"THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS"
Circumcision And The Gospel (2:1-5)
INTRODUCTION
1. Paul's primary purpose in writing to the Galatians was to defend...
a. His apostleship - Ga 1:1
b. His gospel - Ga 1:11-12
2. In doing so, he recounts a meeting that took place in Jerusalem, in
which...
a. He, Barnabas, and Titus attended - Ga 2:1
b. He had the opportunity to relate the gospel he preached - Ga 2:2
c. Some tried to compel Titus (a Greek) to be circumcised - Ga 2:3-5
a. By false brethren, who sought to force Titus to keep the Law
b. Which Paul adamantly refused, standing fast for "the truth of
the gospel"
3. The issue of circumcision and the gospel was a major concern in the
first century...
a. Did Gentiles (non-Jews) who became Christians have to be
circumcised as per the Law?
b. The question preoccupied many churches, and much of Paul's
ministry
[While the issue was resolved sufficiently that it is rarely a problem
today, there are important lessons to be gleaned from a study of
"Circumcision And The Gospel". Let's review, therefore...]
I. THE PRACTICE OF CIRCUMCISION
A. IN THE OLD TESTAMENT...
1. As a sign of a covenant, it began with Abraham - Gen 17:9-14,
23-27; cf. Ro 4:11
2. It continued with Isaac, Jacob and his sons - Gen 21:4; 34:
14-17
3. Moses circumcised his sons, and gave the ordinance to Israel
- Exo 4:26; cf. Jn 7:22
3. It was required to observe the Passover - Exo 12:48
4. Male children were to be circumcised the eighth day - Lev 12:
1-3
5. The Jews born in the wilderness had not been circumcised, but
were after they crossed the Jordan River - Josh 5:1-8
B. IN THE NEW TESTAMENT...
1. John the Baptist was circumcised as an infant - Lk 1:59
2. Jesus was likewise circumcised on the eighth day - Lk 2:21
3. It became an issue when the gospel was first preached to
Gentiles - Ac 11:1-3
4. It was the focus of controversy in Antioch and Jerusalem - Ac
15:1-2,4-6
5. Paul had Timothy circumcised - Ac 16:1-3
6. It was rumored that Paul taught Jews not to be circumcised - Ac
21:18-21
7. It was certainly a frequent subject in Paul's epistles
a. To the Romans - Ro 2:25-29; 3:1,30; 4:9-12; 15:8
b. To the Corinthians - 1Co 7:18-19
c. Especially to the Galatians - Ga 2:1-9,12; 5:2-6,11; 6:12-15
d. Mentioned in Ephesians - Ep 2:11
e. Also to the Colossians - Col 2:11; 3:11; 4:11
[Because of the role of circumcision in Israel's history, and its
significance in early history of the church, it is important that we
properly understand it in relation to...]
II. THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL
A. PHYSICAL CIRCUMCISION NOT REQUIRED...
1. Evidenced by the conversion of Cornelius and his family - Ac
10:44-48; 11:17-18
2. Confirmed at that conference in Jerusalem - Ac 15:7-21
3. Proclaimed by the letter sent by the apostles and elders - Ac
15:22-31
4. Expounded upon by Paul in his letters - Ro 4:8-12; 1Co 7:19;
Ga 5:1-6; 6:15
B. SPIRITUAL CIRCUMCISION NOW AVAILABLE...
1. A circumcision made without hands, in which sins are cut away
- Col 2:11
2. Which occurs when we buried with Christ in baptism, then raised
with Him - Col 2:12
3. When God makes us alive with Christ, forgiving our sins - Co
2:13
[The physical rite of circumcision has become a matter of indifference
to God, though it can be used and misused. From both the practice of
circumcision and the truth of the gospel as revealed in the Bible, let's
summarize...]
