"Beware of dogs" and "put no confidence in human effort"

Believers, did you know that the phrase "Beware of dogs" has its origins in God's word? See it in Philippians 3:2 (New King James Version)-

"Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation!"

This a warning from Paul to the believers in Philippi to beware of some Jews who were insisting that the Gentile believers ought to be circumcised in order to be really saved. We see that the warning does not just cover the issue of circumcision but also the entire Law of Moses when we read the verse in its context: Philippians 3:1-9 (NLT)-

"Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith. 2 Watch out for those dogs, those people who do evil, those mutilators who say you must be circumcised to be saved. 3 For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort, 4 though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more!

5 I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. 6 I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault.

7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with Him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with Himself depends on faith."

This a picture of life in Christ. But God does not just leave us to wallow in sins now that we who believe have His gift of everlasting righteousness in Christ. His Spirit that dwells in us is transforming us "to the image of the glory of the Lord, from glory to glory." 2 Corinthians 3:18.

Believer, in Christ, we GET TO live right and not through human effort at obedience. By grace, put no confidence in human effort at obeying the law to be saved. Philippians 3 says:

"2 Watch out for those dogs, those people who do evil, those mutilators who say you must be circumcised to be saved. 3 For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort,... I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with Himself depends on faith."

Our confidence is in Christ alone. Through Him, we get to live in triumph over sin and death- Romans 5:17-

"For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and His gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one Man, Jesus Christ."

Right believing always produces right living.