Mutilation of the Dogs
Phi 3:2-3 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews;
Though Apostle Paul an Israelite, a Hebrew of Hebrews, circumcised and fervently keeping the Law and the Prophets, yet the confidence in the flesh including circumcision, temple sacrifices and worships, keeping of feasts and eating only clean food are now meaningless to him. This old covenant (circumcision of the flesh) has been superceded with the new covenant (circumcision of the heart) by the blood of Jesus.
In Christ Jesus we must worship God in spirit and in truth. In spirit, when Christians have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. In Truth, when the Holy Spirit of truth (Spirit of Christ) dwells within us.
John 4:20, 23-24 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship," .."But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
Phi 3:6-7 concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
Apostle Paul was a godly and devout Jew, who was fervently keeping the Law and Prophets. He was not like the Priesthood nor Pharisees, who were hypocrites then, for he walked out his faith by persecuting and imprisoned Christians whom he taught were deviants.
All his good works in the Law, he knew were useless for they only made him to be powerful and proud so that men feared and respected him, thus he counted them as rubbish.
With Christ, he knew that His righteousness could transform him. His target was no longer to serve God faithfully as a task master but to love Him as an obedient son by showing love to all men. By faith he gave up everything in this world just to be able to know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings.
Phi 3:8-10 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
Phi 3:17-19 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things.
All those who bring Judaism, such as sacrifices and observing of Jewish feasts and Sabbath, into Christianity are enemies of the cross for they do not have the faith that our Lord Jesus had fulfilled the Law and Prophets.
