BEWARE...BEWARE...BEWARE

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.

It seems that the apostle Paul is telling the Christians at Philippi that he has preached these same, or similar lessons, to them publicly in person, but, even though it takes extra effort, he his teaching to writing for their benefit. For Paul to do so was not grievous, and would give them a permanent record of his teachings. Such written record would be safe. It would be free from possible misrepresentation and corruption by man's interpreting wisdom. It could be conveniently kept, referred to often, and used to pattern their Christian lives. Thanks be to God for the preservation of His complete gospel message, that reveals the hope of salvation to the world - the message that was penned by Paul and all other writers inspired by the Holy Spirit. And like the church at Philippi, Christians today, receive this same teaching, andrejoice in the Lord.

The lesson text was part of Paul's message to the church of Christ in Philippi; a lesson he had probably taught them in public on a previous occasion, and now has preserved for them in written form. 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 (Vss. 2-3).Let's study the parts of this scripture.

Beware of dogs. Here, the term dogswas far from complementary, considering the biblical era in which it was written. It is used in a derisive form of hatred and contempt. It is a term often used then to refer to the "enemy." It is used in this sense by David (See Psalms 22:16 & 68:23). To the Jews, those of pagan nations were comparable to dogs. Today, Christians, as wells as Jews, are often referred to as dogs by revengeful Muslim sects. In most other references found in the bible, dogs were scavengers that roamed the streets of cities and towns feeding on scraps from tables of men, on garbage, and even on human corpses, the most notable of which was probably Jezebel (See 1 Kings 21 & 2 Kings 9). In most instances, dogs were considered to be those that aggressively oppose Christianity, and are numbered with sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie (Rev. 22:15).

Beware of evil workers. Evil workers,in this instance,referto false prophets or teachers. It would include all that pervert the word of God. Those that refuse to accept God's word as given, but, rather, profess a doctrine that omits, adds to, compromises, or completely replaces God's will, with that of their own. Such self-centered, worldly people are included in the classification of evil workers. They were present at the time Paul sent this warning to the church at Philippi, they are a present danger to the church today, and we are assured that they will continue to subvert the efforts of the church of Christ in future years.

Beware of the concision. The term concision refers to any cutting of the flesh as an act of worship. By God's authority, circumcision was required by the nation of Israel. It was a sign of God's covenant relationship with the Jewish nation (Rom. 4:11), it was instituted by God (Gen. 17:10-14), and it was punishable under Jewish Law, if neglected (Exodus 4:24). Without the authority of God, it was often practiced by heathen nations during pagan religious rites, such as described in 1 Kings 18:28. History tells us that its practice was widespread throughout the world, and even present today in many pagan societies.

As used in the lesson text, these three things, the church at Philippi, was to "beware of." They all refer to the aggressive Judaizing teachers, that had been converted to Christianity, but were determined to continue the practice of circumcision, and impose this rite on all members of the New Testament church. Old Testament law was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Eternal salvation does not depend on the outward, fleshly expression of circumcision. Under New Testament law, ...circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God (Rom. 2:29b).Today, Christians are to worship God in the spirit. Our confidence in Jesus Christ as our Savior comes from within. Circumcision is of the heart, not of the flesh. Reader, beware.

Danger lies in all false teachers that profess any doctrine other than that found in God's word. Satan applauds their covetous efforts. Never give audience to the devil or his disciples. Only rejoice in the Lord.