The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Philippians 3:3,
Paul had a wildly successful ministry in bringing many Gentiles to faith. He was specifically hand-picked by the Lord to be his apostle to this demographic. In Galatians 2:6-10 Paul tells his readers that the leadership of the church in Jerusalem acknowledged God had chosen him as his apostle to the Gentiles. Yet, a stubborn and persistent group who felt that the Gentiles needed to become Jewish converts before joining the church dogged his steps. A key provision of becoming a Jewish proselyte was the need for circumcision. This became a focal point between Paul and his detractors: should the Gentiles be required to be circumcised and obey the Jewish law in order to become Christian?
Paul clearly felt the push to circumcise Gentiles in order to join the fellowship contradicted good theology and confused the gospel message. Consequently much of his letters to the Romans and Galatians are devoted to dispelling the need for Gentiles to become circumcised and keep the law. Circumcision mixed with the gospel brought with it the message that one had to keep the Mosaic law in order to be saved. Against this Paul said, "Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God's sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin." Romans 3:20. Also, "For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law." Romans 3:28. The consistent message of Scripture is that salvation comes by faith, not by "works", not by being a law-keeper. As Paul told the church in Ephesus, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9.
Paul condemned these "legalists". Read this remarkable statement he makes in Galatians 5:2-6, "Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."
Paul clarifies the believer's relationship to the law, "But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code." Romans 7:6. And, specifically of circumcision he says, "A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person's praise is not from other people, but from God." Romans 2:28-29.
Paul's perspective is that there is a circumcision that does take place when we embrace Jesus Christ in faith. It is not a circumcision of the body, but of our hearts, a circumcision performed by the Holy Spirit. It is the removal of the domination of our sinful natures over hearts, our spirits, our souls. It impacts the things we think, do, say and feel. Consequently, while the Jews took pride in their circumcision, and as Paul's detractors insisted upon it, Paul makes the point that it is we - all believers, male and female, who are the "circumcision" - those who serve God.
And, I might add, the circumcision Paul speaks of is a whole lot less painful!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
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