Marks of a True Christian

1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. 2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—

Right out of the box, the first word of this passage hits us with a curious problem.

The ESV and other translations use the word “Finally.”

But Paul is only halfway through this letter and he doesn’t seem to be winding up.

When my daughter has homework and I ask her if she’s finished she has the habit of saying “almost.”

Almost can mean she’s got a few more math problems or that she’s only done 3 out of a thousand.

Either way she says almost.

So is Paul like us preachers who say, “I’m wrapping up” or I’m almost done” only to go another 15-20 minutes?

I don’t think that is what Paul is doing here.

Paul is moving to a new topic, but he’s building off what he said in chapter 1.

We have to keep in mind that the original letter didn’t have section headings, verse of even chapter numbers. It was just line after line of text.

Paul uses words to transition through the different themes he wants to cover.

This is similar to how we might write an email to someone about a birthday party we are helping plan.

We might say I want everyone to have a lot of fun at the party, make it extra special for the birthday person, and give something cool to all the guests when they leave.

Then you would go through your fun ideas in a few sentences. After that you might say, “Also, such and such is so special I’d like to do xyz for her”. You might say “as far as the rest of the party, I want to make this cool prize for everyone to take home.”

This is what Paul is doing here with the word translated “Finally.”

Other translations of this verse say: In addition, Further, As far as the rest, etc.

Let’s look at these section since it has been a few weeks and see how Paul has structured his letter.

In chapter one we read this:

Philippians 1:27–28 ESV

27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.

Paul starts with this first line:

Philippians 1:27 (ESV)

What does a gospel worthy life look like?

He tells the Philippians in Phil 2:1 and following:

Philippians 2:1–2 ESV

1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

He triggers this section with a little word translated “so” that acts as a transition word.

Then Paul goes on to tell us what it means to have the mind of Christ.

Look at the rest this verse:

Philippians 1:27 (ESV)

How does the church stand firm and live in unity?

He tells them in Phil 2:11 and following:

Philippians 2:12–13 ESV

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

He trigger this section with another connecting word: “therefore”.

Then he goes on to talk about what kind of things ruin unity and what kind of things promote unity.

He ends this section with these words:

Philippians 2:17–18 (ESV)

17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.

18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

Paul takes the opportunity to show the example of two men who are standing firm and unifying the church: Timothy and Epaphroditus.

He takes a little bit of a detour talking about what happened to Epaphroditus and so in chapter 3 he is taking up the next section he planned to talk about:

Philippians 1:27–28 (ESV)

28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.

In chapter three he uses this transition word “Finally” or a better way to think of it is “Furthermore” to get back on track and he reminds them that they should rejoice and that he is writing these things to them as a safe guard:

Philippians 3:1 ESV

1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.

Okay, now that we can see what Paul is doing here I want to do two things with this sermon today:

1. I want to look at who these opponents are that Paul is warning them about in verse 2.

2. I want to look at three marks of a true christian. In other words, when you look at a person what things should you see.

Let’s read Phil 3:2:

Philippians 3:2 ESV

2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.

1. Dogs, Evil Workers, Mutilators, Oh My!

I want to talk briefly about each of these terms but first I want you to here the forceful way Paul says these three sentences in the original language.

Each of these sentences is forceful and percussive.

First repeats the word Look out, also could be translated Watch out or beware.

Each of these is an imperative, Paul is commanding the Philippians to be on their guard.

He also uses words that start with hard “K” sounds.

On commentator tries to get the force and urgency of the sentences by saying it this way:

“Beware the curs! Beware the criminals! Beware the cutters!” (Frank S. Thielman. Philippians, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, 1995, 129.)

A cur is an aggressive dog.

But I think the commentator missed an opportunity here: a better word would be cat.

Because let’s be honest, I love cats, but everyone knows, whether you love or hate cats, you need to watch out, you need to beware.

If your cat comes purring next to you and rolls over and wants you to pet their belly.

You go for one or two pets, but you pull away before the third because they will bite your hand for no reason.

If you set something on the counter that your cat doesn’t think belongs there then they’re going to knock it off!

So, I think this translation captures Paul’s intent:

“Beware the CATS! Beware the CRIMINALS! Beware the CUTTERS!”

Strong warnings with very percussive language.

Dogs

So who are the dogs?

Are they these beautiful creatures?

SHOW MY DOGS SLIDE

We love our fur babies, a dog is man’s best friend right?!?

Not in the ancient world.

In many cultures and languages to call someone a dog is an insult.

It is in our culture as well.

In the OT, dogs are associated with “indiscriminate” and even disgusting behavior.

(All discussion of Dogs in the OT and in this context from Markus Bockmuehl, The Epistle to the Philippians, Black’s New Testament Commentary (London: Continuum, 1997), 185. )

Dogs “eat refuse, including dead animals and the bodies of unburied people, and may even return to their own vomit.”

