Sovereign Grace Chapel, located
at 135 Annabel Lane in Beaver, West Virginia, invites you to
listen to a gospel message concerning Jesus Christ our Lord. So everyone
turn to Philippians 3. I'm gonna read the first three
verses. Finally, my brethren, rejoice
in the Lord. To write the same things to you,
to me indeed, is not grievous, but for you it is safe. Beware
of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. For
we are the circumcision which worship God in the spirit and
rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh. Paul here in Philippians 3 in
these first few verses, he begins with warnings. We are to watch
out for some because the indication here is that some have confidence
in this flesh. We are warned against dogs. We
see in scripture God's people are compared to being dogs and
rightfully so. We are all dogs. But God's dogs
are just that, his dogs. They have a specific master.
These dogs are those that have returned to their own vomit as
we read in 2 Peter chapter two, 2 Peter chapter two, and I wanna
read that. 2 Peter 2 verses 17-22. These are whales without water,
clouds that are carried with a tempest, to whom the mist of
darkness is reserved forever. For when they speak great swelling
words of vanity, they allure through the lust of the flesh.
through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from
them who live in error. While they promise them liberty,
they themselves are the servants of corruption. For of whom a
man is overcome of the same is he brought in bondage. For if
after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge
of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled
therein and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the
beginning. For it had been better for them
not to have known the way of righteousness than after they
have known it to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto
them. But it is happened unto them
according to the true proverb, the dog is turned to his own
vomit again, and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in
the mire. Then we have evil workers. These are worthless toilers.
And you know what it is to toil. These that Paul warns us against
toil more than most. but their toiling is in vain
and it's worthless. They accomplish nothing and we
are talking about before God. They are toiling for righteousness
before God. They work, work, work in vain. This work is done as if they
are doing something for God, but it is just in their mind.
They think they will become righteous by keeping of the law, or they
think, I have to stress they think, that once God does something
for them, he enables them then to keep the Ten Commandments.
And I always like to say that, because that's what it's talking
about, the Ten Commandments. Certainly, believers can have
thoughts and even actions which tend toward this. But these are
not believers, and they cannot keep God's law. Then we have
mutilators. Beware of the concision. These
are those who insist on circumcising God's people. I mean this, they
insist that the people of God be physically circumcised. At
this time, they meant the physical act anyway. There may be some
who think that today as well, I don't know. But those today
who do this kind of thing are those who want to keep the law
for sanctification. Those who are progressively getting
better. How can those whom Christ has
perfected forever get any better? Hebrews 10 14 says, for by one
offering he has perfected forever them that are sanctified. We are perfected by righteousness
that is without the law. I want to say this. I have said
this before and others know this and it has been said by others.
But there are those who want to separate out the law of God
into different categories. I understand that maybe some
do this for study purposes or just to be clear what exactly
they're talking about. But this is not what they do.
The intentions they have by doing this is they want to teach for
doctrines the commandments of men. They cannot perform or obey
this law, but they compel others to try to keep this law. They
specifically separate out the Ten Commandments, but even with
the Ten Commandments, just as the Pharisees, those religious
of that day did, they changed the law of God into their traditions.
They do not even keep those themselves either, but they compel others
to do this. They want to put men and women
in bondage. but they separate them out into
generally three categories, moral, civil, and ceremonial. Some may
have different terms that they use for these, but it's how they
generally separate out God's law in those three different
categories. These are smart men. In fact,
these men seem to be smarter than the Holy Spirit of God.
This word is God breathed and God nowhere in his word separated
out his law into different categories. You will not find it in God's
word. We are told in James 2.10, for whosoever shall keep the
whole law and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. Separate out God's Word as you
will, but God tells us it is all one complete whole, and you
must live by the whole thing if that is how you expect to
be righteous before God. This righteousness will never
come, because we are also told in Scripture that righteousness
does not come by the law. The law is weak through the flesh,
and it is by this flesh that the law must be kept. but it
will never happen. Paul tells us here that we have
no confidence in the flesh. We are told here what we are
to have confidence in and it's not the flesh. So let's look
at the following. Verse three is my outline. I
want to look at circumcision, worship, boasting, and confidence. So first, circumcision. So the
Apostle Paul says here, we are talking to God's people. We are
the circumcision. This is not a circumcision done
by man. That is done by man himself or
by another. By man, I mean mankind. Romans
2, 28 and 29 we read, for he is not a Jew which is one outwardly,
neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh,
but he is a Jew which is one inwardly, and circumcision is
that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter, whose
praise is not of men, but of God. The praise is not of men
because men had nothing to do with this circumcision. It has
nothing to do with the law because it is that circumcision of the
heart in the spirit and not in the letter. Colossians 2 11 we
read, in whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without
hands in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the
circumcision of Christ. So God's people are the circumcision
made without hands. It is the circumcision done by
God to those whom he loves. But we are warned against those
who are mutilators. We are talking about religious
people. Those who worship God with their mouths but their uncircumcised
hearts are far from God. For them, Christ did not do enough. He did all he could do and now
evidently God has left something up to them to do. Titus 1.10
we read, for there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers,
especially they of the circumcision. They of the circumcision were
those who were circumcised and held to that as being a part
of their salvation. They were usually Jewish, but
there could have been some Gentiles in that bunch as well. There
are today certainly some religious folks who look to what they do
as some merit before God. This includes some who might
hold to the doctrines of grace, as men call them. When Paul speaks
of circumcision in Galatians, is he just talking about circumcision? Galatians 3.10, for as many are
of the works of the law are under the curse, for it is written,
cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things which are written
in the book of the law to do them. The law is a whole and
includes circumcision and we do not worship the law. So let's
look at worship. This word for worship means to
render religious honor and respect publicly. This homage or public
honor and respect is to one, that is the God of Scripture.
