we are doing what is right.
Those we want to follow are
those who are walking (living) according to the teachings of Christ and of his
NT apostles. I am certainly not saying that they must be absolutely perfect,
but that their lifestyles should be evidence of a walk of holiness and righteousness,
i.e. that they should be above reproach. They should not be those who are
caught up in the world or who are, themselves, captives (addicted) to sinful
practices. And, they should not be those who are teaching people they don’t
have to repent of their sins or that they don’t have to obey God, and that God
is pleased with them no matter what they do.
Yet, more importantly than
finding human beings we can follow, and who will most likely let us down at
some time or another, is that we need to be those who emulate Christ, who
desire to be like him, to walk in his ways.
Oh, to Be Like Thee, Blessed Redeemer
Thomas O. Chisholm / W. J. Kirkpatrick
Oh, to be like Thee! blessèd Redeemer,
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s
treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.
Oh, to be like Thee! full of
compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the
fainting,
Seeking the wandering sinner to find.
O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,
Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
Willing to suffer others to save.
O to be like Thee! while I am pleading,
Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy
love;
Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
Fit me for life and Heaven above.
Oh, to be like Thee! Oh, to be like
Thee,
Blessèd Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy
fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.
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