Beware of Dogs

Beware of Dogs

Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation.” (Philippians 3:2)

Although our salvation is secure “in Christ,” Paul warns us that we can be deceived (Colossians 2:8), our faith can be shipwrecked (1 Timothy 1:19), and we can fall from our own “steadfastness” (2 Peter 3:17). These are serious warnings. There are those who are the “enemies of the cross of Christ” (Philippians 3:18), which explains these startling descriptions in today’s verse.

Dogs, both literally and metaphorically, are rarely mentioned in a positive light in Scripture. “Dogs” surrounded the Lord Jesus on the cross (Psalm 22:16). Blind watchmen are called “dumb dogs,” and ignorant shepherds are labeled “greedy dogs” because neither seek the good of God’s people (Isaiah 56:10-11). We are explicitly warned not to give “that which is holy to dogs” (Matthew 7:6). We must “beware of dogs,” evil doers.

Jesus, in his amazing Sermon on the Mount, warned us about wolves in sheep’s clothing: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15).

Those motivated by evil face severe condemnation. False prophets are called “wolves” (Matthew 7:15), false apostles are deceitful (2 Corinthians 11:13), and those who falsely profess Christ are hateful, disobedient, and reprobate (Titus 1:16).

The mutilators are those who require the Old Testament circumcision as evidence of conversion (Galatians 6:12-15), thereby disregarding and nullifying the grace of God given through the Lord Jesus Christ. They ignore the simple gospel truth that salvation is Jesus Christ plus nothing.

All such workers of iniquity will be rejected by this same Lord Jesus when they insist that their works are sufficient for salvation (Matthew 7:22-23).

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

That’s the Good News,

Dr Robert Bryant