Look out for the dogs
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Phil 3:2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God[b] and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law,[c]blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.8 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 9 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. 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
JUSTIFICATION BY GRACE tHROUGH FAITH
Today’s text answers the most important question in the world.
How shall I be saved? “knowing Christ” v7 “found in him” v9 “righteous through Christ” v9 that I may know him v10 - that I may attain the resurrection v11
There is a resurrection - and all will be raised - but some will be raised to death and others to life.
Who is who? How do we know? And how are we saved?
v9 - 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.
notice - two righteousnesses - my own / from God
see this through scripture - “many will say in that day Lord Lord... depart from me”
separate the sheep from the goats - wheat from tares
there are those who are confident in their own righteousness… that are in for a big surprise.
maybe this will help - on the last day when Jesus judges all (because there will be a final judgement for all) What will you present to him as the basis for being found NOT GUILTY?
if your answer is your own record, your own doing, you’ll surely be condemned for all eternity.
The Bible makes it clear that our righteousness is as filthy rags, menstrual rags, unclean in other words.
WHAT ABOUT THIS - maybe you’re perpetually trying to prove yourself by your own doings. a self-righteouessness program of sorts. Striving. doing - so that you can be PROVEN WORTHY
maybe you think your religious rituals will prove you?
maybe how nice you are to people
maybe how tidy your house is, or how well behaved your kids are
maybe your success in business or at work?
maybe it’s how well you obey God and his laws?
no. it’s all corrupt. unworthy. unholy. filthy rags.
unacceptable to God apart from Jesus and his work.
SO tHEN WE NO LONGER OBEY THE LAW??
That’s not what we’re saying - but as a means of righteousness? If that’s you, you’re still hopelessly lost.
but to delight in it as a guide for your life, given to you by a loving Father.. now we’re talking.
Then where do we get TRUE righteousness?
v9 makes it clear - Faith - a righteoussness that comes through faith in Christ
Jesus perfectlly kept all the law - to put it another way - he fulfilled all righteousness
There is a holy righteousness - and it is found in Christ - and we can receive it. No longer afraid of condemnation. We can be found in him. How? Faith. in. Christ.
what does that mean? Not just that you believe he exists - but that you TRUST IN HIM. He is who he said he is.. and he can do what he said he can do.
AND THIS MEANS
anyone can be saved. including your worst enemies.
Jonah and Ninnevah.
Child molesters - sodomites - slave masters - even the IRS.
this is why the Gospel is hated by some.
THIS MEANS all who are saved are saved on the same basis. GRACE. so no reason to boast.
THIS MEANS we should preach to any and all - because who knows what the Lord will do - no one is too far gone.
THIS MEANS salvation is never based on something WE do. Not a prayer we pray, not an experience we have. It happens apart from us - heaven itself - where God gives us Christ’s righteousness. NOT GUILTY.
THIS MEANS that those in RC churches that are saved are saved APART from what RC doctrine teaches. Paul says it exclusively “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”
maybe they heard the true Gospel proclaimed somewhere else… it took root… and now. GRACE
THIS MEANS that if mother theresa believed what she wrote… courage no doubt - amazing service - at one point she stuck her finger into bill clintons chest and told him to stop murdering babies. Man...
But she isn’t saved by her works, none of us are.
I mean - you think your good deeds will save you? Go stack up against her. And even hers weren’t even considered better than “filthy rags”
THIS MEANS that being a good dad, taking your family responsibilities seriously, loving Jesus, being a nice guy, does NOT mean you are saved.
If you attend CC this is not just a big thing to get. This is THE thing to get. Before you can grow at all, before you can take baby steps or toddle around… this is where it starts.
so think, pray, study, ask for help - because here is the hook that everything else hangs on.
Why? Why should we take this time to dig in?
Becausse Paul says this truth is constantly under attack...
DOGS, EVIL DOERS, MUTILATORS
2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God[b] and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh
Who are these people? Judaizers. Trying to blend law keeping with fiath. taught that righteousness is earned by keeping the OT laws.
BUT DON”T WE KEEP THE TEN COMM? Of course. But not as a means to be saved.
But they didn’t stop there ieither. They added new laws. boasted in them. judged by them. a righteousness not found in christ but in themselves.
SO WHAT DOES PAUL DO?
DOGS! - starts off with some name calling. lol.
dirty unclean vomit-eaters.
EVIL DOERS - when you start making up extra rules you stop keeping up with the actual rules and as a result? you’re an evil doer.
this is what Jesus was correcting the pharisees about a lot when he walked the earth.
They kept their made up rules really well but they also fell in with prostitutes, visited pagan temples, abandoned their elderly parents.
they were real hypocrites - and had secret lives - just like all hypocrits do. And many in the church today, who make up extra rules for their own righteousness, also live th exact same way. secret lives.
MUTILATORS - this one we gotta camp out with for a second.
WHEN GOD Promised Abraham a pile of blessings and Abraham BELIEVED - God gave him a sign of this covenant of faith.
it was circumcision. Abe’s entire household was circumcised - it was a symbol that they were all in covenant wiht God.
if they would be faithful, God would bless them.
Also promised was that this blessing would one day extend to the Gentiles too - Cornelius was the first one - Peter came to him, preached the Gospel, The Holy Spirit fell, and then they were all circumcised - wait no that’s not what happened - no. they were all baptized.
Why the transition? Acts 15:1 Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: “Unless you are circumcised,according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.”
2b So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.
5 Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.”
The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7 After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: (he unfolded the events of cornelius) and we know peter baptized them. Its not explicitly stated but somehow peter knew that that was the appropriate way to symbolize their entrance into the New Cov.
After peter, and paul and barnabus finished recounting all the signs that od had indeed chosen to graft in the gentiles (tongues, miracles, healings, etc.) james pointed out that the old testament had always foretold of this long awaited promise.
James concluded this way, “ acts 15:19 “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. “
So after that point Gentiles weren’t circumcised but we’re baptized
Jesus even made it more explicit - in the Great commision he said Baptize the nations (gentile nations) not circumcize them.
Judaizers wouldn’t listen - continued to teach this salvation by works methodology.
This is why Paul called them mutilators. All they were doing was mutilating people. It was no longer a sign of the covenant, instead it was a sign of their rebellion.
3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God[b] and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—
in other words - those who truly follow God put no confident in their flesh, or the cutting of it, but only faith in Christ.
Then Paul goes after teh Dogs directly.
4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.
blood line, geneology, circumcision, perfectly kept laws, and zealous beyond compare…
Do you see what he’s doing?
find a moden day legalist and you know what? just about always their life and family is falling apart.
they boast in the law-keeping, rule following - “oh, how’s the family?” “second wife?” “unwed pregnancies?” “rebellious chaotic kids?”
Pauls point - the guy who doesn’t boast in the flesh is often better off than those who do… at least in the flesh.
but paul wraps that up - to direct back to his readers.
7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 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 here is what we are all called to do.
take our good works and count them as loss, and run to Christ.