LAW (2) – JESUS UPHOLDS THE LAW (CIRCUMCISION)
This is part four of the study of the law.
Part 1: Melchizedek, Grace, Truth and Law
Part 2: Law is being canceled
Part 3: Law (1) – Justification by faith
(A) OLD ISRAELITES WERE JUSTIFIED BY FAITH EVEN UNDER LAW (OLD COVENANT)
In part 3, the conclusion is that God doesn’t change His method in whichever time frame. From before the law was given, to the old covenant and the new, God justifies men through faith. It is never through the works of the law.
Based on Paul’s teaching on “Circumcision”, modern teaching strongly sermonize that should anyone like to go back and preach on law, they ought to be alienated from Christ. And they have been telling Christians that they are falling from grace. Yes, these verses are found in Galatians 5:2-6 read as below:-
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The theme of modern teaching is saying:
– under the new covenant, there is no law;
– not to obey nor follow God’s law.
Besides, this modern teaching is using Galatians 1:6-9, telling Christians that should they go back to the law (Old Covenant), they are under a double curse. Very scary, is it?
(B) CIRCUMCISION OF HEARTS EVEN UNDER OLD COVENANT
Let’s examine the true meaning of circumcision under the old covenant in Deuteronomy 10:16/ 30:6, Jeremiah 4:4/ 9:25-26, and Leviticus 26:40-42.
| Deuteronomy 10:16 16 CIRCUMCISE YOUR HEARTS, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer. (NIV) |
(Deuteronomy 30:6)
6 The LORD your God will CIRCUMCISE YOUR HEARTS and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live. (NIV)
| (Jeremiah 4:4) 4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, circumcise your HEARTS, you people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, or my wrath will flare up and burn like fire because of the evil you have done— burn with no one to quench it. (NIV) |
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(Leviticus 26:40-42)
40 “‘But if they will CONFESS THEIR SINS and the sins of their ancestors—their unfaithfulness and their hostility toward me,
41 which made me hostile toward them so that I sent them into the land of their enemies—then when their UNCIRCUMCISED HEARTS are humbled and they pay for their sin,
42 I will remember my covenant with Jacob and my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land. (NIV)
The above 5 portions of scripture show that circumcision is not just physical, even under the old covenant. In another word, God does not change His instruction from the old to the new covenant for the call of circumcision. Leviticus 26:40-42 establishes the point that confession is the way out from sin. Please revisit “Part 3: Law (1) – Justification by faith’, for more detail, if necessary.
(C) EXAMPLES OF TIMOTHY AND TITUS
Before we jump to a conclusion, there is a parallel calling on circumcision in Acts 16:1-3.
Paul told Timothy to be circumcised physically in Acts 16:1-3. I thought Paul preaches strongly against circumcision in Galatians 2? Isn’t he even pronounced a double curse that modern teaching loves to imitate?
Why is Paul so controversial? Why does Paul fight so hard against circumcision but on the other hand, advised Timothy to be circumcised?
Other than that, Paul fought strongly disallowing Titus to circumcise before the Jerusalem leaders (Galatians 3:1-5)
Wow! Is Paul being a double standard?
No, Paul is not being controversial or a double standard. The context in Acts 16:1-3 tells us that Timothy’s mother was Jewish and a believer but his father was Greek. Whilst, Titus was a Greek. A Jewish circumcises physically in accordance with Jewish law. But a non-Jewish Christian needs not be circumcised. Should a Christian obey physical circumcision, he ought to follow the whole Jewish law or custom. This is what Galatians 5:2-6 is talking about.
(D) WHAT ABOUT THE BOOK OF ROMANS CHAPTER 2?
Paul explains the true meaning of the theme of circumcision in Romans 2:17-29. From Romans 2:17-27, Paul rebukes Jewish that they are brought up as people who knew the law and boasted about their relationship with God, yet, they do not know the way of God. They teach others not to violate the requirement of the law, but they themselves break God’s law. And Paul continues by quoting Isaiah 52:5 in reiterating his reprimand of those Jewish that God’s name is being blasphemed by their substandard lifestyle in Romans 2:24.
Of course, people like to twist the truth in Romans 2:17-25 by saying no one is able to observe the law faithfully.
