1235. Circumcision and Uncircumcision Are Contrary to the Church, God's New Creation

Circumcision and Uncircumcision Are Contrary to the Church, God's New Creation

"As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, they compel you to be circumcised; only that they may not be persecuted for the Cross of Christ" (Gal_6:12, A. S. V.).

There is no compatibility, no fellowship, no parallel path between the Jew and the Gentile on the one hand and the Church of God on the other hand. This is true for the following reasons:

1. The flesh is contrary to the Spirit. "The flesh warreth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary the one to the other."

The flesh stands for everything that man is and that man can do. The Spirit stands exclusively for the things of God. These contend the one against the other.

Circumcision stands for the flesh and for a fair show of the flesh. "Those who desire to have you circumcised," Paul said, "desire it that they may glory in the flesh."

The Spirit stands for Jesus Christ and the new creation. It denies the flesh, crucifies it, puts it off. The Spirit glories in the Lord Jesus Christ, and in His Cross.

2. The outside wars against the inside, and these are contrary the one to the other. Circumcision and uncircumcision have nothing whatsoever to do with the heart or the heart life. They deal with things outside. Their mission may be summed up in one word, "reformation." The Church, God's new creation, deals with the inside; it is summed up in the one word, "regeneration."

We take it that when the Holy Spirit said: "Circumcision is not anything and uncircumcision is not anything," that He said: "Reformation is not anything, and outward moralities are not anything." Christ knew the utter inability of accomplishing anything vital, anything that could be fellowshiped in Heaven, apart from the new birth, which works within.

Just now there is a great deal of stir being made over the country, concerning "social service"–this is that of which Christ said, "It is not anything." It deals with environments, with things exterior, with effects. It has nothing whatsoever to do with repentance, faith, the Cross of Christ, and the quickening Spirit.

3. Creeds versus Christ. Circumcision and uncircumcision stand together for creeds. The one for creeds that are good, the other for creeds that are bad, but neither the one nor the other is anything. Christianity is not a creed. Christianity is Christ. To be sure creeds may express convictions concerning Christ; they thus hold an important place in the church and among saints; but a creedal religion which knows nothing of the personal Christ, is not anything.

One can make fair promises with their lips, while their hearts are far from the Lord. We must do more than to say with the head "credo." "I believe," for, "with the heart man believeth unto righteousness."

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR