Philippians 3:1-6
“Value your relationship with Christ and rejoice in Him” that was the encouragement written to the Church. He had to repeat that over and over again, to keep their faith safe.
It was necessary because of the rising number of the “mutilators” – those who say salvation is possible only if one is circumcised according to the provisions of the law, Paul referred to them as dogs to show how they keep barking aggressively, advancing a dangerous poisonous message which was anti-Christ in nature.
There is subtle way we sometimes find ourselves indulged in the same error of the “mutilator” which is being preached all over. For instance, one may boast about his stand with God because of the fact that he had been a virgin all his life and married as a virgin, making himself feel better and more righteous than those who might probably have lived in sin before coming to know Christ Jesus. That is self-deception!
When we begin to appraise ourselves and give credence to our prayers, alms giving, tithing, fasting, righteous living as basis for our being blessed by the Lord, setting aside the grace and mercies of God, we are in all respect reenacting the Judaizer’s ideology. It is however needful to take into cognizance the other extreme who also attribute everything to the grace of God and see no need for self-restrain and living right in making our election sure.
It is time we look into the realities that it is all about Jesus and what He has done...not the flesh. We should ask God to help us daily to live in the light of this divine truth.
