Scripture Reading: Mark 7:27,28; Philippians 3:2
When approached by a Gentile woman in need of help, our Lord said to her, "Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread and to cast it unto the dogs" (Mark 7:27). Dogs! Is this our sensitive, loving and caring Lord who is speaking? Yes, indeed! But rather than taking offense, this woman readily acknowledged her place as a Gentile "dog," saying, "Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs" (Mark 7:28). Recognizing her faith, the Lord granted her request.
Are the Gentiles still considered "dogs"bythe Lord today? No, now the tables have turned. In Philippians 3:2, Paul writes, "Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision." God refers to the "concision" as dogs, but who are the concision? Actually, Paul is using a play on words here, based on the word circumcision. As Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles, proclaimed the gospel of the grace of God, the Judaizers [those attempting to continue in the Jewish laws] often followed at a distance ready to impose circumcision on new believers. (See Acts 15:1.) Since circumcision is not a part of God's program today, this practice--when used for a religious ceremony=becomes nothing but a mutilation of the flesh; and this is precisely the meaning of the word concision. Paul tells the Philippians to watch out for Judaizing "dogs" who would mutilate their flesh in the name of religion.
We can thank God that we Gentiles who were once considered "dogs" are now sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ!
How
God Saves Men
Believing
Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing
Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.
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Romans 1:16, Romans 10:9-10 and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4
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