1/9/05

Intro:  Ch. 3:1-3-a brief warning about legalists who corrupt

the gospel, leading to a biographically statement by Paul.

I. Rejoice in the Lord is not the same as the human viewpoint

of the right to happiness.  3:1 “rejoice in the Lord”-

1)  To rejoice in the Lord elevates our focus above the

circumstance we face.    See Lk.10:17-20

2)  American believe in the illusion of a so-called right to be

happy.  Where does this come from?

3)  Happiness is a by-product of right thinking and right

living.  Prov.3:13, 14:21, 16;20, 28:14, 29:18.

4)  To rejoice in the Lord develops an enlarged capacity

for life- John 16:33

II. The warnings in vs. 2 concern gospel-harming legalists.

 See Gal.1:6-9—these legalists required believers to be

circumcised and keep the Law—creating uncertainty and

confusion.                       3 terms used:

  dogs- unclean, carried disease, attack the weak

 evil workers- due to opposing grace as a way of life

  concision- word means ‘mutilators’- as circumcision

was their cry, they only disfigured victims

III. In contrast to these heretics, believers are truly and

spiritually circumcised.  3:3 “we are the circumcision”

1) OT addressed need for spiritual circumcision- Deut.10:16

and 30:6,  Jere. 4:4

2) As NT believers, circumcision was a term used to speak of

God’s power to free us from dominion of sin. Col.2:11