III. THE LESSONS FROM CIRCUMCISION
A. RITUAL ALONE NOT ADEQUATE...
1. This was true even when circumcision was required of Israel
2. God desired circumcision of the heart as well as of the flesh
- Deut 10:16; 30:6; Jer 4:4
3. Paul explained that the true Jew was the one circumcised in
heart - Ro 2:28-29
-- The same is true of baptism; it must be accompanied with faith
and repentance - Mk 16:16; Ac 2:38; 8:36-37; Col 2:12
B. THE LAW HAS PASSED AWAY...
1. Jesus said not one jot or tittle of the Law would pass until
all was fulfilled - Mt 5:17-18
2. Circumcision was required by the Law - Exo 12:48; Lev 12:1-3
3. If circumcision is no longer binding, the change implies the
passing away of the Law
-- A similar point is made with reference to the priesthood of
Christ - He 7:12-19
C. 'EVERLASTING' MAY NOT MEAN 'LASTING FOREVER'...
1. Circumcision was described as the sign of an 'everlasting
covenant' - Gen 17:10-14
2. In the case of circumcision, 'everlasting' (Heb., olam) did not
mean 'lasting forever'
a. BDB defines olam as "long duration, antiquity, futurity, for
ever, ever, everlasting, ever more, perpetual, old, ancient,
world"
b. The Complete Word Study Dictionary defines olam as "meaning
a very long time."
c. "It may cover a given person's lifetime (Exo 21:6; 1 Sam
1:22); a period of many generations (Josh 24:2; Pr 22:28);
the time of the present created order (Deut 33:15; Ps 73:
12); time beyond this temporal sphere, especially when used
regarding God (Gen 21:33; Ps 90:2; Dan 12:2, Dan 12:7)
- ibid.
d. "The term also applies to many things associated with God,
such as His decrees, His covenants, and the Messiah (Gen 9:
16; Exo 12:14; Mic 5:2)." - ibid.
3. If 'everlasting' always meant 'lasting forever', then we should
still be observing:
a. The Passover - Exo 12:14
b. The Feast of Unleavened Bread - Exo 12:17
c. The priesthood of Aaron - Exo 29:9
d. The Sabbath - Exo 31:16-17
e. The sacrifices, with their portions for the priests - Lev
6:18; 7:34-36; 10:15
f. Fasting and animal sacrifices on the Day of Atonement - Lev
16:29-34
g. The Feast of Tabernacles - Lev 23:39-42
h. ...and many other elements of the Law described as
'everlasting ordinances'
4. From the context of the Scriptures, one discerns when
'everlasting' means 'lasting forever'
-- Since circumcision is no longer binding, we should not be
surprised such is true with other elements of the Law - cf. Co
2:16-17; He 9:10
D. WHEN TRADITION BECOMES SINFUL...
1. Paul did not hesitate to use the tradition of circumcision when
expedient - Ac 16:3
a. The same with other Jewish traditions - Ac 18:18,21
b. Even some that involved animal sacrifices - Ac 21:18-26
2. Yet he opposed circumcision (and other elements of the Law)
when people attempted to:
a. Bind it on Gentiles, as in the case of Titus - Ga 2:3-5
b. Use it for the purpose of justification - Ga 5:2-4
3. Thus Jesus also condemned traditions of men when they:
a. Are taught as commandments to be bound on others - Mk 7:6-7
b. By their observance prevent keeping the commandments of God
- Mk 7:8-13
-- Under the right circumstances, traditions may be observed - cf.
Ro 14:5-6
CONCLUSION
1. The issue of circumcision may seem antiquated and unimportant...
a. It certainly is not one of the 'hot issues' of our day
b. Yet lessons learned from studying the issue can be very helpful
2. Understanding the issue of circumcision can help us preserve the
truth of the gospel...
a. We are saved by an obedient faith in Christ, not by keeping the
Law of Moses
b. The Law as a system of justification came to an end at the cross
of Christ
c. Elements of the Law, such as circumcision, the Passover, Sabbath,
etc., are not binding today
d. Traditions of the Law might be observed on a personal level, but
it is a sin to base one's salvation on them, or to bind them on
other people
While circumcision of the flesh is nonessential, the circumcision
'without hands' is certainly necessary if we are to have our sins 'cut
away'... - cf. Col 2:11-13
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