The True People of God

Can you have any more important question than this? What characterizes a real Christian? What characterizes someone who truly is a child of God, who truly is a member of the family of God, who truly has eternal life?
This is a question that is addressed throughout God's word. Again and again a distinction is drawn. Again and again the Bible examines the one who claims to know God, but who doesn't, and compares that kind of person to the one who truly belongs to God.
Just one example is found in 1 John 2:4-5
ESV 1 John 2:4 Whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments ais a liar, and athe truth is not in him, 5 but whoever akeeps his word, in him truly bthe love of God is perfected. cBy this we may know that we are in him: (1Jo 2:4 ESV)
That is what Paul is doing in this 3rd verse. He has called upon the Philippians to be discerning, and he has described the false teachers that they are to be on the lookout for. But now in verse 3, he draws a distinction.
This is what discernment does. Discernment requires making distinctions. If there is truth, then there is error. When there are competing claims for truth, then someone is right and someone is wrong, or both may be wrong, but both cannot be right (the law of non-contradiction).
When the competing claims about truth have to do with eternal matters, when the souls of people are at stake, then we cannot be shy about making those distinctions.
Paul does not hesitate. He doesn't treat the false circumcision as though they are harmless. Nor does he treat the biblical gospel and its preachers as though they are on equal footing. He makes plain that what is at stake here is whether or not someone is