It Starts Small

3 Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. ² Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. ³ For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— ⁴ though I myself have reasons for such confidence.

If someone else thinks they have reasons to put 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; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; ⁶ as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.

Philippians 3:1-6

 Rejoice in the Lord

Paul fervently calls on the Philippians to rejoice, emphasizing this vital message once more. He openly acknowledges that he has previously urged them. He has addressed various issues. However, he understands the imperative to remind them again. It is a profound act of protection. The Bible reiterates these essential truths time and again because God intimately understands our tendency to forget. Remarkably, the word “remember” appears in the Bible a staggering 227 times! We find much in Scripture that serves as a powerful reminder. It urges us to hold fast to these life-changing truths.

to write the same things to you again

Paul passionately emphasizes the importance of repetition in his instructions to the churches, recognizing that reminders and reviews are vital. Just like in language learning, if you dedicate your days to incessantly memorizing new lists, you risk gaining nothing meaningful. You must revisit previous vocabulary. The reality is stark: without that crucial review, you will hardly learn anything at all! However, if you focus 60-80% of your time on reviewing, the transformation is remarkable. You retain an incredible amount more. It’s all too easy for learners to feel pressured to rush into new knowledge. That is precisely why Paul fervently urged them to embrace the repetition of foundational truths.

This is why I like to journal while studying the Word of God. When I come back to scripture I like to see what I have previously gleaned and see what more the Lord has to reveal.

Watch out for those dogs

These verses passionately address the turmoil caused by the Judaizers in the early church. These legalistic Jews, who professed belief in the gospel, infuriatingly insisted on tacking their own works and traditions onto it. Their audacious doctrine claimed that mere faith in Christ was not enough. Instead, they decreed that one must adhere to the law. Circumcision was a particularly contentious point. Otherwise, individuals faced the dire consequence of not being saved.

Paul passionately denounces this group, labeling them as dogs—feral creatures that once prowled the streets, wreaking chaos in the cityscape. He boldly calls them evil workers, for their hands toil relentlessly in the service of Satan. And he doesn’t hold back when he refers to them as the false circumcision. He highlights their shallow focus on mere physical rituals. Meanwhile, they utterly neglect the transformation of the heart, which is the true essence of faith. With fervor, Paul consistently warns the church. He urges them to remain vigilant against these misguided, works-oriented factions. These factions threaten to lead them astray.

There are many problems with a works-oriented approach. Here are a few:

• The most significant issue is that success is utterly unattainable! They were training individuals to adhere to the law, yet no one can possibly uphold the entirety of it. This profound truth beats relentlessly within the heart of the Old Testament. It stands as essential preparation for souls yearning for Christ’s glorious arrival. Anyone brave enough to follow the exhaustive decrees of the Old Testament is destined to fail. They will be crushed beneath the staggering weight of impossibility. In the end, they will succumb under a burden that no one, except Christ Himself, can ever hope to bear.
• It ignites pride like a wildfire. Many Jews brimmed with arrogance. They disdainfully looked down upon the uncircumcised. They placed their faith solely in their deeds. Foolishly, they were convinced that their actions alone could secure their salvation.
• It snatches glory from God and hands it over to mere mortals. This is not a coincidence. Right after this, Paul thunderously declares that true believers find their glory exclusively in Christ Jesus. Those clinging to their own works feel no genuine need for Him. Even if adding works to the equation appears trivial, it seems beneficial to the gospel. However, it quickly shifts the spotlight to humanity. It obliterates the critical need for Christ.

True circumcision ignites the heart with an unwavering devotion to God. It transforms it into a sanctuary for sincere faith in Christ. The profound truth of verse 3 illuminates the essence of real circumcision. It represents a vibrant worship of God. This divine encounter transcends the empty pursuits of man-centered works. In this glorious reality, we must boldly declare that salvation flows solely from Christ. It is 100% Him and 0% us, a beautiful surrender that demands no compromise—a passionate affirmation of His unmerited grace!

It is a powerful truth that the flesh avails nothing; our own achievements and abilities offer no ground for confidence. We boldly place our trust in Christ, not in our frail selves. Many Jews believed they were given a free pass into God’s family simply for being “good,” for being circumcised. Yet, Paul passionately dismantles that notion in these verses. The true members of God’s family do not rely on physical circumcision. They are those who fervently worship Him. They wholeheartedly trust in Jesus. They renounce any confidence in their own flesh.

This last phrase, “no confidence in the flesh,” resonates deeply as a major theme of today’s passage. Nothing we do can wash away our sins; our own achievements cannot bridge the gap to God. It simply doesn’t matter how many people we reach out to, how many Scriptures we commit to memory, or how many times we’ve poured over the Bible. It doesn’t matter how many acts of kindness we’ve performed or how many promotions we’ve celebrated. It also doesn’t matter how many exams we’ve conquered or how many languages we’ve mastered. It doesn’t matter how many homes and cars we’ve acquired or how many friendships we’ve cultivated. It doesn’t matter how many lives we’ve touched through healing. It doesn’t matter how much of the Scripture we’ve internalized. It doesn’t matter how fervently we’ve prayed. It doesn’t matter how faithfully we’ve attended church. We must place no trust in these deeds or anything else we might offer to earn our way to God.

Paul passionately cites his own life as a powerful example (4-6). Remember, he embodies the ultimate Jew. The Judaizers boldly proclaimed that adherence to the law and circumcision were essential alongside faith in Christ. Yet, Paul uses his own journey to illuminate the truth—that trusting in those things is utterly insufficient. His intention is not to flaunt his background. How can we be so certain? Because he unequivocally states that these earthly accolades are worthless. He doesn’t extol their virtues; instead, he fiercely declares them to be entirely pointless.

Paul fervently argues that, according to the Judaizers’ own criteria, he stood as the quintessential Jew. He was an epitome of what it meant to embody Jewish faith. If anyone could have salvaged themselves through sheer perfection in their adherence to tradition, it was undoubtedly Paul. Yet, paradoxically, all the rituals and observances deemed essential by devout Jews led him down a path away from God. They led him not toward Him! This tragic struggle left souls crushed beneath the heavy burden of self-reliance. It was a rigid, rule-based religion. This system ultimately proved futile. It was incapable of delivering true salvation.

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Cross-References

• Galatians 2:3
• Acts 15:1
• Romans 2:25-29
• Romans 7:5
• Ephesians 2:1
• Genesis 17:12

Discussion Questions

• What same things is he referring to in verse 1?
• Why do biblical writers often repeat things many times?
• Who do the “dogs” refer to? Why does Paul call them dogs?
• What is the false circumcision?
• Why was this so dangerous?
• What, then, is the true circumcision?
• What is the key difference between the two groups?
• What do people of the true circumcision focus on?
• What does “flesh” refer to?
• Why can we put no confidence in the flesh?
• Is Paul boasting in verses 4-6?
• What is his point?
• If Paul could not rely on his earthly achievements, what does this say about us?
• What attitude should we have since we know we cannot merit God’s favor?

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