Philippians 3:3

The Philippians and Paul, and all true believers, belong to a different camp, that of the true circumcision. Paul was referring to the circumcision of the heart that happens when a person trusts in Jesus Christ. The alternative is trusting in self and in rite-keeping for salvation (Romans 2:25-29; Colossians 2:11; Colossians 2:13; cf. Leviticus 26:41; Deuteronomy 10:16; Deuteronomy 30:6; Jeremiah 4:4; Ezekiel 44:7). The true circumcision refers to believers in the church, not that the church is the "new Israel." [Note: For refutation of the covenant view that the "true circumcision" refers to the church as the new Israel, see Robert L. Saucy, The Case for Progressive Dispensationalism, pp. 202-5.]

Paul used two Greek verbs that are very similar. Peritemnein means to circumcise, and katatemnein means to mutilate. Peritemnein describes the sacred sign and work of circumcision, but katatemnain, as in Leviticus 21:5, describes forbidden self-mutilation, such as castration and the like. So Paul says, You Jews think that you are circumcised, but really you are only mutilated. [Note: Barclay, p. 68.]

Paul used three terms to describe the false teachers (Philippians 3:2). He used three others to characterize the true circumcision. We worship (Gr. latreuein) God in the Spirit. The alternative is going through certain physical rituals (cf. John 4:23-24). Probably Paul meant that the Holy Spirit initiates worship with the result that love and service follow (cf. John 14:17). [Note: Hawthorne, p. 127.] Those who rely on rites and ceremonies to make themselves acceptable to God do not have the Spirit of God. They are not believers in the gospel.

Second, we glory in Christ Jesus. That is, we look to Him as the one who makes us acceptable to God rather than looking to works (cf. Jeremiah 9:23-24; 1 Corinthians 1:31; 2 Corinthians 10:17). We focus on Him and find our satisfaction in Him because He is our Savior.

Third, we put no confidence in the flesh to make us acceptable to God. The New Testament writers used the term "flesh" (Gr. sarx) in one literal and in two metaphorical senses. Literally it refers to our bodies (Luke 24:39; et al.). Figuratively it refers to all that we were in Adam (before our salvation; Romans 7:5; Romans 8:9; et al.) and to our human nature (cf. Galatians 2:20; Galatians 5:17; et al.). Here Paul probably meant our human nature, what we can do without divine enablement, naturally. We do not have confidence that anything we do to our bodies, or anything we do, will make us acceptable to God but realize that trusting in Jesus Christ is what is necessary. We have no confidence in what we are by nature to make us acceptable to God. We understand that we cannot save ourselves, and we acknowledge that God must save us.