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

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!" (KJV)

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 is 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 right-standing with God is found in Christ alone. Romans 5:9 says of how God sees all who have Christ as their righteousness:

"And there is still much more to say of His unfailing love for us! For through the blood of Jesus we have heard the powerful declaration, “You are now righteous in My sight.” And because of the sacrifice of Jesus, you will never experience the wrath of God."

In Christ, God sees us as righteous, "even though we are guilty of many sins"-

"And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins." Romans 5:9.

This is the message of Christ- Righteousness by faith.

False doctrine preachers who promote the attainment of righteousness/godliness (being like God) by human striving (as Satan did with Eve) refer to God's word in Romans 5:16 above as "blasphemy" and "license to sin." But God's word says differently. His word says receiving His abundance of Grace and His gift of righteousness to us in Christ is the Way to live in triumph over sin and death-

"And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. 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." Romans 5:16-17.

Right believing always produces right living.