The Nature of True Faith

Introduction

Last week we considered the nature of Christian Joy together from the 1st verse of Chapter 3 of Paul’s letter to the Philippians. I defined Joy as:

“the gladness of heart that comes from a confidence and trust in the Lord, produced by the Spirit of God, that transcends circumstance and comes from knowing God (through his word and our experience) and the assurance that God knows and loves you”.

After the service, Joshua Nolan came up to me and pointed out that I had only defined joy on the personal level and had left out the cop. My definition had excluded the corporate dimension of joy as we together grow in our knowledge of the Lord. I think this is a vital part of the definition of joy and one that must not be neglected. Perhaps a better definition of joy then is:

It is a gladness of heart that comes from our confidence and trust in the Lord, produced in us by the Spirit of God, that transcends time and circumstance and comes from knowing God (through his word and our experience) and the assurance that God knows and loves us.

This morning, our attention passes away from Paul’s exhortation to the Philippians to corporately “rejoice in the Lord” and onto his warning about false teachers. However, the topic of joy remains the bedrock upon which Paul’s warning is made and so it should not pass out of our minds entirely.

The despicable case of John Money and the Reimer Twins

Between 1967 and 1987, one of the worst social experiments that nobody knows about took place and it took place under the guise of science and academic research. It all started in 1965 when twin boys, named Brian and Bruce, were born to John and Janet Reimer. When the boys were six months old, a local family physician raised some concern about how the boys urinated and diagnosed them with Phimosis. Phimosis is a condition where the foreskin is too tight, which constricts the urethra, and makes urination painful. They were referred to a General Practitioner by the name of Dr. Jean-Marie Huot for circumcision. The technique of circumcision was kept from the parents and was infrequently used, it was called electrocauterization. Bruce went first and the aparatus malfunctioned causing Bruce to be burned beyond surgical repair. Brian wasn’t operated on and the phimosis cleared up not long after the incident.

John and Janet were devastated by what had happened and were desperately concerned about Bruce’s future. While sitting watching TV one evening, the parents saw an interview on Dr. John Money, a leading Psychologist in sexual development and gender identity at John’s Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, where he discussed his ‘optimal gender rearing model’. John Money, was the first to separate the term gender from biological sex and began applying it to a person’s sexual identity. He was the first to use the terms gender identity, gender fluidity, and gender expression. He believed that gender was merely a social construct, in other words society determined gender, not the sex that a person is born with. John and Janet, eager to find a solution to their son’s problem, took Bruce to see Dr. Money in June, 1967. Dr. Money and the staff at the University persuaded the family to allow Bruce to undergo bilateral orchidectomy, which is a particular type of sex reassignment surgery. At the age of 22 months, Bruce was surgically turned into a girl and given the name Brenda. Psychological support was to be given by John Money without parental oversight or third part accountability. Brenda was to be raised as a girl.

This case was determined to be particularly important test case for the social learning concept of gender identity for two reasons. Firstly, the boys were twins, Brian (Bruce now Brenda’s brother) would act as the ideal experimental control because he shared the same genetic make up, the same home and family environment, and the same intrauterine environment. Secondly, this was the first case in which an infant would have early postnatal gender reassignment.

So what was the outcome? The short answer is that it was a despicable disaster. Despite being raised as a girl, having her prior history as a boy erased from her memory, and being given female sex hormones during puberty, Brenda never felt like or accepted as a girl (the other kids at school called her cavewoman). Brenda wanted to climb trees and play rough and tumble games with boys, had not interest in playing games with girls during her primary school years, and in high school Brenda as attracted to girls not boys. What was worse was the during the ‘psychological support’ sessions given by John Money, both children were humiliated, molested, physically, emotionally and psychologically abused. John Money was nothing but a sick psychopath, pedophile, and child molester enabled by university policy and the law. In his journal publications and books, John Money reported the case a success, his ideas informing many current theories about gender ideology and transgenderism. In some circles he is hailed as a hero. Yet, this narcissistic sexual predator destroyed the lives of both boys. A desperately unhappy and confused Brenda was later told by His mother that she was in fact born a boy. Brenda later detransitioned from a woman to a man, taking the name David. His brother, Biran Reimer, struggled with depression and anxiety as a result of the abuse at the hands of John Money and would end his life with anti-depressants in 2002 at the age of 36. Bruce then Brenda and then David Reimer eventually ended his life as well in May 2004 at the age of 38. Feel free to look fruther into the story if you wish.