We can see the sense in which Paul uses this term.

The term “dogs” became synonymous with pagans, or any one who did not distinguish between pure and impure, sacred and profane things.

In Jewish contexts, it would have been used of Gentiles.

Paul attacks these people with the very insult they brought against the Philippians.

These “dogs” were teaching that “the Gentiles cannot become part of the people of God without converting to Judaism: only full Jews can be full Christians; other are ‘dogs’.” (Bockmuehl, The Epistle to the Philippians, 186.)

Paul wants to be clear that these people who teach these things are the dogs, not the Philippian Christians.

Evil Workers

Paul also calls these people evildoers.

In the original language the word translated evildoers is two words evil workers or laborers.

Paul is again using the words of these people against them.

The word for worker is used throughout the NT and even in the Greek translation of the OT as a term for a missionary.

(All evil workers discussion from Bockmuehl, The Epistle to the Philippians, 187.)

Matthew 9:38 (ESV)

38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Paul has used similar terms elsewhere as well:

2 Corinthians 11:13–15 (ESV)

13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

One commentator points out that Paul could be using “a deliberate pun on the opponents’ claim to be doing the so-called ‘works of the Law’.”

“It has recently become clear that this phrase ‘works of the Law’,...had in conservative Jewish circles become a watchword to describe the practices prescribed in the Torah, especially those which distinguished Jew from Gentile and the observant from the non-observant.” (Bockmuehl, The Epistle to the Philippians, 188.)

So these opponents are spreading a false gospel, proclaiming the salvation comes from Christ and works.

This is why Paul is so forceful at this point, but he isn’t finished yet!

Mutilators

Paul again tells the Philippians to look out and uses a percussive “k” sound.

Philippians 3:2 ESV

2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.

The ESV adds a few words to help us understand the context, but in the original language it is one word meaning “mutilation.”

This word “mutilation” and the word translated “circumcision” in the next verse have the same root.

Paul is using a play on words here.

The word for circumcision means “to cut around”.

While the word he uses for these opponents means “cutting to pieces”.

Paul is likening these people’s requirement for circumcision to mutilation for the Philippians.

Paul used arguably even stronger language in his letter to the Galatians.

Here similar opponents were requiring OT circumcision:

Galatians 5:12 ESV

12 I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!

Too Harsh?

You may be thinking to yourself, as I have before, “Is all this name calling too harsh?”

All these names that Paul calls these opponents may sound harsh, but this is precisely the Paul’s point.

One commentator says: “To call a group “dogs,” “men who do evil,” and “mutilators” is to use extraordinarily harsh language. This kind of language is typical of the prophet whose message is so urgent that its form is designed to shake his hearers out of complacency.”

(Thielman, Philippians, 134, also the following examples from John the Baptist and Jesus.)

John the Baptist used harsh language against the Pharisees and Sadducees because they had perverted the teachings of Scripture:

Matthew 3:7 (ESV)

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

Jesus, himself, used strong language to make His point:

Matthew 23:13 (ESV)

13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.

He uses this phrase 7 times, He also calls them blind guides, blind men, and blind fools!

Then he says this:

Matthew 23:33 ESV

33 You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?

We could survey the entire library of OT prophets and find similar language meant to call the people to action.

Circumcision

You may be looking ahead at the next verse and thinking, “If Paul thinks these opponent are teaching a false gospel, then why does he say “we are the circumcision” in the next verse?”

That is a great question, thank you for asking!

Let’s look at it:

Philippians 3:3 (ESV)

3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—

One commentator explains:

“Paul never spoke out against circumcision and law observance on the part of Jews; indeed he thought it valuable

Rom. 3:1-2

Romans 3:1–2 ESV

1 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2 Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.

and encouraged Jews to continue in it after they became Christians

1 Corinthians 7:18 ESV

18 Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision.

Acts 16:3 ESV

3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

Acts 16:3 suggests that Paul even arranged for the circumcision of Timothy, who was legally a Jew.

Circumcision was not for Jews incompatible with Christian faith.”

(All above discussion of Paul’s understanding of Circumcision from Bockmuehl, The Epistle to the Philippians, 190. Includes quote below and Scripture references.)

Paul didn’t think negatively about circumcision, but he didn’t think it necessary for Gentile believers to be circumcised.

Paul was at the Apostolic Council in Acts 15. Where they rightly understood that true circumcision was always a spiritual matter that had a physical marking.

Here’s Paul’s take on it:

Romans 2:28–29 ESV

28 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

This is not a new idea, Moses in the book of Deuteronomy says the same thing:

Deuteronomy 30:6 ESV

6 And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.

So we are the circumcision.

The marks of a Christian have nothing to do with whether our body is marked up or not.

So what are the marks of a Christian?

Paul doesn’t leave us hanging:

Philippians 3:3 ESV

3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—

He gives us three defining marks of a True Christian:

One who worships by the Spirit of God.

