“Finally, my brethren, rejoice
in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but
for you it is safe. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the
concision. For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and
rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh”
(Philippians 3:1-3).
Introduction
We understand that Paul had written the
Philippians a previous letter dealing with similar themes, hence the reference
to repetition in :1. It is also possible that he is simply encouraging them to
continue rejoicing, for this letter mentions this need several times.
The
rejoicers
This teaching about the need to rejoice is all the
more pertinent since Paul is suffering in prison himself, so we are left with
the understanding that no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in, we can
still praise and worship the Lord. It was in the Philippian’s own city jail
that both Paul and Silas “sang praises unto God” at midnight and
almost brought the house down. This in turn led to the salvation of the jailor
and his household (Acts 16:23-32).
Before we look at the false teachers mentioned in
this passage, it does appear that Paul includes the theme of rejoicing to
indicate the fact that those who truly worship God are unlikely to be led astray
by falsehood or destroyed by difficult circumstances. “True worshippers
shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23). As we are
confronted with the awful realities of everyday life, we can continue to rejoice
in Christ rather than allow them to diminish our faith in Him. “Although
the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour
of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be
cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will
rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation” (Habakkuk
3:17-18) … “For the joy of the LORD is your strength” (Nehemiah
8:10). Life will never be free from trauma, tribulation or testing, but that
does not mean we cannot walk in victory and praise. It is impossible to press on
without worship and the knowledge that we are secure in Christ. “Who shall
separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or
persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For
thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the
slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that
loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor
principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height,
nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of
God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:35-39) … “Rejoice
evermore” (1 Thessalonians 5:16) … “Beloved, think it not strange
concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing
happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's
sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with
exceeding joy” (1 Peter 4:12-13). The prophet Isaiah informs us that no
matter our earthly lot we can still glorify God. “The meek also shall
increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy
One of Israel” (Isaiah 29:19).
The
rejecters
Paul now turns his attention to false teachers
once again with the use of the word “beware” or ‘have your eye upon’.
This contrasts with “mark” (Philippians 3:17) in relation to
following true men and women of God. Notice that he has nothing nice to say
about those who seek to undermine the gospel of Christ, but instead uses some
terms that modern-day compromisers would find too harsh. Paul lists three types
of people that true believers need to avoid, but they can be simply referred to
any kind false teacher. We have to be on our guard for such people are never far
from gaining a foothold in the church. False teachers are used by Satan to
contaminate the purity of our faith.
1. Dogs. To call someone a dog was, and still is,
a term to express utter contempt. We see then that Paul did not expect believers
to entertain false teachers let alone unite with them. Isaiah viewed such
teachers as “dumb dogs” (Isaiah 56:10-11). The Lord Jesus used a
similar turn of phrase regarding those He considered to be opposed to the truth.
He called them “wolves” (Matthew 7:15). The apostle Peter labels them
as dogs and pigs (2 Peter 2:19-22) who are on the payroll of the “roaring
lion” who “walketh walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1
Peter 5:8). All this proves that we are not here to debate theology with those
who stand against the Scriptures but instead win souls by preaching the word of
truth. These “dogs” are an abomination to God and will not enter Heaven
unless they repent (Revelation 21:18).
2. Evil workers. This is probably means the same
as “deceitful workers” found in 2 Corinthians 11:13. These
descriptions of false teachers reveal that there is absolutely nothing good or
commendable about them. In part Paul is referring to those who claim to preach
the truth yet conveniently dismiss the doctrine of holiness and sanctification.
Usually their lives are proof enough that they do not understand or have little
regard for the righteousness of God. “Evil workers” also include those who
teach a gospel of works rather than grace. We should not be surprised that there
are “evil workers” in some of our pulpits today. “And no marvel; for
Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great
thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness;
whose end shall be according to their works” (2 Corinthians 11:14-15).
These people fail at a very important and vital point, for failure to study
Scripture for what it says rather than approaching it with preconceived ideas
always produces heretical doctrines. “Study to shew thyself approved unto
God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of
truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
3. The concision. This refers to Judaisers
(legalists) who believer that circumcision is necessary for salvation. The word
literally means ‘mutilators’.
“Concision” (Gk. ‘katatome’) is used in
the Septuagint Version of Leviticus 21:5 and 1 Kings 18:28 uses the same word
for the heathen practice of cutting the flesh to placate a false god. Paul is
clearly writing about those who think and teach that Gentiles must practice
various forms of the Jewish religion to be a true follower of Christ. They often
keep the ‘holy days’ of Judaism, something we are warned not to do. “Ye
observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have
bestowed upon you labour in vain” (Galatians 4:10-11). These people
condemn themselves. “For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and
going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves
unto the righteousness of God” (Romans 10:3). Neither do they understand
what they think they do. “Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding
neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm” (1 Timothy 1:7). The
“concision” were the ‘Jewish Roots’ advocates of Paul’s day.
The
righteous
Believers in Christ Jesus, Gentile or Jew, are the
true circumcision, that is, they have been cut off from the flesh rather than
flesh cut off them. It obvious that Paul is speaking of spiritual circumcision. “For
he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is
outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision
is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not
of men, but of God” (Romans 2:28-29) … “In whom also ye are
circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of
the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ … Where there is neither
Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor
free: but Christ is all, and in all” (Colossians 2:11, 3:11).
This is the reason our worship is not according to
ritualistic laws and ceremonies but totally spiritual. “God is a Spirit:
and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John
4:24) … “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your
body, and in your spirit, which are God's” (1 Corinthians 6:20). Let us
not forget that Abraham’s faith was sufficient to make him righteous centuries
before the Law of Moses was implemented (Romans 4:9-10). No wonder then that we
are called the children of Abraham rather than of Moses! True Christians do not
put faith in religious practices, no matter how sanctified they appear to the
flesh. Our confidence is in the finished work of Christ rather than unreachable
Laws of Moses. “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by
Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). Our worship is inspired by the Holy Spirit
rather than ritualism or ceremony, for the latter are founded upon legalism.
Biblical righteousness is of the heart and in the spirit and never according to
rules and regulations. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies
of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto
God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but
be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that
good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:1-2).
Conclusion
It is rather unfortunate that some ‘Hebrew
Roots’ practitioners think of other Christians as second-class or void of
spiritual understanding. They divide churches since their beliefs are opposite
to what the Scriptures teach. They think of themselves, just as the Pharisees
did, as superior and elevate themselves with their own brand of righteousness.
We can rejoice in the fact that Jesus really and fully set us free. “Ye
shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free … If the Son therefore
shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:32, 36). We are a
new creation in Christ. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new
creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2
Corinthians 5:17) … “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth
any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature” (Galatians 6:15).