Unfortunately, Dr. John Money’s theories have been widely accepted by Psychologists and sexologists the world over. It boggles the mind that a despicable man whose beliefs were used to abuse and destroy the lives of two young boys and countless others with his rediculous theories, could be embraced by so many so called intellectuals around the world. Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” The heart can sometimes rationalize the most irrational ideas or because of fear compromise on some of the most fundamental biological realities. God made two genders, biology only recognizes two genders, and yet the humanities militantly dictate to the world that there are 107 different genders. So how are we to think about these things? What are we to do about these things? when our freedom of belief and freedom of expression are cast aside because it offends the consciences of others. I think Paul’s warning to the Philippian’s in Chapter 3:1 - 4 is instructive in this regard, let us look at it together Philippians 3:1- 4.

Philippians 3:1–4 ESV

Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more:

1. True faith recognizes the supreme authority of God over all things.

That is to say that true faith recognises that we approach God in worship on His terms, not our own. To put it another way, it recognises God’s supreme authority with full and total submission. True faith recognises that He is God and I am not. He is infinite, I am finite. He is eternal, I am temporary. He is the I am, I will soon be the has been. I am weak, he is strong. I am poor, He is rich. I control very little, He controls everything. He is God, I am not.

The consequences of rejecting God’s appointed means of worship is severe. Look down at Philippians 3:18 - 19 “For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.” Can scarier words be spoken about people who depart from worshiping God correctly? I shudder and tremble at word like these. Certain people, known to Paul and the Philippian Church have departed from the faith and their end is destruction. The consequences are severe and Paul does that this is not true for the Philippian Church and as a result he warns them.

So what was Paul warning them about?

In the context of the Chapter, verse two is not a general warning. It is a specific warning about specific people who are deliberately teaching a false gospel or heresy and leading people astray. What is the false gospel and who are these people? Paul gives us an idea in verses Phil 3: 3 - 6

Philippians 3:3–6 ESV

For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

The specific issue that Paul highlights is the issue of circumcision. Paul mentions it twice (verse 3 and verse 5).

The Lord has prescribed to both Abraham and Moses how he should be worshiped and circumcision was an important aspect of the right worship of God. I want to briefly follow the flow of the importance of circumcision through the Old Testament:

A. Circumcision and the Mosaic law.

Circumcision was first introduced when God made that wonderful promise to Abraham in Genesis 17:10 - 14.

In Genesis 17:10 - 14 God speaks to Abraham about the terms of the covenant that he would make with Abraham and his offspring:

Genesis 17:10–14 ESV

This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”

The covenant between God and Abraham was signed in the flesh of each male child. It was a sign of God’s covenant and the blessing that it brings.

This covenant was confirmed to Moses and Aaron before the eating of the pass over. Even the foreigners in Israel had to be circumcised if they were to participate in the Passover.

In Exodus 12:43 - 49

Exodus 12:43–49 ESV

And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the statute of the Passover: no foreigner shall eat of it, but every slave that is bought for money may eat of it after you have circumcised him. No foreigner or hired worker may eat of it. It shall be eaten in one house; you shall not take any of the flesh outside the house, and you shall not break any of its bones. All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. If a stranger shall sojourn with you and would keep the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised. Then he may come near and keep it; he shall be as a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person shall eat of it. There shall be one law for the native and for the stranger who sojourns among you.”

To say that circumcision was important to the Jews would be an understatement. In fact, circumcision was the one thing that differentiated Jews from the gentile nations among which they lived.The distinction between those who were circumcised and those who were not was clear to all Israel. Those who were not circumcised were outside the covenant of God and therefore godless and wicked. In Judges 15:18 where, after killing 1000 Philistines, we read the following: “And he (Samson) was very thirsty, and he called upon the Lord and said, “You have granted this great salvation by the hand of your servant, and shall I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?”” God then gives Samson water from a rock. The point, however, is that Samson identified the Philistines as enemies of God and Israel when he calls them uncircumcised. David does the same when he refers to Goliath. In Socoh, an area of Judah in the wilderness of Ephes-Dammim, Goliath stands in defiance of Saul, in defiance of Israel and in defiance of almighty God. In response to this, David says before all Israel (1 Samuel 17:26) “For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?””

