Be Aware Of Dogs, Be Aware Of Evil Workers, Be Aware Of The Mutilation!

PHILIPPIANS 3:2-4
“Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so:
”‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:2-4‬ ‭NKJV‬
‬https://www.bible.com/114/php.3.2-4.nkj

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Paul, was a devout Christian; he was circumcised at eight years old and was a pure-blooded citizen of Israel; a member of the tribe of Benjamin-a real Hebrew if there ever was one!
He was a member of the Pharisees, who demanded the strictest obedience to the Jewish law; he obeyed the law without fault, (PHILIPPIANS 3:5-6) but Paul realized, their is nothing we humans can do including circumcision as many religious people think, to buy or earn our salvation, for salvation comes from faith in Christ, and nothing else.
Furthermore, Paul, a pure blooded citizen of Israel, recognised that even he needed deliverance at some point in his life (ROMANS 7:13-25) and he could do nothing good without Christ Jesus.
Paul said, “But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:7-9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
We cannot gain salvation by any kind of works, or the good things we do, nor religious acts or indeed, by obeying God's laws; salvation doesn't rely on our own works, it’s too late for that, we have all already sinned and without a Saviour, we shall face death justified by the Law.
Salvation comes through Christ alone; He is our redeemer.
Therefore my brethren, don’t be sucked in by false teachers who drag you into unnecessary religious acts or use Scripture to emotionally blackmail you into giving more than you can afford; Paul describes these people as dogs because they are not of His ministry.
Jesus said, ““Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭15‬-‭20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
My beloved, if the church you attend is not of Christ five fold ministry, is not of God and no matter how good it sounds or feels, it will prophet you nothing.
But as a member of Jesus five fold ministry, you are all apostles, prophets, teachers, pastors, and evangelist, and each has an important part to play within the whole body.
You are not called to assemble simply to sing praise by the leadership of men, listen to a man made sermon and then go home. That’s “man’s church”.
Therefore, “Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6‬:‭6‬-‭10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
My beloved, you are an individual part of the whole body and have an important part play.
In Christ church, Jesus is the head, and the whole body must come together in unity obedient to the head (EPHESIANS 4:11-16).
The eye doesn’t instruct the foot, nor the ear the mouth; but every part is subject to the head.
The pastors place is not to control, but rather to host and shepherd by the leading of the head.
“For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.”
‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭12‬-‭31‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.””
‭‭Mark‬ ‭16‬:‭15‬-‭18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
This instruction applies to every Spirit filled believer, if he’s not Spirit filled, he’s not of God and is in need of salvation.
Do you see the signs and wonders within the your church? Truly I tell you, if it’s of Christ, His signs and wonders will follow and lives will change.
The captives will be set free, the sick shall be healed, and many shall speak in tongues and prophecy God’s truth with words of knowledge. Curses will be broken and the fruits of the Spirit will shine from the congregation.
Of course we believers should do good by helping those in need, we should live Godly lives too, all these things are good, but they cannot buy your salvation.
Living right and doing good shall flow naturally from those who are obedient to the Spirit. But giving outside the leading of the Holy Spirit in the belief it purchases salvation, or makes one look good, or for any other selfish agendas, may mutilate one’s finances; marriage, ministry, and his joy in Christ.
Paul said, these things are rubbish in comparison to knowing Christ, and salvation comes entirely from faith in Christ Jesus.
The truth is, if salvation was not a free gift, our debt to Jesus Christ would continue to grow every single day; furthermore, their is nothing we can do to repay him, so simply give thanks to Him and receive the wonderful gift of life purchased by the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ.
My beloved, “By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭4‬-‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
But for “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭16:16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.