What Dogs?

Philippians 3:1-3

Probably every parent has experienced it. You tell a child something important, and it goes in one ear and out the other without even bumping anything on the way through. One writer described it as throwing into the void. Adults aren’t much better, retaining only a small portion of what they hear, even when they want to remember it.

As a result of this tendency, many speakers are advised to “tell them what you are going to tell them, then tell it to them, and finish by telling them what you told them.” The book Seven Laws Of Teaching says that 1/3 of the teacher’s time should be spent in reviewing. Studies have shown that while people register little of what they hear, repetition increases the likelihood of remembering. It seems that the brain assumes that things it hears repeatedly are more important, and concentrates on them.

Paul recognizes this tendency, and notes that while it is easy to repeat something, it is more likely to result in obedience, thus escaping God’s judgment. While new things are more exciting, it is better to focus on the basics. Once one has been saved (discipled), certain things should develop in his life. He needs to be taught these things. Matthew 28:19-20 stresses this fact. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Should you question my referring to salvation as discipling, compare the Greek words for teach and teaching in these two verses.) Notice Paul’s statement.

“Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.” (Philippians 3:1-3)

I heard a preacher say on time that Paul’s advice to beware of dogs meant to watch out for them on visitation so you didn’t get bit. While that is good advice, I believe the meaning goes a little farther. II Peter 2:22 describes some as being like dogs. “But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.”

The parable of the sower, related in Matthew 13, Mark 4 and Luke 8 all describe some who easily believe, but have no root , and fall away. Luke 8:13 describes this. “They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.” Like the devils in James 2:19, or the rest of the people of Jericho, described in Joshua 2:9-11, They believe God has power, but their faith does not result in appropriate action, just mental assent, and effort in the flesh to straighten out their lives. There is no real commitment of their lives to Christ. Peter describes the result.

“For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.” (II Peter 2:20-22)

These have not lost their salvation, they have not gone far enough to actually get it, although they’ve come close enough to fool people, even tasting some of the benefits for themselves. They never became a new creature, as described in II Corinthians 5:17, and return to their natural behavior. They can be a real hindrance to others, and destroy the church’s testimony. We need to apply church discipline, as described in I Corinthians 5, because as Hebrews 6:4-6 tells us, we’ll never turn them to God. “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.”

Being aware of evil workers is an obvious need. They try to get us involved with their sin, either as a participant, or as a victim. Avoiding involvement is our best protection.

The concision refers to the actual cutting involved with circumcision. We must be aware of those who are focused solely on the physical actions of religion, with no awareness of any spiritual reality. The Sadducees were typical of this group, denying any thing beyond the ritual itself. Even the Pharisees believed there was a God and that their actions either pleased or displeased him. The concision has little or no interest in doctrine, or meaning, contenting themselves with the emotions resulting from the ritual itself.

The Pharisees were concerned with the ritual, and the doctrine behind it, but they still saw it as a tradition, that served a useful purpose. Their religion was a life style. To the Christian, it is life, not a life style. The emphasis changes from what we do to what God has done. Our attitude is changed, not just our actions. The difference can be illustrated by those who wear western clothing and go to rodeos for entertainment (Sadducees), Rodeo performers, who practice to put on a good show and maintain the traditions (Pharisees), and the working cowboy, whose life consists of caring for cattle every day.

Both the Sadducee and the Pharisee tend to focus us away from the reality of the day to day life and responsibility.