It is not unusual to read signs that urge one to watch his step. Also, there are signs warning us to beware of fierce, dangerous dogs that might harm us. But it does seem strange that Paul would write to the church a warning to beware of dogs.
He does do that when in Philippians 3:2 he writes, "Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision." The meaning plainly is that the evil workers of which he wrote are these dogs, that is, men who are dangerous to the church. In this particular instance these evil workers are men who boast about their works. Notice that in verse three Paul writes, "For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh."
The point here is that some do not rejoice in what Christ did for His people, but instead boast about what they did to obtain their salvation. No, no, Paul says. We rejoice in what Christ did. We do not boast of our works as that which brought us our salvation.
Yes, we are so very thankful that God enabled us to believe in Christ and to fight the sin in our flesh. But we must not and do not boast about what we did. Our faith is not something which we give to God but is His gift to us. We say with Paul, as he wrote to the Ephesians, "By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8 ).
Today we must be very careful because around us are many who preach and boast of opening their hearts to let Christ come in. That is very dangerous. It robs us of that rejoicing in Christ of which Paul wrote in verse one. It is far more dangerous than to be bitten by a fierce, wild dog. That lie of letting Christ come into our hearts denies His almighty power and makes Him dependent upon us. Then we have a weak Savior instead of the almighty Son of God Who comes in by His own power and causes us to know this and rejoice in Him as our Savior. Remember to Praise God from Whom ALL blessings flow. He does not depend upon us, but we depend in every sense upon Him.
Read: Romans 9:16-21
Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism
Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
Jeremiah 33 ; Jeremiah 34:1-22
1 Timothy 4:1-16
Psalm 89:1-13
Proverbs 25:23-24
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Quote for Reflection:
"Moreover, we believe and teach that the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, was from all eternity predestinated and foreordained of the Father to be the Saviour of the world. And we believe that he was begotten, not only then, when he took flesh of the Virgin Mary, nor yet a little before the foundations of the world were laid; but before all eternity, and that of the Father after an unspeakable manner." —Second Helvetic Confession
Additional Info
- Date: 19-October
