Moralism of Circumcision 2

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Moralism of Circumcision Theology II- The Gospel of the Jews

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not!… I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain. Galatians 2:16-17, 21.

The Galatians believed the Jews and Paul in response to their gullibility lashed them with hard words. Please, carefully study all the Epistles of Paul, you would notice that he never addressed these churches as saints. The Corinthian church despite their canality and moral failures didn’t receive as harsh a treatment as these churches, that is to tell that in the matters of doctrine, it cannot be compromised to any little degree because a little leaven leavens the whole lump. He addressed them as foolish because they have turned from the gospel that saved and redeemed them to embrace another gospel. Let me ask Apostle Paul, is circumcision wrong? No, not at all. In Paul’s missionary journey after he had written this particular letter, he circumcised Timothy not because that would add to his salvation but because it will increase his efficiency in ministry especially among the Jews and because he had a Jewish maternity. On the other hand, he never needed to circumcise Luke, Acts 16:1-3. Was Paul debating we should not keep the Mosaic law at all? I would say an emphatic no! Paul himself made the vow of a Nazarine (Nazarite) in his second missionary journey thus his desire to go to Jerusalem to perform all that was necessary as Moses has prescribed in the law for the Nazarite: Numbers 6. It was on the seventh day of fulfilling his vows in the temple that he was seized and forcefully arrested which led to his imprisonment. So Paul himself actually kept the Mosaic law, “Yes, he did.”

Mr Paul, if you circumcised Timothy and you kept the Mosaic law, what is your qualms about these teachers? I can hear Paul say they took the grace of God for granted and frustrated it. How? By teaching that in addition to faith in Jesus, one must be circumcised and obey the law of Moses in order to be saved. That is an assault on the sacfrice of Christ on Calvary.

This gives us a little clue on what the Moralism of Circumcision Theology means. It is any doctrine that teaches that in addition to our faith in Christ, there are some additional things, external dispositions, attitudes and behaviours we must put on in order to be saved. I must make Paul’s mind clear to you as of the time he wrote this letter. The Galatians were no longer Christians as at the time this letter reached them. Why? They did not abide in the teaching of Christ. It was only grace and God’s mercy they received that Paul wrote the letter to them so they be not damned because they are also numbered among the elect, otherwise they would be lost forever. How many people are seated and standing in churches today who are no longer Christians because of what they have believed, permit me to say even preachers. It is pertinent to say that in many Evangelical churches, the Moralism of Circumcision Theology has crept in. Paul was heartbroken at the false teachers who had perpetrated these teachings who know not what betide them, hear him:

I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you (by implication, they had turned away from God and turned to their own moral and self righteousness, so it is right to say at this point they are no longer Christians and that was why Paul by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit could not call them saints as he had called other churches including the Corinthian church full of moral failures) in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another, but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. Galatians 1:6-8

This is fearful for me. The teachers of the false heresies will face a great condemnation, but those who also fall into their trap by their gullibility cannot be excused. This is a very serious warning to everyone of us. Paul knows that the Galatians had been gullibly led into the error because of their simplicity but it does not however soften the implication on their eternal destinies. Such damnable heresies leads to condemnation.

Let me ask Mr Paul one more question because it bothers on a lot of sermons we hear today. These people have already been born again, why does believing that circumcision and obeying the law of Moses in addition will strengthen or perfect their salvation a big deal? After all, is Christianity not a moral religion?

Paul says Christianity is not a moral religion as we have seen above because there is actually nothing that man can bring before a holy God to make him acceptable and pleasing. Man must always be conscious of his sinfulness and the wrath of God which is pending on the sinners, that is the purpose of the law. But He had shown His benevolent love, grace and mercy as Christ bore the full wrath on our behalf, this was the cup he referred to that He talked about in Gethsemane. So He as it were drank the cup full of God’s wrath on our behalf that God would reach out to us in His mercy and we can receive freely His pardon by believing in His Son. As such, the merit of Christ is transferred to our account. It is therefore, an assault and affront to the sacrifice of Christ to say that there is something additional for man to bring or do (in whatever form the teaching might come) in order to perfect his salvation. Paul understood this very well, Galatians 2:16-21. I must also say that no one should think “I can be exempted from this error.” Paul made it clear that Peter and Barnabas were sliding to give these kind of teachers a strong hold to affirm their teachings not in words but by action through stepping back from eating with Gentile believers when the Jews were around. Peter never taught that people needed to be saved by being circumcised but his actions of withdrawal spoke louder than words and Paul said he rebuked Peter vehemently for he was a sinner just like the others, Galatians 2:11-14.

Excuse me sir! How about Christian sanctification or do we say Christianity permit immoralities since it is not a religion of morals? Christian sanctification as Paul states in Galatians 2:20 is a glorying in the cross, that is in the finished work of Christ and the continual realization of our frailty, our human corruption, depravity and helplessness which drives us daily to the finished work of Christ. This provokes appreciation that we live obediently in overflow of gratitude for what Christ has done. The obedience is not because we want to be more saved or “more spiritual” and so many other terms we have coined to undercover our show of human ability, resourcefulness and pride. This kind of sanctification prompted Paul to say, Christ died for sinners of which I am (not I was) chief, 1 Tim. 1:15. It means then that the outflow of our obedience is precedent on what Christ has done for us and who we are now in Christ. This was how the Apostles taught their theology. They first esteemed the marvelous grace that we have received and how He had saved us by the gospel, then proceeded to implore that now that we are in Christ, our lives must be patterned thereafter. Thus, Christian morality is not what adds to salvation but an overflow of salvation.

It didn’t just stop there. The Philippians also had these kinds of teachers. He warned the Philippian church to beware of dogs, referring to the circumcision. These are Christian Jews who taught that in addition to faith in Christ, one needs to be circumcised and obey the laws to be saved. Phil. 3:2. He tells clearly that there is nothing human that we can contribute in order to be saved. If those people think that there were things that would make them saved, he had more. He being circumcised on the eight day and a genuine stock of the Jew. He was a Pharisee and persecutor of the church. If it was by obeying Mosaic law, he was blameless which we have established that even after he became a Christian, he still obeyed the law. However, as it regards to salvation, all these things counted nothing. Why? He explains in verse 9- “And be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.” It is after that he explained Christian sanctification as “Knowing Christ and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being confirmed to His death.” Christian sanctification arises as we are united to the death and resurrection of Christ (the cross). It is an overflow of our union with Christ. Then he explains that it is progressive until Christ comes vs 12-14. He has not attained but presses on until he lays hold of that to which Christ has apprehended him. Paul once again explains the gospel and Christian themes or doctrines to the Philippians. It is sound theology (not an academic enterprise or study about God) that makes us Christians. Thus, to be a Christian is to have sound “Christian doctrine.”

Paul concludes his exposition to the Galatians that keeping the law does not restrain sin or keep the desires of the flesh at bay but by the empowerment of the Spirit in us who produces a new life in us and helps us fulfil the law. For the fruit of the Spirit is love…against such there is no law. Gal. 5:22-23.

© Purpose Media Publications, 2020