One who glories in Christ Jesus.

One who does not trust in themselves.

I want to look briefly at each of these.

I don’t want anyone to leave this message knowing a lot about what Paul is talking about in these passages.

But miss Paul’s point in writing these same things to the Philippians and ultimately to Christians of all time.

2. True Christians serve by the Spirit of God.

I lean heavily on Gordon D. Fee. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians. The New International Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, Mich: Eerdmans, 1995, 300ff for this section except where noted.

Philippians 3:3 (ESV)

3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—

The word in the original language is not the typical word for worship as something we are doing together this morning.

It means “I serve in carrying out of religious duties, esp. of a cultic nature”.

William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 587.

In the OT this meant service in the Temple, but in the NT the people of God serve by the Spirit.

Instead of being marked by the outward sign of circumcision and all the ways the priests serves in the temple.

The true christian now lives and serves in Christ by the power of the Spirit. (300)

Paul is stating that our service to God is lived out through our living and walking by the Spirit, not by observing the OT Law.

Our service has to do with righteousness.

Righteousness is acting in accordance with what is right and God is the final standard for what is right.

It is the character of God that determines what is right. (This sentence and the one before it from Wayne Grudem. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Second Edition. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic, 2020.)

The people of God turned the the OT Law into merely “laws to be observed” into human regulations.

Looking at God’s Law as human regulations missed the intent.

God revealed through the Law His likeness.

The way to act in accordance with His character.

The way we should serve God and People.

God’s people therefore have a need for their hearts to be circumcised , effected by the Holy Spirit.

There is an immediate change at salvations and a progressive change, called sanctification which moves believers to look more and more like Jesus.

In Jesus we find the only thing in us that looks like God.

Romans 3:21–22 (ESV)

21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—

22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.

Romans 3:27 ESV

27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith.

We don’t boast in who we are or what we’ve done.

Most of us know ourselves well enough to know that there isn’t anything to boast about anyway.

This is the beauty of the Gospel, Jesus loves us as we are and by the Spirit, He changes us into who were always meant to be: children of God, holy and blameless.

So we do have something to boast about:

3. True Christians proudly boast in Christ alone.

(This section is heavily influenced by Bockmuehl, The Epistle to the Philippians, 193, except where noted.)

Philippians 3:3 (ESV)

3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—

The idea of glory is the idea of this word is to take pride in something, boast, glory, pride oneself, brag in or about a person or thing

William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 536.

We get this because we love to brag about ourselves, our families, especially when our kids excel, our animals, our cars, houses, and just about everything else.

There is certainly a sense where it is legitimate to be proud of something or someone, but not do it in pride.

Ultimately our focus makes the difference.

Are we thankful to God for His provision?

Do we point to Him as the One who gave us life, health, money, food, shelter, transportation, the list goes on!

He is the One where all boasting should rest.

Jeremiah 9:23–24 ESV

23 Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”

Here, Paul is calling us to boast in God’s redemptive work.

God the Father sent the Son, God the Son took our sins and gave us his righteousness, through God the Spirit.

Romans 3:22–26 (ESV)

22 For there is no distinction:

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

When we rightly boast in Christ Jesus then we will see that we have no confidence in anything we might bring to the table.

4. True Christians do not trust in the flesh.

Philippians 3:3 (ESV)

3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—

The opponents put confidence in their keeping of the OT Law.

Their circumcision and works of the Law was where they placed their trust for salvation.

It can be tempting for us to try to rely on being good enough, or by trying to do enough good to overcome our bad.

Next week, Pastor Matt is going to walk through Paul’s confidence in the flesh, but Paul is trying to show the foolishness of this kind of boasting.

It leads nowhere.

Romans 3:12 (ESV)

12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”

But we have hope, we can have confidence in the Spirit’s work in us.

Romans 13:14 ESV

14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Paul says something similar in Galatians:

Galatians 5:16 ESV

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

One commentator sums up these verses in a modern key:

“we are his people. We worship as the Holy Spirit moves in us; we place our only hope in Christ, and in that act we renounce all claim to being accepted by God on the basis of … cultural superiority” or any works we have done.

(Gerald F. Hawthorne, Ralph P. Martin, John D. W. Watts, James W. Watts, and Lynn Allan Losie. Philippians. Edited by Bruce M. Metzger, David Allen Hubbard, and Glenn W. Barker. Revised edition. Word Biblical Commentary. Zondervan Academic, 2015, 178.)

Here is where our confidence lies, in Christ alone.

Our good works show HIs work in us.

Ephesians 2:8–10 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

προσευχωμεθα

Communion

Jesus, we rejoice and boast in You alone. We serve by Your Spirit and trust not in ourselves.

We eat this bread to remember Your sacrifice that removes our sins and fills us with Your Spirit for good works.

We drink this cup to remember that Your life was pour out so that our lives might reflect Yours.

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