Philippians 3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. I. THE PERSONS WARNED. 1. All the Philippians, and not merely the pastors. They must beware of false teachers. Christ's sheep can discern between a wolf and a shepherd (John 10:4-5), and therefore they are bidden to "try the spirits," and "prove all things." But how, say the Papists, should common people know the Word to be the Word of God? For answer I would ask such how they know the pope's canons to be the pope's? They will say their teachers bring them in the pope's name, and they believe their teachers. So we believe our teachers, who tell us this is and that is not the Word of God. But they object that this makes every man a judge. I answer, there is a manner of judging, viz., that by which we discern of anything, which every Christian must have, so that it cannot be a plea to him at the day of judgment to say, "My teacher did mislead me." Every. one must discern between good and bad. For he that knows not his Master's will shall be beaten. 2. Not only young and ordinary Christians are to beware, but also the best settled. The Philippians were a Church established in the truth. II. THE WARNING GIVEN — "Beware," which signifies to discern, and then to avoid. Those who are aware of evil will beware of it. The Church is even subject to danger; and God suffers it to be so. 1. To try those who are true and who false. 2. To try the good so as to make them better. III. THE PERSONS WARNED AGAINST. 1. Wicked men and dogs. (1) Without the Church all are dogs. (2) The dogs within the Church first fawn upon their intended victims (Romans 16:18), and when they cannot prevail by flattery they snarl and bark against them, by slanders and open scoffs, when they cannot bite. When they can they persecute with fire and sword. 2. Evil workers. (1) Seducing men from Christ. (2) Wicked livers. 3. The concision. They make divisions in the Church. IV. HOW TO TAKE THE WARNING. 1. Get fundamental truths into the heart and love them (2 Thessalonians 2:10). None are seduced but such as are cold in love. 2. Practice that we know, and God will give us a fuller measure of knowledge, whereby we shall know seducers. (John 7:17). 3. Pray to God for wisdom to discern of schisms and ill-disposed persons. 4. Let us look that we keep in us a holy fear and reverence of God (Psalm 25:12). (R. Sibbes, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. |
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