Philippians 3:1-3 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.
‘Rejoice in the Lord’ – Let your happiness be in the Lord (4:4; 1Thess. 5:16; 1Pet. 1:8) for the joy of the LORD is our strength (Neh. 8:10). When we live in thanksgiving and joy because of who the Lord is and what He has done for us, all complaining will cease. Through complaining we lose what we received, the enemy knows this and focus all his attacks on stealing our joy. We have a choice between allowing this or resisting him (Jas. 4:7; 1Pet. 5:7-8; 1Jn. 5:18).
‘To write the same things to you.’ – he wrote the same doctrines that he had preached and written to others.
‘Dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.’ Jews are called three things here: Dogs – the very things they called others (Mat. 15:26-27); evil workers, Judaizing teachers; the concision, mutilators [Greek: katatome], but the verb katatemno occurs in the Septuagint of heathen mutilations (Lev. 21:5; 1Kin. 18:28). Paul regards circumcision as no better than heathen practices. False teachers lie in wait to catch ignorant souls by their fallacies there are ten marks of false teachers: They cause divisions among Christians. They cause offences against truth (Rom. 16:18). They do not serve God (Rom. 16:17-18). They serve their own bellies (3:19; Rom. 16:18;). They use slick tongues to deceive (Rom. 16:18). They are enemies of the cross (3:18). They walk contrary to the gospel (3:17). They glory in their shame (3:19). They mind earthly things (3:19). They bring in heresies (2Pet. 2:1).
The founders of false religions and human philosophies pamper the flesh and give their victims elated feelings of importance to make an appeal to them for their own benefit and popularity, making followers for themselves instead of for Christ.
‘For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.’ Four points about Christians here: The true circumcision – that of the heart (Rom. 2:29). Worshipers in spirit (John 4:24). Rejoice in Christ (3:1; 4:4; 1Pet. 1:1-25). Have no confidence in the flesh (3:3-4; 2Cor. 5:16).
Living the Word 