Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision; for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh…

                                                                                                   Philippians 3:2-3 

Main Point: True freedom comes when we rest in the completed work of Christ.

I suppose the battle for the hearts and minds of the religious will always exist. Two camps firmly planted in what they sincerely believe is the truth. But when we examine Paul’s admonition to the first century church, we get a clear and untainted picture that not even two thousand years of man-made additions to the gospel can hinder. When it comes to spiritual freedom, the work has already been done.

Within one generation from the ascension of Jesus, counter gospel messages were already beginning to surface and most of them were steeped in the old covenant. It must have been difficult for some to understand that the coming of Jesus to this earth was to change everything. His presence as Emmanuel was the beginning of God establishing a new covenant with mankind. Salvation would no longer come from adherence to the Law rather it would come through faith in the Savior, Jesus Christ, and His completed work on the cross. When Christ uttered, “It is finished”, He meant just that (John 19:30). Everything necessary to unite fallen mankind with a holy and righteous God was accomplished. Our role in the spiritual mechanics of this new covenant is to receive what has been done for us and that reception comes through faith.

Counter gospel messages were in abundant supply and that is why Paul was warning the first century believers. These religious leaders were seeking to distort the gospel by subjecting people to a strict adherence to legalism, something not at all required for salvation. Paul didn’t mix words when describing these religious leaders. He referred to them as “dogs”, as “evil workers”, and as the “false circumcision.” Those references might not sound so bad in today’s context but for the first century ear they were about as harsh as one could get. Paul mirrors those remarks in the letter of Galatians as he twice states that those distorting the gospel should be accursed (Galatians 1:6-9). That would be the modern equivalent of telling someone to “go to hell.” So why was Paul so rough in his rhetoric when it came to this distortion of the gospel? Paul understood the ramifications of confusing believers by adding requirements for salvation. Not only would that work in moving someone away from the security found only in faith, it would rob that individual of the spiritual freedom that comes from resting in Jesus. These counter gospel messages existed then and they remain today. That is why it is important for us to take heed to what Paul is saying.

Paul says that the true circumcision, that would be the true followers of Jesus Christ, worship in the Spirit of God. Worship is a delight for someone who does so in the Spirit. Not so much for those who have reduced worship to just the singing of a few songs or adherence to ceremonial ritual. When an individual cannot wait to exit the church building in order to move on to his/her next appointment, it is safe to say that they are missing out on what authentic worship is all about.

But not only did Paul describe the true followers of Jesus as those who worship in the Spirit, he goes on to say that they glory in Christ Jesus. To miss the meaning of this phrase is to miss the entire message behind the passage. To glory in Christ Jesus means that we are 100% convinced that our salvation, forgiveness, redemption, healing, blessing, and well-being come through faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross. And just in case we might think that there is room to add works to this marvelous gospel message, consider Paul’s last remarks.

True believers are those who glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh. How much confidence should we have that we are in right standing with God? If we are completely trusting and glorying in the completed work of Jesus on the cross on our behalf, believing that His sacrifice is totally sufficient to accomplish such, then we should have all of the confidence in the world. But if we also desire to place some confidence in our spiritual performance and morality, then our confidence in knowing that we are right with God will blow back and forth like the wind. As often as we fail to live up to the Law so our security will fail us.

So we can be self-focused or Christ-focused. We have to make a decision moving forward on whom are we going to place our eternal security, ourselves or on Christ. For the individual who chooses to believe in the finished work of Christ, there is true spiritual freedom!