Prayer: Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2nd Timothy 2:15, NKJV). Lord, as Your children, we are always learning and growing. Protect us from those who would bend and twist Your words and Your thoughts for deception, profit, or just out of ignorance. Keep us from those who would take Your word out of context to change or disrupt the meaning. Direct us through the power of Your Spirit to correctly interpret the words of Your truth, the Bible, so that we might know Your expectations for our lives. Teach us the Truth that we might experience the full joy of Your Word. Amen.
Main Scripture: Read Philippians 3:2-3
Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh (Philippians 3:2-3).
Associated Scriptures:
And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:12-14).
For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God (Romans 2:28-29, NKJV).
(Jesus said) "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them” (Matthew 7:15-16).
Correlative Quotes:
If we want to know which heresies abound today, we should examine the teachings and beliefs that cause division in the church.[1] – Amos Yong
Not simply "evildoers" are meant, but men who "worked," indeed, seemingly for the Gospel, but worked for evil: "serving not our Lord, but their own belly" (Philippians 3:19, compare Romans 16:18). Translate, "The evil workmen,"[2] – Jamieson, Fausset, Brown
…that is, bad teachers (compare 2Ti 2:15).The apostle's description is fitting. Are dogs unclean and filthy? So are the false teachers.[3] – John MacArthur
Study:
The day has come when we must know who are for the Lord and for His truth, and who are on the side of error. The time is now come when some men, once distinguished among us for the attractiveness of their preaching, must be ranked among those who are opponents of the truth.[4] – Charles Spurgeon
False doctrines taught by deceptive teachers sporting the inaccurate interpretation of God’s word have always been with us (Matthew 24:4-5). The entire nation of Israel was under the rule of the false teachings of the religious leaders of Christ’s day. Misleading information about Christ’s actions began shortly after his ascension. Although the Philippian church had not experienced false teachers as had other churches in Europe and Asia, it was only a matter of time until it became a reality for them.
“Beware” is a staunch warning. It is used three times in this verse for effect. The Philippians are warned to keep a watchful eye always. Three is the number of man. So, it is not inconsequential that Paul uses this warning with its hyperbole to identify the true identity of the perpetrators.
“Dogs” were considered to be unclean animals by the Jews. The use of the word “dogs” is Paul’s way of describing the innate evil of those who try to deceive new or young converts. Paul outlines three characteristics that identify heretics; they are devious in their actions, are street smart, and look for unexpected prey
Paul is using this analogy of dogs to describe the false teachers (heretics or apostates) who were out to destroy Christianity. They boasted in their knowledge of God. They were perverted and dedicated to their own gain (2 Peter 2:3). They taught atonement through works rather than the mercy and grace of God through the shed blood of Christ.
2 Peter 2:1 expands on this thought when it says: “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them, bringing swift destruction on themselves.”
“Evil Workers” were deceitful teachers of the word. Their interest was to “fill their own belly” according to Romans 16:18. They were unwilling or unable to “rightly divide the word of truth” (2Timothy 2:15). Their goal was self-aggrandizement, self-promotion, and personal gain.
Philippians 1:16 says that they “preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely.” The word “mutilation” refers to physical circumcision. Physical circumcision in the Jewish faith is a fulfillment of the Circumcision Covenant made with God for Israel. Today as in the past, it is part of the ritual of becoming a Jew.[5] Physical circumcision today has no real spiritual value. Spiritual circumcision simply means that when we are redeemed, the old nature is severed, and we become new.
Salvation by grace is through the death of Christ, not through a physical act of our own or others. Teaching that one must follow the law of God without concern for a completely spiritual relationship with Him is apostasy. The Jew trusted in a rite rather than righteousness.
In Vs 3, Paul says that we are the “true” circumcision. We worship God in Spirit. We rejoice in the completed work of Christ upon the cross. We have confidence in the resurrection, and we have no confidence in any action of the flesh. We have joy in our understanding of God’s Truth.
Summary Statement:
False teachers bend God’s word to offer us security outside of God. They bend God’s word to take advantage of some depraved personal need. They also use God’s word for their own advantage, financial or otherwise. These deceivers are wolves in sheep’s clothing. Spiritual frauds who teach heresy want only to glorify themselves and not God and His Word.
Ignore them and use those who can be trusted to help you discern the truth in God’s word. Use God’s word “rightly divided” to direct your life and its decisions.
Lessons within the Lesson:
How do we recognize heretics?
How should we respond to their teaching?
Give an example of someone who is guilty of heresy and how you determined it.
What is the best guard against heresy, and how do we implement it in or lives?
[1] Amos Yong, Which False Teaching are Christians Most likely to Believe in? Fair Use 2020 – Section 107, copywrite law, Christianity Today, April 15, 2012.
[2] Robert Jamieson, D. D., A. R. Fausset, David Brown, Public Domain, Ibid., P. 3804.
[3] John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Fair Use 2020 – Section 107, copywrite law, Ibid.
[4] Charles Spurgeon, The Church of God and the Truth of God, Public Domain, spurgeongems.org/sermon/chs3093.pdf, P. 1.
[5] Judaism 101, Fair Use 2020 – Section 107, copywrite law, jewfaq.org/birth.htm.
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