For those that this is talking about here, they worship the
God of Scripture. This worship is done in a certain
way or they are enabled to do this a certain way. They do this
in the spirit. So those who have been circumcised
in heart with the circumcision made without hands, no man was
involved in this circumcision which enables that one who has
had this done by his spirit to worship God and that not in word
only but in truth with this new heart by his spirit. But God
enables those who are His by that which He does, and based
on what Christ has done, He enables those to worship Him publicly,
giving honor and respect. Holy and reverend is His name.
This they do as they walk in the Spirit being led by the Spirit
of God. Romans 8 verses 1 and 2 we read,
there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus
who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. For the
law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free
from the law of sin and death. So we see what this spirit is.
It is the spirit of Jesus Christ. The spirit of God testifying
to us as we hear the word of God proclaimed. That can be as
we are doing now or as we are out and about when we testify
to one another or to others of his glorious gospel. But his
spirit testifies to who Jesus Christ is and what he has done.
When we hear this in the gospel, his spirit seals that to our
hearts that this is true. So this leads me to boasting.
Number three, boasting. Because we have been circumcised
and the spirit leads us in worship towards God, there is something
or someone, I should say, that we boast in or rejoice in, Jesus
Christ. The word rejoice here, there,
means boast. There was a rejoice in verse
one, it's a little bit different word there. This rejoice means to boast,
and we boast in only one thing or one person. This says Jesus
Christ, so we boast in him. Him who we are told in scripture
that has a name which is above every name. Philippians 2 verses
9 and 11 we're told that. 9 through 11. Wherefore God hath highly exalted
him and given him a name which is above every name. That at
the name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in heaven
and things in earth and things under the earth. And that every
tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of
God the Father. At this name, every knee shall
bow. There are some who will do this
who will be cast out in outer darkness. But God be thanked,
there are some who do this now. Colossians 1, 17 through 19 we
read, and he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body,
the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,
that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased
the Father that in him should all fullness dwell. That he might
have the preeminence. We use this word might differently
than what it means in that passage. We use might as we might do this
or we might not. There in Colossians 1, it means
he became the preeminent. He is first. So it is okay to
boast in Jesus Christ. That is to brag on him. In fact,
it is paramount that we boast in him. Because if we boast in
anything else, we are boasting in this flesh. And this says
Jesus Christ is first. He created all things and they
were created for him. All things were created so that
he might give glory to himself. All things that happen and all
things that are created are held together by him. If you see Jesus
Christ, then you see the Father. You boast in Christ, you boast
in God, because it please God that in Him all fullness dwell. He has done all the work, He
does all the work, and He shall do all the work. I have nothing
to bring to God that is of any value. Everything I have comes
from Him. He is where my confidence comes
from, so this leads me to confidence. So since I boast in Him, I have
confidence in Him. This means there's no confidence
anywhere else as it states here. This especially means we have
no confidence in this flesh. And remember, this is talking
to believers. Those who do not believe have nothing but the
flesh. But for believers, there is no
time when we have confidence in this flesh, especially as
it concerns the law of Moses, the Ten Commandments. I know
some want to talk about the law being in existence from the beginning. I'm not going to argue with them
on this point. I'm not saying that it did not.
But what I will do is state what God states in his word, Romans
520. Moreover, the law entered. that the offense might abound,
but where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. So according
to God, the law entered at some point when it was not there before.
This is God's word and that's what he says, so I believe him.
We also read that the law came by Moses. John 1.17, it says,
for the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus
Christ. And one more, Acts 13.39, and
by him all that believe are justified from all things from which ye
could not be justified by the law of Moses. Again, this is
in God's word and this is what he says, not me, God says this. This law given by Moses, the
Ten Commandments, if you are to keep them, then you will live
by them. And we have already read it,
Galatians 3.10. For as many as are of the works
of the law are under the curse, for it is written, cursed is
everyone that continueeth not in all things which are written
in the book of the law to do them. And then Romans 10 5, for
Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, that the
man which doeth those things shall live by them. The law cannot
give life. Righteousness cannot come by
the law. It is not possible because it
is weak through the flesh. So we have no confidence in this
flesh because it cannot produce a God righteousness, not in any
way. So we went over that the people
of God are circumcised by God, that circumcision made without
hands and this done by his spirit giving us life and indwelling
the child of God, leading him into worship, that is public
honor and praise to his name, causing us to boast in him. He created all things for himself
to give glory to himself, but he actually accomplished something. That means he did something.
