MONDAY January 10, 2022

Beware of Evil Workers

Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit....
Philippians 3:2-3

Paul began to give the reasons for writing to the Philippians––it was to exhort and to warn them. Judaizers were attempting to draw believers away from their faith in Jesus Christ. They wanted Christian men to become just like them––circumcised. It was important to recognize the characteristics of these evil men.

Judaizers had become such a burden and a problem to the Philippian church, so Paul strongly warned them by using the word beware three times. Judaizers remained bound to the Law and would not accept the doctrine of the grace of God. As old wineskins, they were inflexible.

The words Paul used to describe these Judaizers caused the Philippians to view them as harmful enemies. He called the Judaizers dogs and evil workers. I find the word dog very interesting, because the word dog was used in the Gospels to describe how the Jews treated the Gentiles. The Gentiles were viewed like dogs. The Jews had two meanings for the use of the word dogs. It either referred to a household puppy that was well-trained in the home, or a wild, uncontrollable, savage dog. Interestingly, Paul used the wild, savage dogs to describe Judaizers in the church.

Paul also used the word mutilation which referred to the insistence of the Judaizers wanting believers to be circumcised in order to receive Jesus Christ as their Savior. Jesus did not teach that! Paul developed the doctrine of regeneration by the Holy Spirit through repentance. The simplicity of the Gospel was accepting Jesus by faith for salvation.

Christian believers can have a brand new relationship with God through Christ without the requirement of outward circumcision. Understanding the Gospel message is key to understanding the simplicity of salvation.

The law was for the condemnation of sinners; the gospel was for the saving of sinners and the ministration of forgiveness.
~C. J. Ellicott~

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