Philippians - False Teachers (Lesson 5 - Post 1)

Lesson 5 is Philippians 3: 1 - 11.  After reading the passage, go back and focus your attention on verses 1 - 3. 

We cannot read these verses without realizing the seriousness of the false teaching about which Paul was so concerned.  The continual problem that faced the New Testament churches was the false teachers who were insisting that the only way to be a Christian was to be a Jew first.  One had to be circumcised.  Those teachers seemed to have followed Paul.  We read much regarding that false teaching in Galatians.  The way Paul describes these pseudo-prophets is harsh and vivid.  Three descriptors ...

• dogs - not the lovable family pets that we think of when we hear the word.  These were the street dogs that often ran in packs causing havoc and trouble.  It was the name that Jews called Gentiles - the undesirable ones.  Even as late as the writing of Revelation, in Revelation 22:15 as Jesus describes those who will be outside of the New Jerusalem of God, he said "Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood."  Paul called these false teachers "dogs".
• men who do evil - the Jews saw themselves as the ones who worked righteousness.  But Paul identifies these teaches as working evil, not righteousness.
• the mutilators - rather than the circumcised ones (which was a spiritually significant sign) Paul calls them the mutilators (a practice strictly forbidden for the people of God - Leviticus 21:5).  The word had to do with cutting oneself, even castration. 

Paul continually preaches and teaches that the only way to righteousness is through faith in Jesus Christ.  These false teachers were perverting that truth.  Therefore, Paul is tough in his language about them.  Remember in chapter 1:18 where Paul took such an "what does it matter" attitude toward those who were teaching Christ with poor motives?  He could almost shrug because Christ was being preached.  The problem with these teachers in chapter 3 is they were preaching a "Christ is not quite enough" message.  And Paul had no patience or tolerance for that distorted teaching.

It matters ... who you listen to.  Jesus, Himself, warned about false teachers.  In Matthew 7:15 he said, "Watch out for false prophets.  They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves." 

How do we do that?  The warnings are real and incredibly serious.  So, how can we know?   A few thoughts for your consideration ...

1. Jesus said in Matthew 7 that you can know by the fruit that is formed.  Does a teacher produce good fruit - greater faith, more love for God, obedience to the will of God?  Or does the teaching produce dissension and quarrelling and self-righteousness? 
2. Does the teacher glorify Christ?  Does he/she point to Christ or point more often to him/herself?
3. Keep yourself immersed in the Word of God so that you know what Jesus said to see if the teaching is true and consistent with the teachings of Jesus.
4. Pray that the Spirit of God will give you a spirit of discernment and wisdom.  James tells us in James 1:5 "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."

The only righteousness that can stand before God is Christ-righteousness.  And the only way we have access to His righteousness is through faith.  Period!