Nevertheless, let’s continue to read Romans 2:25-29, and see if modern teaching extracts and paraphrases the doctrine correctly.
Romans 2:25-29
25 Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised.
26 So then, If Those Who Are Not Circumcised Keep The Law’s Requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised?
27 THE ONE WHO IS NOT CIRCUMCISED PHYSICALLY AND YET OBEYS THE LAW WILL CONDEMN YOU WHO, EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE THE WRITTEN CODE AND CIRCUMCISION, ARE A LAWBREAKER.
28 A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical.
29 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. (NIV).
Maybe it is good to refer to one more translation of Romans 2:29, to draw the true meaning. Let’s look at the NTL of the same verse below.
(NTL) 29 No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by the Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people. (Romans 2:29, NTL)
Next, how about Romans 2:12-16 which read:-
(Romans 2:12-16)
12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.
13 For it is NOT those who HEAR the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who OBEY the law who will be declared righteous.
14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law.
15 They show that the requirements of the LAW ARE WRITTEN ON THEIR HEARTS, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.)
16 This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.(Romans 2:12-16, NIV)The cryptic reference should be in Romans 2:13. It states clearly that:
– “It is not those who hear the law who are righteous.
– But it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.”
(E) DID PAUL CONTRADICT TO JAMES?
As a matter of fact, Paul does not contradict James 1:22-25, as those modern teaching suggested. Both Romans 2:13 and James 1:22-25 are saying that:
– it is not the hearers of the law
– but obeying or doers of the law who are blessed.
This is opposed, to modern teaching and at least one more denomination that is saying that the Book of James is not written for Gentile believers. No, Paul’s teaching is aligned with St James’. Unless they are saying that there is one gospel for gentiles and another for Jewish believers. But no such thing. There is only one gospel.
Of course, modern teaching likes to argue that no one is declared righteous in Romans 3. Well, it is good to refer back to “LAW (1) – JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH”. In a nutshell, there is a difference between:
– Works of law and,
– faith in law in Romans 3 and 4.
In the context of verses 14-16, it talks about “Gentiles” without law. That “Gentiles” should be referring to “Gentile Christians:
– Because verse 15 is saying “The law is written on their hearts.” Both Jeremiah 31:33 and Hebrews 10:16 is saying that the law is being written on believers’ hearts, under the new covenant.
– And we all know that the Old Covenant was written on the stones, not in the Old Isrealites’ hearts.
Moreover, verse 14 is saying “Gentiles do the requirement of the law.” If it is referring to non-Gentile Christians:
– And those non-Gentile Christians (Pre-believers) know how to obey and do God’s law, Jesus needs not come to this planet earth then.
– Both Jewish and Gentile Christians should be ashamed of themselves if non-Christians know how to obey His law but not them.
What Romans 2:12-16 is saying is that if Gentile Christians do not have Jewish law; which is Mosics Law, but are able to carry out the requirement of the law is known as heart circumcision. In addition, Paul does not say that those who are in Christ, or under the new covenant (under Grace); shall automatically know as heart circumcision, as what modern teaching is suggesting.
(F) CONCLUSION
Ironically, Paul is saying:
– “DO THE REQUIREMENT” of law are called righteousness.
– No, Paul is not talking about “Imputing Righteousness” as suggesting by modern teaching repeatedly.
– The word “Righteousness” can be “Right Standing” or “Right Doing” with God. It might be good to read “Righteousness Part 1“ again.
Thus, it is not true for modern teaching to say:
– No one can do the requirement of God’s law.
– No law under New Covenant
Of course, through the years, if an untrue message is being preached, and shared repeatedly, the truth can be distorted. It is like boiling a pot with a lukewarm fire, slowly and surely, the untrue becomes the truth.
In reality, either in the old or new covenant, God justifies His people not just physically. Rather He justifies believers according to their hearts in both Testaments. And Jesus came to uphold God’s original commandments. Amenbible
READ:
Righteousness Part 1
BELIEVE AND THE GOSPEL
RELATED POSTINGS:
Part 1: Melchizedek, Grace, Truth and Law
Part 2: Law is being canceled
Part 3: Law (1) – Justification by faith
