Philippians 3 : Beware

Philippians 3 <Beware>

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.

◇ Paul warns against the dogs, evil workers, and mutilators of the flesh (2). Who are these people that Paul strongly opposes and cautions against? Based on the passage from verse 3 to 11, they seem to be Judaizing Christians who place great importance on circumcision.

These are the ones who, while professing Jesus as the Christ, insist that one must be circumcised to be righteous, clinging to the law.

Paul calls these people dogs, evil workers, and foolish, wicked self-mutilators. He considers the things they cherish and believe to be the way of righteousness as rubbish, as dung.

It is not because Paul does not possess those things. In fact, Paul has more of those things than any of the Judaizers (4-6). Yet, he counts them as loss. He regards them as dung. Why? Because he now knows that his righteousness comes not from his lineage, circumcision, or the law, but through faith in Jesus Christ (9).

The Jews believed they were made righteous by Abraham's circumcision and Moses' law. But being righteous through external things is not the case. The external things are merely symbols. They are signs that reveal the heart and are testimonies of God's promises.

Circumcision without the circumcision of the heart is meaningless (Deut 10:16; 30:6; Jer 4:4; 9:26; Ezek 44:7-9). Performing the acts of the law without the heart being engaged is mere hypocrisy.

This should make us examine our own spiritual lives today. While we may confess Jesus as the Christ, be baptized, attend church services weekly, partake in communion, and read the Bible and pray daily, we must ask ourselves if we are merely self-righteous, with our hearts still far from Christ.

Paul says that we who serve in the Spirit of God, boast in Christ Jesus, and do not put confidence in the flesh, are the true circumcision.

♧ Good and righteous God, make us not merely superficial Christians, but those who love Christ wholeheartedly and exude the fragrance of Christ. Holy Spirit, strengthen and embolden us. Amen.