Philippians 3:2-4 ESV
“Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh — though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also.”
A “dog” is often a symbol of a false teacher, and
figuratively speaking is a spiritual predator who feeds off others. So, a “dog”
is anyone who uses manipulation, trickery, lies, fear tactics, and the twisting
of Scripture in order to pressure or to persuade others to follow a particular
belief system that is contrary to what Jesus and his New Testament apostles
taught.
In the case of what is being discussed in this letter to the
Philippian church, Paul was addressing the subject of the Judaizers who were
adding circumcision and some other Old Covenant ceremonial and liturgical laws and
other Jewish traditions on to the believer’s salvation in Christ by faith in
Christ Jesus as Lord (owner-master) and Savior.
So, Paul was stating that we who are in Christ Jesus by
faith in Jesus Christ are the circumcision, which is not of the flesh, but of
the Spirit, and which is the circumcision of the heart, not of the physical
flesh. It is a cutting away of a different kind of flesh, i.e., our sin, via us
dying with Christ to sin and us being resurrected with Christ to newness of
life in him (Rom 6:1-23).
Paul talked about this much in his letters to the various
churches. He said that, as followers of Jesus, that we should no longer live
like we did before we believed in Jesus. We should have been taught the truth
in Christ that we are to put off our old self and to be renewed in the spirit
of our minds, and that we are to put on the new self, created after the
likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness (Eph 4:17-24; Lu 9:23-26;
Tit 2:11-14).
This is not of the flesh, though, but is of the Spirit, but
we must cooperate with the working of the Spirit in our lives in the putting
off of our old sinful flesh and in the putting on of Christ and his
righteousness and holiness. For, the righteous requirement of the law is
fulfilled in us who WALK (conduct our lives) according to the Spirit and not
according to the flesh (Rom 8:1-17).
While it is true that we are not saved by our only fleshly
good works, we are saved to doing the good works of God which he prepared in advance
that we should walk in them. So, our salvation is not absent of works, just
they are the works of God he has for us to do (Eph 2:8-10; Tit 2:14; Php
2:12-13).
The “dogs” that are of primary concern in the church today
are not so much the legalists who are adding fleshly works on to their
salvation. What is of primary concern in the church today is those who are
teaching liberty to keep on living in sin without conscience, without guilt,
and with no requirement for repentance, obedience, or submission to Christ as
Lord.
Philippians 3:7-11 ESV
“But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.”
When we believe in Jesus Christ with childlike faith, which
comes from God, and which originates with Jesus Christ, and is perfected in
him, we die with Christ to sin so that we might live with Christ to his
righteousness and holiness. Our old self is crucified with Christ in death to
sin so that we can now walk in victory over sin, living holy lives pleasing to
God (Rom 6:1-23).
Jesus said that if anyone would come after him he must deny
self, take up his cross daily (daily die to sin and to self) and follow (obey)
him. He said if we hold on to our old lives (of living for sin and for self)
that we will lose them for eternity. But if we lose our lives (die with him
daily to sin) for his sake, then we have life eternal in him (Lu 9:23-26; cf. Rom
8:1-17).
Yes, we are not declared righteous in God’s sight through
our own works of our own flesh of our own choosing. In our own flesh we all
come up short of attaining God’s approval. Not one of us can ever be good
enough in our own merit or in our own strength and willpower. No amount of
religious rituals and church attendance or tithing will secure heaven for us.
Only via submission to Christ as Lord (owner-master) of our
lives, in the surrendering of our lives to him, in the forsaking of our sins to
following him in obedience to his ways, by the Spirit, will save us from our
sins and secure for us life eternal with God. For we must die with Christ to
sin if we are to live to Christ and to his righteousness. This is how we are
becoming like him in his death (Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-17; Eph 4:17-24; Lu
9:23-26).
For, it is not those who profess faith in Jesus Christ who
are declared righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who live righteously, by
God’s grace, and in his strength and power, who are righteous in the sight of
God. For, if we continue living in sin we will die in our sins. We will not
inherit eternal life with God. We must suffer with Christ in death to sin if we
are to live with Christ for eternity (Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; 1 Jn 3:4-10; 1 Jn
2:3-6).
So, if there are any “dogs” who are telling you that you can
believe in Jesus and have heaven secured as your eternal destiny but that you
don’t have to repent of your sins or follow the Lord in obedience, or that you
don’t have to submit to Christ as Lord, please do not believe them. Read the
Scriptures for yourself but read them in context one verse and one chapter at a
time, and you will see the truth if you are willing to see the truth and so be
saved.
For
Our Nation
An
Original Work / September 11, 2012
Bombs are bursting. Night is falling.
Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.
Trust Him with your life today.
Make Him your Lord and your Savior.
Turn from your sin. Follow Jesus.
He will forgive you of your sin;
Cleanse your heart, made new within.
Men betraying: Our trust fraying.
On our knees to God we’re praying,
Seeking God to give us answers
That are only found in Him.
God is sovereign over all things.
Nothing from His mind escaping.
He has all things under His command,
And will work all for good.
Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.
Men deceiving: we’re believing
In our Lord, and interceding
For our nation and its people
To obey their God today.
He is our hope for our future.
For our wounds He offers suture.
He is all we need for this life.
Trust Him with your life today.
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