Beware of the Dogs

Beware of the Dogs

Philippians 3:2–3 (NIV) “Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh.”

In this passage, Paul is being polemical in strongly condemning the teaching of the Judaizers. These people were coming into Gentile churches and teaching that various works, such as circumcision and the keeping of other Jewish laws were required for salvation.

The Jews referred to Gentiles as dogs and Paul is turning that around on them. When he speaks of dogs here, he is referring to those who wanted to mix the Old Testament Law with New Covenant Grace. They are as bad as pagan Gentiles. He calls them evil workers and mutilators.

In Galatians 1:6-9 he condemns them very harshly. He says they should be accursed. The Greek word is “anathema.” They are mutilators because the activities to which they are calling people are destructive. They are evil workers because they add works to the grace of God and thus kill the faith of people who take their errant teaching to heart.

Like Paul, let me warn you not to take to heart any teaching that would give lip service to grace while subtly requiring certain behaviors to ensure your good standing with God. While we are called to deny ungodliness, live upright and godly lives, and to love others, none of these things is done to earn us Father’s favor. As my friend Mike Q. Daniel says, “The opposite of grace is not works. The opposite of grace is merit.”

Father loves you, and you are accepted in Jesus Christ. (see Ephesians 1:6) There is nothing left for you to earn. Your merit is based on the finished work of Jesus Christ.