He paid the debt of sin I owe. God Almighty was pleased to give
himself glory for saving a people for his name. He accomplished
this. I did not do anything and I cannot
do anything. It is all based on what he has
done. And he is the one that circumcises
our hearts and he is the one that leads us. We have no confidence
in the flesh, but every confidence in Him. So what do we do? We continually boast in Him.
But be warned, there are some who will have you boast in this
flesh. Dogs, evil workers, and mutilators. They want to glory in your flesh.
They want to be able to brag that they got you to do this
or got you to do that. But God's word is clear, Galatians
6.15, for in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything,
nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. First of all, don't
leave out the first part of that verse, for in Christ Jesus. Outside of Christ Jesus, there
is nothing but flesh, and it can do nothing to please a holy,
sovereign God. But in Christ, it is not in doing
or not doing. It is not in who you are or who
you are not. In Christ Jesus, it says here,
and what is it that gives us the ability to glorify him and
not our flesh? Galatians 6, verses 12 through
15, we read, as many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh,
they constrain you to be circumcised, only lest they should suffer
persecution for the cross of Christ. For neither they themselves
who are circumcised keep the law, but desire to have you circumcised
that they may glory in your flesh. But God forbid that I should
glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the
world is crucified unto me and I unto the world. For in Christ
Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision,
but a new creature. It is God that does it all. This
is all done in Christ Jesus the Lord, but he creates us anew,
and that new man with the indwelling Spirit of God gives glory, worships
the Holy One of Israel. Do not follow after those who
have you glory in anything else other than Jesus Christ and Him
crucified. Galatians 2.21, I do not frustrate
the grace of God, for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ
is dead in vain. But righteousness does not come
by the law. Not before you believe, that
is not before you are circumcised without hands, and not after
you are circumcised without hands. All is done to his honor and
glory, and no glory will be given to you for anything you do. Because
when it comes to the law, you cannot do what the law demands. Those who are circumcised without
hands, does it say here in Philippians that they then begin to keep
his law? No, in fact, it never says that
in God's word at all. We are enabled by God to worship
Him for what He has done. And in fact, the scripture even
says, Philippians 2.13, for it is God which worketh in you both
to will and to do of His good pleasure. What do you think His
good pleasure is? To worship and praise His name. To do this publicly. To proclaim
His name to whomever He allows you to do this. And I want to
look at one more thing in closing. Let's read verses four through
nine of Philippians 3. Though I might also have confidence
in the flesh, if any other man thinketh that he hath whereof
he might trust in the flesh, I more. Circumcised the eighth
day of the stock of Israel of the tribe of Benjamin and Hebrew
of the Hebrews, as touching the law of Pharisee, concerning zeal,
persecuting the church, touching the righteousness which is in
the law, blameless, But what things were gained to me, those
I counted lost for Christ. Yea, doubtless, and I count all
things but lost for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus
my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do
count them but done that I may win Christ and be found in him,
not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law. but that
which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which
is of God by faith. Now in Hebrews 11 we read of
those who had faith and this just kind of struck me. We have
heard it said and we have said it ourselves that obeying God
and believing God go hand in hand. This is true, I'm not denying
that. You will have both. But just
read it here, Hebrews 11, four, we read, by faith Abel offered
unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained
witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts,
and by it he being dead, yet speaketh. Abel did this by faith,
but are we going to start making sacrifices like Abel? Hebrews
11.5, by faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death
and was not found because God had translated him. For before
his translation he had this testimony that he pleased God. Are we going
to be translated like Enoch? God certainly has the power to
do so and he has the right to do so. But God translated him
and not Enoch himself. 117, by faith Noah, being warned of
God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an
ark to the saving of his house, by the which he condemned the
world and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
Are we going to build an ark? Is God telling us to build an
ark? One last one, Hebrews 11.23,
by faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents,
because they saw he was a proper child and they were not afraid
of the king's commandment." This says by faith, Moses, when he
was born. Moses did this by faith? It's
not saying this. The whole point here is faith
does those things toward God, faith does those things toward
God, those things which are well-pleasing to Him. Hebrews 11, 6 says, but
without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he that cometh
to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of
them that diligently seek Him. So what does it all boil down
to? What is it that God is telling us to do? believe the record
God gave of his son, boasting Christ. This we do by faith given
us by God, which always looks to him. What does Paul tell us
in verse one? It is not grievous or slothful
to say these things over and over. It is in fact our security
to know these things. This will enable us to rejoice. That is, we can be cheerful,
calmly happy, well off when we see Him. Oh God, cause me to
worship You by Your Spirit through faith given by You in the heart
circumcised without hand.