Goliath’s uncircumcision was a visible representation of his lack of faith. He was a stranger to the promises of God and, therefore, an enemy of God and Israel. Circumcision represented the distinction between those who were apart of God’s covenant to Israel, and those who were not.

But it wasn’t so much circumcision that pleased God. It was the attitude of the heart that pleased God because circumcision was an external sign of an inward reality.

As with all good things given by God though, the sign of circumcision was perverted. The people of Israel trusted in the act of circumcision, rather than the promise God had given to them and signified in the act of circumcision. Circumcision became a cultural ritual rather than an act of worship. We therefore see a change in emphasis among the writings of the prophets of God later in the Old testament.

In the book of Deuteronomy (10:16; 30:6), the people of Israel are called upon to be circumcised in the foreskin of their hearts. The circumcision of the heart was associated with a right relationship with the Lord. In the book of Jeremiah, God warns the Israelite's to be circumcised in heart because being circumcised in their flesh was not enough to escape His wrath (Jer 4:4 ; Jer 9:25 -26 ).

Jeremiah 4:4 (ESV)

Circumcise yourselves to the Lord;

remove the foreskin of your hearts,

O men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem;

lest my wrath go forth like fire,

and burn with none to quench it,

because of the evil of your deeds.”

And...

Jeremiah 9:25–26 ESV

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will punish all those who are circumcised merely in the flesh— Egypt, Judah, Edom, the sons of Ammon, Moab, and all who dwell in the desert who cut the corners of their hair, for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in heart.”

Like all external signs and symbols, it is very easy to falsify one’s claim to being a Jew. Instead of trusting in the God of circumcision and believing the promises that He had made to Israel, the Jews began to put their faith in their circumcision. Rather than trusting in the Lord by faith, they became legalistic - trusting in their own righteous works for their salvation. God’s gift of salvation to sinful humanity has never been about circumcision, it has never been about animal sacrifice, it has always been faith-based. Salvation has always been a gift of grace, received by faith. God does the work of salvation, it cannot be wrought or bought by human hands.

B. The circumcision problem in the New Testament:

In the new testament, the act of circumcision or the external symbol of an inward reality is replaced by the public profession of faith in baptism. It is important to recognise that circumcision is a reminder of the old covenant made between God and Moses. This has been done away with in Christ. Christians now display their faith by symbolically dying with Christ and being raised to newness of life in him in baptism. Colossians 2:11 - 12 “In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.”

However, The Jews brought their faulty understanding of the Mosaic law into the Christian Churches being planted all over Judea, Syria, and then into Asia. Jewish people who held onto the importance of the Mosaic law and brought this understanding into the newly established Churches were initially called the circumcision party in Acts 11:2, and were then later labelled as the Judiazers.

The Judiazers were either ethnic Jews or gentiles, converted to Judaism, who insisted on imposing Jewish religious and social customs on others (mostly gentile Christians). I acknowledge that the people labelled as Judiazers were not all the same. There is no doubt that many were believers and recognised that they were saved by Grace and not by works of the law. Certainly, after Peter gives a report to the Church in Jerusalem that God had poured His Spirit out upon the Gentiles, just as he had done among the Jews, we are told that the circumcision party (which had initially criticized him) fell silent at the news and (Acts 11:18) “When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.””

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Biblical Concept of Judaizing

1. Custom-observing Judaizers maintained distinct Jewish customs within Graeco-Roman society but placed no salvific or membership significance on observance of the Mosaic law.

2. Social Judaizers placed social or membership significance on observance of the law and insisted on social separation from Gentile Christians.

3. Elitist Judaizers placed salvific and membership significance on observance of the law and insisted on circumcision, Sabbath-keeping, dietary restrictions in order to belong to God’s people and be saved.

The issue of the need for the keeping of the Mosaic laws by gentile Christians was a huge issue in the Church after the death of Christ and before the destruction of the temple in AD 70. Part of the reason for the problem, was that the Mosaic law dominated the lives of the Jews prior to Christ’s coming. The gentiles had no concept of the role and value of the Mosaic law and cared nothing for it. The Jews, however, demanded that the gentiles be made to keep the Mosaic law upon conversion. But Paul saw no reason for this and argued that the ceremonial law had been fulfilled in Christ and was unnecessarily burdensome to force upon gentile Christians (See the Letter to the Galatians).

The matter of whether the Mosaic law was of any value in the new testament was discussed at the Jerusalem Council as recounted in Acts 15. Paul and Silas had been in sent down to Jerusalem to ask the elders and the apostles about the need for Gentile Christians to keep the Mosaic law. In Acts 15:5 we are told that “But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.”” Peter then stands up and says Acts 15:10 - 11 “Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”” After Paul and Silas recount all that has happened among the Gentiles with the gospel, Peter concludes the meeting by saying Acts 15:19 - 20 “Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.” A letter was then sent to all the known Churches of the time with the answer to the question. However, this did not settle the matter and Judaizers continued to sow dissension and division in various Churches, including the Philippian Church. Because of this, Paul includes a warning in some of his pastoral epistles to watch out for people who teach this heresy. He mentions it in his letter to the Romans, in his letter to the Colossians, in his letter to the Ephesians, in his letter to the Galatians, and in his letter to the Philippians. Why? Because God has determined that Acts 4:12 “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”” Salvation is by faith in Christ alone.

2. True faith warns others of impending danger

The phrase, “look out for” comes from the Greek word ‘Blepo’ and has the idea of looking out for or perceiving with the eyes. It is the word that indicates that Paul is issuing a warning to the Church at Philippi. In effect, Paul is saying “be on your guard or watch out”. My second youngest daughter loves to walk and talk and often when she is talking is isn’t looking where she is walking and she has been known to walk into the odd poll or door to the amusement of her mother and siblings (I of course do not laugh at such triviality). On the odd occasion, (out of the kindness of my heart) I have warned her of the impending blow from the poll and it usually goes something like, “Lydia watch out”. That is Paul’s meaning. Philippian Church, watch out!

Dogs:

What should they be looking out for? The answer, broadly speaking, is evil people. Paul calls them ‘dogs’, a traditional Jewish insult. To call someone a dog was call them an outcast or the lowest of the low in society. It was used by David in Psalm 59:6; 14) to refer to his enemies who were like howling dogs, and prowled around the city at night. In the book of 1 Samuel it is used as an insult. Goliath takes exception to the fact that David has treated him like a dog and come out to fight him with sticks. David, Saul’s son-in-law and heir to the throne of Israel, is hated by Saul and Saul desires to kill David. In one confrontation, David resists the opportunity to kill Saul in a cave and instead cuts off a piece of his coat. He then confronts Saul from a distance and says, 1 Samuel 24:14 “After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog! After a flea!”

In a discussion between Jesus and a Caananite woman, the Caananite woman asks Jesus to heal her demon possessed daughter. Jesus responds and says that he was only sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Notice that the Israelites were referred to as ‘sheep’. Matthew 15:25 - 27 “But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”” Jesus then affirms her faith and heals her daughter. The gentiles here were referred to as grovelling dogs and outside the covenant people of Israel. You get the point, Paul wasn’t being nice when he used the word ‘dog’. Notice the irony here to. Paul is writing to gentiles ‘now the sheep of God’ and he refers to the Jews who were a part of the Judiazers as dogs. The unbelieving Jews were now dogs and the believing gentiles were now the sheep.

Evildoers:

The word for evildoers, used here is the greek word ‘kakos’. Kakos is an adjective and it generally describes behaviour that morally reprehensible and evil, though in some cases it can be used to describe a person or people. In this case, Paul is using it describe the Judiazers calling their works morally reprehensible. Stronger language cannot be found. Paul is calling out the Judiazers for their evil works.

Mutilators of the flesh:

Paul then says, “look out for those who mutilate the flesh”. The word for mutilate is the word ‘Apokopto’ or the latin word ‘consisio’ they literally mean to cut off, amputate, or as is translated in your bibles ‘mutilate. Paul is sarcastically saying “look out for those who keep their eye on their trusted ‘concision’ or ‘mutilation’.

3. True faith magnifies the Lord Jesus Christ

Paul then moves to show who the true Israel of God is. He says ‘we are the circumcision’, the word ‘we’ is both inclusive and plural signifying that it is both he and the Church in Philippi. The word circumcision, which is the Greek word ‘peritome’, is not literal, it is a figurative. Remember that in the Old Testament circumcision distinguished Jew from Gentile, the people of God from the wicked and barbaric gentile nations that surrounded them. When Paul says, “we are the circumcision” he is saying that ‘we are the true Israel of God’. Circumcision is not what includes you among God people. So what does then?

The phrase ‘who worship by the Spirit of God’ tells us. Let me just say at the outset that God has always determined what right worship looks like. He has always determined how He should be worshiped. In the Old Testament, worship was complicated. God had to be approached at specific times, in a specific place (the temple), through various and many animal sacrifices, the men had to be circumcised, both men and woman had to go through various cleansing rituals, and on and on it goes. All of this has been done away with and replaced with one way, or rather one person. To boast in Christ Jesus means to recognise Him and Him only as God’s appointment means of salvation, circumcision is of no eternal value, it carries no eternal significance. The only question that must be answered before God one day is “what have you done with the Lord Jesus Christ?”.

So let us apply these lessons to our lives then:

Application:

The first song we sang together this morning was, “the wise man built his house upon the rock”. The rock in the that metaphorical song is Jesus Christ and it is in him and him alone that you can be made right with God. Your good deeds will not save you. Your philosophical and political beliefs will not save you. You must decide what to do with Jesus Christ, God’s son. His birth was miraculous, his life was sinless and perfect, his death was substitutionary (an exchange of his perfection for your sinful), and his resurrection was life giving and hope inspiring in that just as he was raised from the dead so you can have life instead of death. You don’t have to be held captive by the religious beliefs of the Judiazers. You don’t have to be held captive by the political and religious beliefs of the deceived but learned elite whose vile philosophical fantasies have infected almost every liberal university and politcal party the world over. You have been set free by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, if indeed your hope is in him.

When Paul called the Judiazers dogs, evildoers and mutilators of the flesh he was performing his God given role as both a man and an apostle. The one thing that strikes me about the story of the Reimer brothers is the silence and passivity of John Reimer. His responsibility before God was to protect his family, not to stand idly by as his sons were mutilated and abused by a demented doctor in the name of science. Paul’s words, though insulting, were not written for that purpose. They were written to point out those who presented a very real danger to Philippian church. God has given men to families and men to churches to sacrificially lead, love, protect and provide to protect the family and to protect the family and church from false doctrine and heresy. There is a political and philosophical movement in the world today bent on destroying biblical gender roles and undermining the God designed social fabric of society. We are told that our society is too patriarchal, that masculinity is toxic, and that gender roles are outdated and unnecessary. Nothing could be further from the truth. God has made men to be worriers, prophets, priests and kings in their own homes. Men, now more than ever, embrace your God given role in your homes, in the Church and in society. You cannot sit idly by and watch while the world teachers its heresies to your children. Guard your homes, protect and lead your families. Together with your wives, teach and instruct your children. Never give in, never give up, even if the world hates you for it.

Don’t back down or back away from what is true and right and good. This idiotic fallacy that is gender identity is making its way into schools in the curriculum, through brain washed teachers, and in children’s books and literature. One man’s failed theory and record of child abuse, now stands to abuse and confuse thousands of children all over the world. We cannot stand idly by and allow this to continue to happen. Whenever there is an opportunity to speak the truth, we must take those opportunities. This might be in social gatherings or informal conversations, it might be in letters written to influential people, school boards, signing petitions, or even removing our kids from schools that teach or support this. I wouldn’t suggest voicing your opinion on social media where a reasonable discussion isn’t possible. As far as you can, in whatever sphere of influence you have, seek to uphold and teach the truth.

Finally, you and I have the benefit of knowing God, believing his word, and trusting in his son. This means that we have confidence before God, we have freedom from bondage to sin in this life and the hope of eternal life when we die. Brothers and sisters, this gives us joy! But recognise this, there is a lost and dying world out there who do not know Christ, who have no concept of the love of God, who know nothing of the joy of a clear conscience, and who do not know how precious it is to know Christ and to be known and loved by Him. Brothers and sisters, surely this should motivate to reach out to those in our communities who are broken and hurting, who are deceived and troubled, who despair for a lack of hope, who are depressed for a lack of confidence, who are confused for a lack of knowledge, who are crushed under the weight of a guilty conscience, we must go and find those people wherever they may be and with confidence and joy to share the good news of what God has done for us in Christ. Share it with anyone who will listen and invite anyone who is willing to come to Church and let us push back this veil of darkness which hangs over our society as faithful Christians have done for centuries before us for the glory Christ and for the eternal benefit of their souls. Carry the hope and light of the gospel of Christ with you wherever you go this week.